The Trigger

PART I

Ten days past and there was no change. Draco was losing hope. Harry put up a brave face but he too was feeling defeated. Every day and sometimes twice a day Hermione would visit Harry with experimental potions and spells but nothing helped. The trigger couldn't be found, why Harry couldn't get his memories back was still a mystery. In the middle of the night, after Harry would fall asleep Draco would go to the bathroom and cry hoping that his tears would provide the comfort he pursued but they didn't.

Draco thought about going to visit Alexander Roland, alone.

Shortly after the incident that took place in the gift shop, Alexander was put on trial along with Jacob to determine their punishment and their future.

Harry as promised, advocated for the both of them. He stated that he still didn't have his memories but felt that from what he had heard about Azkaban, he didn't think that was the right place for them to be sent. He managed to convince the Wizengamots that the suspects should have their magic stripped for a year and be placed in a Muggle prison, and then their situation should be reevaluated.

This wasn't a novel idea, and Harry knew it. The first year he spent as a Muggle without his memories Harry had spent a good deal of his time reading. He seemed to find himself more and more interested in Law and Order and Hermione had given him a large number of books on Muggle law and wizarding law.

Draco needed to travel to Muggle London and visit both Jacob and Alexander in prison. He asked Harry to join him on his trip. He was going to take Harry to Lily Café, where he could visit his friends while Draco took care of 'some business.' Harry agreed.

Draco still had his British ID of Devon Morgan which he used to sign in at the Prison at Shrewsville, Ward A. He stopped by to see Jacob Gray first. Jacob smiled when he saw Draco although Draco kept his calm demeanor intact.

"How are they treating you?" Draco asked.

"Well, it's not Azkaban, no Dementors, so that's always a plus" Jacob replied. "How's Harry?"

"Same, he's still not got his memories back even though it's supposedly worked. Whatever Roland said to do."

"You can't trust him, you know."

"I know, that's why I am here to see you first. What can you suggest for me to get him to help me, help us?" Draco asked.

"I am not sure, but I know that he won't help you. I begged Harry to not fall for his tricks. I know he was acting it the whole time; he's not apologetic at all. I know he's got dark wizards friends who are going to get him out of here. Escaping from a Muggle prison is a lot easier than Azkaban. I know that this has been his trick all along. He probably accepted his defeat against you lot and pretended to be sorry, but I know him, he's pure evil."

"Even if he does escape, they've still strapped his magic." Draco responded. "Do you reckon he's got a plan for that also?"

"Who knows, he's capable of doing anything. First step is to ensure his freedom, and anything is possible with Dark Magic." Jacob answered.

"What can you tell me about a memory trigger? You said that you saw the color change in the orb and you placed another protective spell on it. Tell me more about what happened." Draco insisted.

"He'd told me that there are times when even the most powerful magic cannot hold one's memory in its place. Something you two must have done inspired Harry's memory to attempt to escape from the orb that night. All I know right now is that when I placed the extra shield of protective magic, it let out an energy that went and found you and Harry and attacked you. Attacked the memory from escaping. That's why there was a bus accident outside his flat. That wasn't a coincidence. Did you two do anything out of the ordinary that might have triggered that reaction?"

"I think we kissed. But we've kissed several times since then and that hasn't had any other sort of reaction. Why was that time any special?"

"Was it the first time? What exactly did you two say to each other?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah it was the first time. I vaguely remember. The energy attacked me as well, even though it was meant for Harry." Draco sat quiet for a minute attempting to recollect that night with Harry three months ago.

"Time's up. Best finish up your conversation mate." The prison guard came by and made an announcement.

"I remember!" Draco exclaimed. "We had just cheered and said the same statement when we had cheered for the first time ever. Then, we kissed and a heat wave ran through my body and there was an accident outside." Draco wasn't sure if he made any sense. "What does it mean?"

"It might mean that you have to make him remember. Maybe you need to walk down the familiar paths you've crossed before. A trigger's got to be lying there somewhere."

Time was up, and Draco needed to leave and head to Ward B. He needed to have a conversation with Alexander Roland.

oOoOoOo

Alexander walked out the door to the visitor's lounge and saw a defeated Draco sitting there waiting for him. The look Alexander had on his face, Draco thought, could only be described as a snake that'd lost his venom but was still a snake. He knew that Jacob was correct. Alexander had been playing everyone all along. He wasn't sorry at all, he needed to act that way so he could get the easy way out and he had. He belonged in Azkaban and not this Muggle resort jail where he could only plan his escape and not repent for his sins.

"Draco Malfoy, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Alexander broke the silence. His voice as cool and cunning as the time he'd met Draco at the Slytherin summer party.

"Why didn't you tell us that simply returning the essence of the memory wasn't enough for Harry to actually get his memory back?" Draco demanded.

"What? And lose my one and only bargaining chip I have had for my magic?" Alexander chuckled.

"You should know your tricks won't be working anymore Roland. You have nothing to bargain for. Even if you claim to hold onto this fake fragment of information, they will never release you or return your magic. The only way you'll get out of this place is when you're being transported to Azkaban."

"You're still deluded to how capable I really am, Malfoy." Alexander retorted.

"Yet, you're the one rotting in Muggle prison, without magic and I am living out my dream and shagging Potter." Draco snapped back, even though it wasn't entirely the truth. "Every night" he added.

"He's mine!" Alexander stood up ready to attack Draco, however he was chained to his chair and his arms couldn't reach all the way to Draco's neck.

The guards ran towards the pair and pushed Alexander back to his chair. "Hey, watch yourself or you'll be getting another lesson pretty soon."

"Another lesson?" Draco spoke amused, "Finally getting the kinds of beating you deserve, eh Roland?"

"This place can't hold me for long Malfoy; you best watch your back because I will be returning to finish what I started."

"See, that's the difference between you and I Roland, I don't make empty promises. If I had wanted to finish something I started, it would have been finished a long time ago. Harry might have bought the apologetic act that you put on during the trials but I don't. You forget who my father is. You really don't know what I am capable of."

Alexander didn't respond.

"Also, you know what else is great about being strapped from magic?" Draco asked. "There's no such thing as a magically bound curse. I can ask Jacob Gray anything I want and he's not magically bound to withhold the information from me. If you're not going to help me, I can keep coming back and ask him questions and figure out what I need. Who knows maybe the Ministry will look highly upon that and give him an early release and return his magic?" Draco mocked Alexander.

"I am not going to help you." Alexander finally spoke again.

"Well, have fun rotting in your cell then. Oh, and I'll make sure to tell the Ministry that you've got Dark Wizard friends who are planning on making you escape. I am sure they'll be sure to put more of that muscle on you. I know how you'd like that." Draco winked at Alexander and stood up. "My mother might have given into her emotions and used the cruciatus curse on you, but I know how to make one suffer without magic. Trust me, I lived without magic for a year and still managed to find the man that I love. I am capable of anything."

Draco left not exactly proud of retorting back to his old young ways but he was desperate. He needed to make this man suffer even if Harry had supposedly forgiven him. His next task was to make Harry remember and he was willing to try anything.

oOoOoOo

(A/N): I am sorry if the update has been long overdue. I have (still) been really everyone for your patience and support and the comments, it's helped me a bit to write this chapter. What do you all think of a semi-Dark Draco?