Chapter twenty-one: Understanding

"I know you despise me; allow me to say, it is because you don't understand me."

— said by Mr Thornton in Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South

Draco

His mind set completely on his task Draco wasted no time in quitting his room and heading down stairs, no sooner had he told Kidda of his plans and decided on a convincing cover story than he was already taking to the plush emerald carpets of the grand staircase, determination and conviction filling up his every pour and no amount of pleading from the elf about to change his mind. Kidda seemed to think that Draco was being foolish, that he was risking his life and the rage of his parents and Voldemort for no clear or good reason, should it be discovered that Draco was lying or that he was planning to help Ivy escape then no lenience would be shown, there would be no going back, and Kidda begged Draco to try and think of another way to do this. Draco however, was having none of it. Of course Kidda thought that, she was a natural born worrier, so Draco had learned, and besides that, she didn't understand, there was no way that she could, she couldn't feel the undeniable pull Draco felt towards the vial, or the unshakeable belief that this was something important and that it would help him. Ivy wouldn't have been carrying it around with her if it wasn't important, Draco knew that for sure but it was more than that, it felt right that he should try and view the memory, like the logical next step, Draco didn't know, he almost felt like it was meant for him. But that was ridiculous, Ivy had simply dropped it after she fell into unconsciousness, there was no design for Draco to find it, he just had and even if it didn't provide him with any idea of how to free Ivy, (and after all, why would it? It was surely a memory from way before Ivy being brought here) he still had to watch it, it was important to him.

Reaching the foot of the staircase Draco slowed his eager speed to a more socially acceptable one and slipped the memory vial into his pocket, before quickly running his hands over his hair to smooth it down and straightening his robes. All this was done as he walked purposefully through the corridors of Malfoy Manor, trying to make himself look respectable and trustworthy to his family, otherwise they would never risk letting him out of the Manor. Running over the finer details of his lie in his mind, wanting to make sure he made no mistake and did nothing to cause them to doubt him, Draco neared the drawing room door, sure that they would all be in there, however he had sent Kidda in to check first and the small creature suddenly appeared by Draco's side with a crack. He didn't jump, he was expecting her.

"The master and mistresses is in the drawing room," Kidda told him as Draco came to a stop a little way before the door, she was fiddling with the fabric of her tea towel and looked unsure as she continued "Kidda doesn't know about this, Master Draco," she said anxiously "you might get in trouble."

"I can handle them, Kidda," Draco said confidently, his eyes fixed firmly on the door and anticipating what was beyond, and Draco did feel confident, for the first time in he didn't know how long Draco felt capable and assured in his own abilities, sure of himself once more and determined not to fail. He was in his element after all, deceiving was where he excelled and to be so confident once more was elating. It was a good feeling. "I'll see you in a few hours." He said and as Kidda disappeared with an apprehensive sniffle, he started forwards once more, back straight, head held high and proud. His jaw set and his eyes alight with a blue flame once more Draco gripped the golden handle and threw the door open assuredly.

Striding into the room, once more assuming the air of someone far more important than he was (as had always been his facade at Hogwarts) Draco was well aware of the eyes of the entire room upon him as he walked forwards, full of imaginary self-importance. He didn't mind though, in fact in his current state of confidence he revelled in it, glad of the chance to trick them and full of determination. The three inhabitants of the room, his mother, father and aunt, all look up at him in surprise as they had hardly seen their suddenly moody and harsh family member for days, but for meal times and meetings with the other Death Eaters, which Draco attended religiously and with an unusually dark vigour, which frequently alarmed his mother. Having been involved in a speculative conversation about the extent of their masters fury at them and trying to think of ways to regain his favour, the three of them had instantly fell silent as Draco entered, however, it was still evident that they had been discussing something both alarming and important, as the three were sat stiff and edgy on the sofas surrounding the coffee table, hard but anxious expressions still in place. Bellatrix sat up straight as Draco neared them, sensing something in his demeanour that she didn't like and like a hissing cat with its hair up she narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth at Draco threateningly, he ignored her.

"What do you want?" Bellatrix asked harshly, quickly getting to her feet as Draco came to a stop behind his parents chair, which had its back to the door and across from which Bellatrix now stood. Sizing up his aunt Draco waited a moment to respond, insinuating with his cold, superior expression that he wasn't a mongrel pup to be commanded, that he didn't have to do as she said and that she was making herself look foolish by acting thus.

The only response Draco gave Bellatrix's question was an impassive lifting of his pale eyebrows and he held her dark gaze for a second longer before looking down at his parents, both of whom were looking over their shoulders at him expectantly but also somewhat cautiously, as though expecting another shameful outburst. Stifling the rage that flared at the sight of them, as the memory that it was each of their faults that Ivy and Draco were in this situation, his mother for her assumptions and actions, his father for his impassiveness and cowardice, and Bellatrix because she was a cruel, twisted old cow, was ever present in his mind, Draco managed to keep calm and respectful as he voiced his request.

"I've come," he said sombrely "to ask your permission to leave the Manor."

"Not likely!" Bellatrix exclaimed scathingly from across the coffee table, though Draco paid her no mind, it wasn't up to her and aside from one glacial glance in her direction he kept his eyes on his parents, who both looked more than a little shocked and suspicious.

"Why?" Lucius asked, his demeanour once more that of the authoritative head of the household, cool and cruel in equal measure, though Draco knew better, he knew his father for the pitiful being he really was.

"I have just received an owl from Snape; he wants me to go to Hogwarts by the order of the Dark Lord." Draco said evenly with just the right amount of pride and reluctant obligation, and he felt that he sounded convincing.

"Did he tell you what he wanted?" Lucius asked as he shared a looking with his suddenly alarmed looking wife, who was glancing fearfully between Draco and her husband and the younger blond didn't need to be a legilimens to know she was afraid Draco was about to be punished for his actions of three days ago. He had heard them talking about it many times, both of them were concerned and though they believed Draco's allegiance to the Dark Lord now they knew his actions wouldn't have been sufficiently punished in their master's eyes and feared when he would call for Draco.

"No, only that it was urgent and that I should go alone." Draco lied neatly and his mother paled.

"Lucius…" she started to say, her terror obvious, however she soon cut off when she spotted the calculative expression on her husband's face and blanched "no," she said with a shake of her head "no, he cannot go, he will be killed for sure!"

"He will be killed if he doesn't go," Lucius Malfoy said as he thought things over in his mind, weighing out the potential losses against the potential gains, as Draco had known his father would have "and so will we. He has to go, Narcissa, or else he will anger the Dark Lord, this way, he may be redeemed in his eyes."

"You cannot seriously believe that!" Narcissa hissed at her husband though Draco still heard every word "Its suicide!"

"It's obedience," Lucius countered firmly.

"It's happening." Draco said with somewhat irate conviction "the Dark Lord has requested it and so I must go, I'm only asking your permission because its expected and we're on a partial lockdown under the Dark Lord's command. I have to go."

"Draco you can't, it's a trap, surely you know that!" Narcissa implored desperately, fast losing control of her usually artic character and becoming frantic, however, Draco still couldn't bear to look at her and failing to supress a scowl he turned to look at his father instead, who was still contemplating his words.

"You must go," Lucius agreed "for the good of all of us. It will not do to disobey the Dark Lord, especially not now."

Having gotten all he came for Draco stiffly inclined his head towards his shrewd and callous father before going to back out of the room, trying not to be too bothered by the way in which his father had agreed to potentially put Draco's life in danger for the sake of all of them, even though Draco knew he wasn't in any danger of what his mother feared. It sickened him that his own father set the Dark Lord's approval so high that it outweighed his love for his son, that he'd sooner stay in favour than see Draco safe, and for the first time he started to see the wider effects of Voldemort's tyranny, the unconscious way he was destroying lives. Draco didn't manage to retreat more than a few steps before Bellatrix shouted out.

"You're going to just let him leave?" she screeched, her expression one of complete and utter disbelief "How can you trust him, when there's every chance that he's just sneaking out to betray us and the Dark Lord again?"

"Draco is not a traitor," Narcissa insisted firmly, not about to let her sister talk like that about her son anymore and Draco couldn't help but think that if only she knew the truth, she wouldn't be so quick to defend him. No, Draco wasn't going off to sell Voldemort's secrets to his enemies, but he sure as Hell wasn't loyal to any of them anymore.

Bellatrix, unlike the others, refused to believe that Draco was on the Dark Lords side, she had seen betrayal, seen what in her eyes was weakness, and she could never and would never forgive it. To her Draco was no longer her nephew; just the pathetic Blood Traitor who had the potential to bring down her beloved Voldemort's regime, and that was something she couldn't let happen.

"How can you be so blind, Cissy?" Bellatrix hissed lividly, gesturing to Draco wildly "He's shown his true colours and they are as red and gold as any other filthy traitor, if you let him go then he will bring about the Dark Lord's end, I am sure of it!"

"Flattered though I am by your estimation of my powers," Draco said with cuttingly dry sarcasm "I'll do no such thing. As I said before, I know where my loyalties lie and what could I possibly stand to gain from the Dark Lord's downfall?" Draco asked, again raising his eyebrows at her belittlingly and Bellatrix seethed, sucking in a deep breath and opening her mouth to impassionedly answer Draco's question, however she didn't get the chance to speak.

"You must go now," Lucius said in a tone that clearly said this was the final word on the matter "the Dark Lord will not forgive tardiness."

His gaze still locked with Bellatrix's, as aunt and nephew engaged in a stare off, neither one willing to back down, Draco tightened his eyes and felt his lip curl at the commanding tone of his father's voice, feeling that Lucius had long since lost that right and irritated to think his father still thought himself in control. However, once more Draco mastered his anger and seizing his chance to escape began to retreat from the room without another word. Narcissa got to her feet as he exited, Draco noticed, a look of deep anxiety on her face as her pride battled with her maternal concern over Draco's safety. She looked as though she wanted to say something, perhaps a warning or a few words of encouragement, however, pride won out in the end and Narcissa said nothing, her thin mouth snapping shut when the son she hardly recognised shut the door on them. Watching his wife Lucius felt a prang of sympathy and shared her fear for their son, nevertheless he soon pushed that aside, Draco was a skilled wizard and this was for the greater good of the family, to survive they needed to get back in Voldemort's good graces. So lost in thoughts of their collective troubles and trying not to consider Bellatrix's theory about things (as they would all be dead if that were true), Lucius left Narcissa standing where she was, staring at the door, and returned his gaze to the coffee table, hoping that Draco could save their family.

Bellatrix was fuming as she watched them. Embarrassed to be linked with such a spineless, simpering family and furious that Draco had been allowed to talk to her like that, Bellatrix shot daggers at the drawing room door with her eyes. Oh how she wished she could, Bellatrix thought with sick, livid pleasure, that would soon tame the boys disobedience and cheer her up both, however, she had lost her dagger three days ago, when she killed the treacherous House Elf, Dobby. The thought almost brought a smile to her lips, almost. And it was as Bellatrix was revelling in the retribution she had delivered, and the retribution that was yet to come (as she would make Draco pay) that she remembered another person who was avoiding justice, the Seer, Ivy Jones. Sitting in the cellar as comfortable as you like, only still alive at all because the boy had developed unnatural feelings for her, it wound Bellatrix up, made her half wild with rage and caused her clawed fingers to ball into fists and a scowl to twist her features. It wasn't right, the girl was a liability, a threat to the Dark Lords power, should she escape then the information she could give Potter would ruin them, she needed to be gotten rid of, and quickly. Bellatrix would have been happy to do it, to dispense the justice she was sure the Mudblood was owed, she had even made sure to put her in her place when she locked her in the cellar, leaving her even more beaten and broken than she had been before, but it wasn't enough, Bellatrix wanted the honour of killing in insolent creature, who threatened her dear master. She couldn't though, the Dark Lord wanted Jones alive and weak, so that he could extract the visions and memories from her, not that Bellatrix thought that was of any consequence, and besides, she was sure they never would get the information from her any way, not with the boy interfering every time she was harmed. It made her sick, the way he cared for her, it was disgusting and she knew full well that Draco had no sooner renounced Ivy Jones than Bellatrix herself would sprout wings and a halo. At least that was one good thing about his current absence, she thought as she continued to glare at the door he'd left through, he wasn't here to keep setting off her spell on the cellar door, trying to get to her. Then, in that instant, an idea occurred to Bellatrix like a bolt of lightning and a cruel, sadistic grin spread across her face in a way that had even her brother-in-law shuddering. Draco was gone; there was no one to stand guard over the girl. With thoughts of glory and the Dark Lords renewed faith and gratitude filling her head Bellatrix continued to grin as she took her new wand from her robe pocket and examined in with deep intent, they were going to do things her way now.

Unaware of his aunt's lethal epiphany Draco was already racing from the Manor, forsaking a coat and sprinting down the front steps with only the potion vial and his wand in his possession. In no time at all Draco was beyond the gilded gates at the end of the drive and appertaining to Hogwarts, the crushing pain of apparition lifting Draco was once again filled with hope as his gaze landed on the familiar gates of the school, topped on either side by a large statue of a winged boar, that if Draco was perfectly honest he had never understood. Walking with as much confidence and pride as he could put into the movement (which was surprisingly a lot) Draco made his way up the muddy dirt path towards the gates, his pace not faltering in the slightest when the two lesser Death Eaters guarding the gates aimed their wands at him, however they soon recognised who he was and with a condescending glare from him lowered their wands in respect. He came to an impatient stop before them, he didn't recognise either of them so they must have been even further down the pecking order than he had thought. One was a young and lanky wizard with long brown hair and a large nose, while his fellow was a short and round older man with red hair.

"Open the gates," Draco demanded, no greeting, no explanation just plain, abrupt commands, letting the wizards know that Draco outranked them.

"We can't," the younger of the two said, but looking reluctant to say so "Professor Snape is out and we have strict instructions not to let anyone in or out until he returns."

Feeling a flash of genuine irritation at these words, as they were keeping him from Ivy's memory and slowing down his progress, Draco scowled and the brown haired man flinched. "Do you not know who I am?" Draco asked irately as he rolled up the sleeve of his left arm with angry, jerky movements "I am Draco Malfoy, Professor Snape's personal student, I have received express instructions from the Dark Lord himself to go into the school on business and if you know what is good for you, you will stand aside and let me in." Draco snapped, brandishing the Dark Mark at the wizards, a standard protocol for such things, and he watched as they paled and took on board his words. Draco was willing to bet that these two hadn't seen their master once since their initiation, and was going to play on their obvious fear.

"Sorry, Mr Malfoy," the older wizard said quickly and respectfully, while the other only stood there looking frightened "we didn't know to expect you, please, accept our most sincere apologies."

"Just stand aside, and don't hold me up any further." Draco told them in cold dismissal and the two quickly nodded, stepped aside and with a unanimous wave of their wands the mammoth gates opened for Draco and the blond strode in without another word.

Continuing his trek up the path Draco sped up in anticipation, sparing only a passing thought of triumph at how easy getting past the Death Eaters had been before his mind once more returned to contemplating what would be in the vial. Draco didn't really know the kinds of things people usually put in memory vials, though he supposed that it might only contain something strategic or to do with Potter's efforts in the war that Ivy wanted to go over for purposes of their resistance, the kind of things Voldemort would be desperate to see, and if he was honest he would be disappointed if that was the case. In truth Draco hoped that the vial contained a more personal memory, one from Ivy's childhood or school years perhaps, though Draco scarcely allowed himself to consider that he might be in it too, as that was surely too much to hope for. Fast approaching the castle Draco forced his thoughts onto more immediate things, like his chances of getting though the castle undetected. There was still a chance that he would be discovered even though it was the holidays, and he couldn't risk that, so Draco had to be wary. However, Draco felt that the odds were in his favour. Ever since Snape had taken over the school no students opted to stay during the holidays and very few teachers remained, in fact, the Carrows were likely to be Draco's only problem and he doubted they would be anywhere in sight since there were no students about to punish. Taking to the stone front steps Draco opened the great, oaken doors cautiously, cringing as they squeaked on their hinges and peering out into the Entrance Hall before he proceeded, satisfied that it was deserted he went inside.

Excitement and expectancy making his heart beat erratically against his ribs, his chest to tighten and blood to rush in his ears Draco made his way across the hall at a half jog, not caring if anyone saw, he was so anxious to get up to the Headmasters Office. Many times last year had Draco heard Ivy, Potter and their friends talking about Potter watching memories in Dumbledore's office, at the time he had thought very little of it, but it hadn't taken him very long after reading a book on memories to figure out that Dumbledore had a Pensieve and hoping that Snape hadn't gotten rid of it since he took over, which would have been unbearable, Draco headed for the Grand Staircase. A familiar and surprisingly welcoming scent greeted Draco as he passed the staircase that led down to the dungeons, it made him pause a moment while he tried to figure out exactly what it was he could smell. Standing there he detected the warm, floral smell of gardens and plants, reminding him of the grounds in the spring time, the crisp, clean smell of freshly laundered sheets, the sharp wooden smell of polish, and citrus. The last scent was what gave it away, such a distinctive citrusy smell would forever have only one association in his mind and instantly Draco knew Slughorn must have been making Amortentia. Drinking in the entrancing concoction Draco forced himself to move again, thinking about why he was here in the first place and needing no more persuasion. Taking to the staircase two at a time Draco was soon standing outside the stone gargoyle that hid the Headmaster's Office from view and with only a passing thought for the possibility that Snape might still be inside, having decided not to go after all, a thought to which Draco was sure if he saw his old mentor again with the way he felt right then he'd take him easily, Draco gave the password (pureblood) to the gargoyle and it sprang aside. Heart pounding excitedly Draco wasted no time in sprinting up the stairs, unaware that the next few moments would change the way he looked at things, forever.

Ivy

'After all you've done for master…' Ivy mused in troubled thought from where she sat with her back against the cold stone wall of the cellar, once again dressed in her jumper and with Draco's ring securely hidden behind it. What on Earth had Kidda meant by that? I asked myself as I continued to frown confusedly out into the darkness, haunted by the elf's words even though she had surely vanished a while ago. I couldn't wrap my head around Kidda's words, they didn't sit right in my mind and I had been obsessively dissecting them ever since she had left, trying to understand why they were so significant to me. There was only one master Kidda could mean, unless she had had other master before coming here, and that was Draco. But I hadn't done anything for Draco, not anything Kidda would be pleased with anyway, as it was clear she held the blond haired traitor in high esteem. But what else could she mean; Kidda was fond of Draco wasn't she? She hadn't been trying to be sarcastic? No, I had never heard an elf being sarcastic, so surely she meant what she had said with perfect sincerity, but even then that still made no sense as I hadn't done anything FOR Draco, unless you counted taking him down a peg or two while we were at school, but obviously that had done nothing for him. Bewildered and oddly irritated I drew my knees up to my chest and scowled, unable to get Kidda's words out of my head and convinced that they meant something, that they were important, but completely unable to figure out what. Or maybe just unwilling, the words drifted before my mind and I shrugged them off, why would I be unwilling to figure out what she meant? That was ridiculous.

Get a grip Ivy, I chastised myself internally, it probably doesn't matter anyway, you're just bored, frightened, and alone and clutching at things to make you seem like you have a purpose, Kidda probably didn't mean anything by it, odds were it was just a slip of the tongue. But still… I thought as I pulled the ring out from under my top and clutched it tightly. As I scowled irritably down at my hand, tightly wrapped around the annoying bit of jewellery I was too sentimental to get rid of, I was suddenly struck by a wave of nausea and groaned aloud. Not again! I thought as my world began to sway where I sat and the early warnings of an approaching vision disrupted my brooding. I had barely had a moment to myself since I had been brought back down here, visions, the same ones every time, attacked me almost continually and it was beginning to get tiresome, I knew my friends had to be careful of a room filled with money and guarded by a dragon, I'd tell them if I ever got out of here alive, and I knew that in my own future I was going to have yet another run in with Malfoy and co, again, if I managed to escape this cellar with my life. I knew all that, I'd seen it countless times, couldn't my inner eye just leave me in peace to stress about my life? Apparently not, as the cellar soon faded completely to black, I gradually lost the feeling in my swaying body and an unearthly breeze swept across the forefront of my brain as my vision took me. However, when the vast darkness was vanquished by my second sight, I was not standing in a room full to the brim with gold and jewels, or facing Draco in a room the size of a cathedral, I was momentarily to find that I was, once more, upstairs. However, my surprise didn't last long as I was soon plunged head first into the scene before me. The sight the Other Side was choosing to show me chilled me to my very core.

My body was trembling, shaking and quivering with convulses of fear, agony and pure hatred as a cackling Bellatrix stood above me with her wand fixed squarely upon me. Rush after rush of searing, bloody pain wracked my body and I had to press my trembling hands to my lips to keep myself from screaming out in agony. I refused to scream, I would not scream, that would mean giving in and I couldn't bear to see the sick look of satisfaction of Bellatrix's face if I did, and that alone was enough to motivate me. Feeling a hatred that rivalled my own for Voldemort I forced myself to stare up at her, I made myself look her in the eye and transferring as much as my loathing into my expression as I could I watched as she noticed my defiance and her grin widened all the more. I saw nothing around me as the psychopath of a witch, her pale face twisted with mirth, was the only thing I could see before she turned up the power of the Cruicatus Curse tenfold and I doubled over, pressing my face as hard as I could into the carpet and smothering a howl of pure, undiluted torture as Bellatrix taught me my lesson.

"You will do as I say, Mudblood," I heard Bellatrix say from somewhere, though she sounded distant as my starvation and agony had my brain struggling to function and my eyes were clamped firmly shut, I felt disorientated by the pain. "You will do as I say and then I will kill you."

My vision lifted then, my mundane sight returned to me and I found myself lying on my side in the Malfoy's cellar, half expecting to find myself in the drawing room what with the ghost of Bellatrix's curse shaking my body dangerously and the echo of her gleeful threat still sounding in my ears. However, I had no time to think or worry about what I had just seen at all, as no sooner had the room stopped spinning around me than the sound of someone's footsteps on the stone staircase behind the door echoed out. I was sat bolt upright in an instant, regardless of how doing so, so soon after a vision caused me to sway again where I sat and to feel faintly sick, I didn't care about that though, I had bigger problems. A hushed but undeniably excited voice could be heard muttering something behind the door, undoubtedly lifting the curse placed upon it, and with my heart pounding violently in my chest and cold sweat born of terror coating my already chilled skin, I used the wall to pull myself upright on shaky legs. My hands slipping and grasping at the damp wall, my palms quickly becoming blooded messes against the sharp stone, I watched the door, waiting for its inevitable opening. This was it, I thought as I held my head high, refusing to act the coward or let my captors know how frightened I really was, I stood ready with my back against the wall as the door handle was turned, the sound echoing deafeningly in the silence of the cellar. I sucked in a deep, ragged breath and braced myself as the door was thrown violently open, I felt no surprise, only disgust, hatred and an undeniable fear as I recognised Bellatrix standing there, pale as death and grinning at me darkly.

Draco

Anticipation blinding him, making him reckless and foolish, Draco barely glanced at the Headmasters Office when he burst impatiently through the door. Only just registering that Snape wasn't here and that he was alone but for the sleeping portraits, Draco made a beeline for the Pensieve as soon as his searching gaze fell upon it. He recognised it instantly from the image in the book, a shallow stone basin with runes and symbols that Draco didn't understand carved decoratively into it, but doubtlessly having some deeper meaning, however, none that Draco stopped to think about. Reaching the Pensieve and banging his knees against the base in his haste, Draco didn't stop to consider any possible consequences or to prepare for any emergency or incident, it didn't occur to him that it was dangerous to go into the Pensieve without any kind of plan in place, he didn't worry about whether or not Snape would return while he was still inside, or if anyone would need to contact him while he was out of their reach, the need to know was simply too great. Moving as quickly as he could Draco snatched the ornate vial out of his robes pocket while he peered longingly at the basin, watching the mysterious silver substance, that Draco saw was neither gas nor liquid, but the same peculiar substance as the memory in the vial, ripple and shimmer, moving gently as though a mild breeze was caressing its surface when the air around it was really calm and still. His desperation and expectation reaching fever pitch Draco fumbled clumsily with the vial in his haste, groaned irritably at the time he was taking, and managing to get a hold on the vial right tried to pull off the stopper. Draco's hand, expecting the cork to come off easily, slid ineffectively along the vial. Surprised and more than a little annoyed Draco tried again, this time gripping the vial as hard as he could while trying to free the stopper, he grit his teeth and pulled with all his might but still the vial refused to open.

"Bloody thing!" Draco exclaimed irately as the stopper held firm and he bent over, pressing the vial into his stomach with the effort with which he pulled. He hadn't the patience for this, he HAD to know what was in there and he couldn't wait any longer, it was more than just a half-hearted whim, Draco was sure this was important, to him if no one else. "Why won't it, bloody, open-?" Draco stopped, a long stream of curses cut off by the sudden and almost miraculous opening of the vial, he had felt the lid lift in his grip and stunned he raised the vial to see that it was indeed open.

Taking nothing for granted and, no matter how careless he was being, knowing full well that time was of the essence, he quickly tipped the memory into the Pensieve, watching in somewhat impatient awe as the beautiful silver substance swirled like mist but poured like water as it was spilled from the vial into the basin. Remembering the instructions he had read about what to do next Draco set the vial down on a table beside the basin and with no further thought promptly lowered his head into the Pensieve. The sensation of falling gripped him; he felt as though he had been grabbed by invisible hands and pulled deep into the basin, hurtling down towards an undefined land. Fear thrilling his heart, which ached correspondingly, having felt more emotion in the past three days than it had in months, Draco was relieved to find he didn't crash into the ground as he had feared, but appeared upright and dignified where he landed in the vision.

A little disorientated from the fall, it took Draco a little while to recognise the tall dark shapes materialising in the mist around him, and confusion soon took over. Trees, mammoth and closely spaced sprung up imposingly all around, seeming to close in on Draco and grounding him rapidly in the suddenly ominous memory. Thick, unnerving darkness surrounded Draco where he stood, there was no light at all that he could see, the dense canopy of leaves above him and the thick foliage on his every side permitting no light to enter this place, and despite this Draco felt reasonably certain that it was night time. He was in the Forbidden Forest, he was sure of it, and while he had tried to avoid the deadly place whilst at school, he had found himself here in the past more times than he would have liked. However frowning deeply it wasn't for his own past discomfort that Draco looked around the fearsome forest in confusion. This was definitely the memory that had been in the vial? Draco wondered as he looked around himself in disappointment, this was the memory so dear to Ivy that she kept it with her at all times? Draco didn't know exactly what he had expected but this certainly hasn't it, he knew Ivy's tastes and ideas often seemed eccentric to him and that she had frequently bewildered him, but still, he thought in mystified astonishment and unable to see anyone or anything but dense forestry, what is the significance of this?

It was just as Draco was trying to remember if the basin needed to be cleared of old memories first, or if he had perhaps done something wrong (though he was doubtful of that, he'd followed the instructions exactly), when the sound of hurried rustling, which had been a subtle, subliminal sound until that point when who (or what) ever was making the noise came closer, reached his ears. Freezing in fear, despite how he was only a spectator in this scene and nothing could harm him, Draco gave in to his automatic reaction to the unknown dangers of the forest, and recalling the many times over the years he had ran for his life through these trees Draco quickly stumbled backwards away from the noise, tripping over roots and dodging trees even though he wasn't really there. However, Draco's pursuer was too fast, or rather, he was too slow as he found that for some reason his legs wouldn't go at the pace he wanted them to, they seemed to slow and allow the approaching rustling the chance to catch him. As he ran, his heart beat pounding in his chest and cold fear filling him, Draco could hear heavy footsteps hitting the hard earth with an uneven thud, thud sound, growing nearer and near until with a sudden finality the thing Draco was running from crashed through a large bush and came into view. Stopping dead Draco immediately felt stupid.

"Of course," Draco muttered dryly, his irritation quickly rising as he watched the half giant Hagrid thunder through the threes behind him. Well and truly scowling now Draco couldn't help but feel his frustration increase, he had expected more than this, somehow, and though it had occurred to him that Ivy might cherish a memory of her friends, he had still held onto the hope that the memory would be one she shared with him. Refusing to allow himself to feel too disappointed, of course Ivy wouldn't want to go over her memories with him, Draco watched with disinterest as Hagrid looked over his shoulder as he ran.

"Come on you two," he called as Draco lazily walked by the enormous man's side, and following Hagrid's gaze he spotted two small shapes emerging through the trees, forcing aside branches and clambering over logs with considerably more effort than their friend. It didn't take Draco long to realise that it was Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom who were battling through the undergrowth, panting and exhausted but moving with obvious determination. "The screams came from over 'ere."

Screams? Draco wondered with a sudden interest as the four of them, Hagrid, Granger, Longbottom and the invisible Draco ploughed on though Ivy's memory of the Forbidden Forest. And that was what had caught his interest; this was Ivy's memory, wasn't it? He had thought that it was, and if that was the case then were was she? Shouldn't she be here now? Draco had an unsettling feeling that Ivy was here, that the screams they were talking about involved her somehow and that was a thought that filled Draco with dread even though he knew Ivy was currently alive, though far from well, in his cellar and that this was just a memory. However, that knowledge meant nothing to Draco, rational thought meant nothing to a man in love, and he abruptly picked up his pace as they continued thought the forest, noticing as he did, with some surprise, that Granger and Longbottom, who he now walked beside, were only young, first or second years at most. Why did that mean something to him? Draco asked himself as Granger helped Longbottom over a particularly large and alarmingly spiky log, what had happened in the forest back then? Draco's thoughts stopped there however, as a quiet but clear and familiar voice suddenly sounded through the trees, shocking him greatly.

"If I die here it's your fault, Jones," a young and obviously petrified voice snapped from up ahead, a voice Draco instantly recognised as his own.

"Why?" an indignant female voice asked, though the sound quivered as much as the first. Ivy, Draco thought, his heart giving an optimistic leap at the sound of her voice, even as he picked up his pace, desperate to reach her now, because of the obvious fear in her voice.

"They're this way." Granger urged, having heard their voices too, and spurred on by this as much as Draco all three of the others sped up; however, as they crashed yet more loudly through the threes in their desperation Draco could hear no more of the conversation, no matter how much he strained his ears.

Scowling and willing them to run a little quieter, clumsy oafs, he thought, Draco jogged ahead of the others, determined to hear more. He had been wrong, they were both in this memory, just a short way ahead of him by the volume of their voices before, and he was frantic to hear more as he wracked his brain trying to remember this. He had been here, in the forest with Ivy in first or second year, but what had happened?

"W…what do you think it is?" Draco heard his young, frightened self ask, sounding louder than before and telling him that they were getting close.

"I don't know." Ivy asked in the sweet and timid voice Draco remembered from the first time they had met, on the train in first year when she had been shy and uncertain, that little voice sounded terrified now.

Ducking under a low branch, though he probably hadn't needed to, with the others hot on his heels Draco ran, sensing other people just beyond the thorny bush just ahead of him, crashing through it and feeling nothing Draco was the first into the little clearing and he abruptly skidded to a stunned halt, his entire body going numb with surprise. Standing before him, the undergrowth reaching up to their knees and looking incredibly small surrounded by such wooden giants, were the elven year old Ivy and Draco, he knew now that they were elven years old as he recognised the scene. This memory, the one that Ivy had on her person when she was brought to the Manor, was of the day in first year that Draco, Ivy, Potter, Granger and Longbottom were to serve their detention for being caught out of bed, they had been sent to help Hagrid in the forest and had been split up into two groups, however, for two very different reasons Ivy and Draco had become separated from the others and banged into each other here. Draco remembered that night clearly now, he remembered the undiluted fear he had felt as he and Potter had come face to face with a dark, hooded figure drinking unicorn's blood in the forest. Little had they known that they were staring at their whimpering Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrill, trying to keep the weak and almost powerless Voldemort alive. Draco, horrified by what he saw, had done what to him any sane person would have done in that situation and arguably what some people, Ivy included, would say he should have done the next time he stood before Voldemort, he had screamed and ran. Fleeing blindly through the forest Draco had just kept going, wanting to get as much distance between himself and the vile creature behind him as possible, he hadn't stopped until he banged into Ivy. He could still remember now the look of disgust on her face when he told her he'd left Potter to fend for himself, there had been nothing timid about her then, and alarmed and stunned he had watched her as she went to head off after Potter, putting herself in danger to save him, looking back Draco supposed that Ivy must have seen something and that was why she had wondered away from the others. However, Draco knew Ivy hadn't been as brave as she had looked as at the sound of rustling in the bushes they had somehow ended up holding onto each other for dear life, terrified and having been talking too much about werewolves.

That was what struck Draco now, what caused him to stop and stare, as that was how he found himself and Ivy, gripping each other desperately and looking ahead of them in fear. Ivy was standing close to Draco, he realised, one arm wrapped tightly around his neck and the other hand clutching at his shirt, as though in her fear she had just grabbed onto whatever she could get a hold of. His younger self, meanwhile, had one arm almost protectively around Ivy's waist and was clutching one of her arms securely, both of them were shaking visibly with fear and Ivy looked as though she was about to close her eyes and turn her face into Draco's chest when the rustling Draco had forgotten about until then, was suddenly right behind him and Hagrid burst through the trees.

"You two alrigh'? I heard screaming." Hagrid asked, lifting his lamp and casting its beam across the embracing pair as they jumped, reacting to their pent up fears, however, relieved expressions soon followed and Ivy smiled, though it didn't last long.

Draco watched, perceptively taking in everything as he hadn't done the first time, and noticed Granger shooting Ivy a meaningful look, raising an eyebrow and smirking at the young Seer, Ivy looked confused until she followed Granger's pointed gaze and realised that she still held onto Draco tightly. The watching blond noticed that his younger self, sensing Ivy's movement, looked down at her and seemed to realise what they were doing at the exact same time she did. Both their eyes widened and the young pair jumped apart so quickly you'd have thought they had electrocuted each other, Ivy, Draco noticed, took a few more steps away from him than was needed and he could see a deep scowl fast forming on his younger self's face, part of an expression the more experienced man recognised as self-disgust. The eleven year old Draco was shocked and repulsed by the proximity they had shared, or rather, Draco remembered with more acceptance than at the time, the ease and comfort with which they had stood there together. It had felt right, and that had unsettled the first year Slytherin greatly, he wasn't supposed to like being around a Gryffindor. Just you wait, Draco thought looking at his confused and consequently angry looking past self, it only gets more complicated from here onwards.

"We're fine," Ivy answered, ignoring Draco who was now scowling at her as though his own feelings and current humiliation was somehow her fault, and amazingly his own past ignorance irritated Draco now.

"Ay, I'll bet yeh are." Hagrid said, the innuendo so blatant in his voice that no one could possibly miss it, Granger and Longbottom laughed at this and Ivy and the two Draco's glowered at them, as he appreciated that comment no more now than he had then.

As Granger asked Ivy what had happened to her, where she had disappeared to, Draco let his mind wander, he knew full well how this went from here, Ivy would tell them all that Draco had told her Potter was in danger and they would all go off to find him. Ivy and Draco was bring up the rear of the party so that Draco, suspicious for reasons even he didn't understand then, would ask Ivy questions about how she knew where Potter was, when he hadn't told her, and this would ultimately lead to an argument and normal programing would resume. No, this didn't interest Draco, too many dangerous thoughts were starting to slip into Draco's mind unguardedly, freely able to do so now that Ivy was in no danger and Draco wasn't engrossed in what was happening before him, and these potentially perilous thoughts brought with them hope as their companion. Why has Ivy kept this particular memory? Draco wondered as he watched the young girl, her face still flushed with embarrassment and indignation, as she tried to explain to her friend where she had vanished to. What was it about it that was significant or important to her? Was it simply a childhood memory she wished to hold onto or was there a deeper meaning, was it because of Draco that she had it and if so why couldn't they see the whole of the memory, why just this little bit? Also, if the point of the memory was Ivy's interactions with Draco was it supposed to serve as a pleasant reminder or a warning? Was she trying to show herself all Draco's faults and convince herself that he had always been a selfishly harsh person and always would be? No, Draco didn't want to believe that, he refused to let himself, the hope that was blossoming slowly and cautiously within him wouldn't let him, Ivy wasn't using this as proof of Draco's bad character, this was something else, something Draco didn't understand yet. But Draco knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was determined to figure it out.

Author note: Yeah, so this didn't go exactly as planned, there was a lot more that I wanted to put in this chapter but as per usual I wrote a little too much and now I have to split it into two chapters, which seems to be my mantra of late. However, I hope it doesn't ruin anything, this memory is far from over and I don't want any effects to be lost!

Anywho, I hope you liked it, oh, and the memory used at the end of this chapter, the forest one, is the opening chapter of my prequel 'Foresight', if you enjoyed the snippet here you might want to check out the complete one if you haven't already. Thanks for reading guys. X