A/N: I'm snowed in with little to do except wait for the pizza puffs to cook. I thought it a good time to post another chapter. This one centers mostly on Draco. The next chapter will concern what everyone else has been doing.

A Trivia fact. After I wrote the first draft of this chapter, I watched Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray). I always watch this movie on February 2nd. Not immediately after, though. I had forgotten about the date until I was reminded of it by a news story about Punxsutawney Phil.

Good reading.


Draco's Next Adventure


Father once told me that life is always full of surprises. I asked him if he meant birthday surprises. He told me he meant life surprises. You think you know where your life is heading. Something happens that you don't expect. The way you live your life can change in that moment. Sometimes, the change is good. Sometimes, bad. Sometimes, only different. Sometimes, you don't even notice the change.


"Thanks," Harry said as Draco came out of the fireplace. "It's better having someone to walk with."

"That's me," Sirius said, "Mister Nobody."

Draco grinned. "That would be Professor Nobody, Sir."

"And don't apologize, Harry," Sirius told his godson. "I said the same thing to your father, one time, in front of my father. Get your coat. The train won't wait forever.

Both boys grinned. A few minutes later, the three were heading for King's Cross Station. The Christmas holiday was over.

"I think I like the Christmas holiday better than September," Harry mused. He smiled at Draco's look which begged him to explain. "I'm being silly, you know. I like going to the station without having to drag luggage with me."

"I never drag my luggage," Draco drawled. "That's what parents are for." He glanced behind them. "And guardians."

Sirius laughed. "I thought you'd have house elves do that."

Draco frowned. For some reason he was reminded of Kreacher. The fanatically loyal house elf was given to the family by Sirius because they didn't get along. Fanatically loyal until Hermione met him. Kreacher became foul-mouthed, belligerent, angry. Father and Mother rebuked Kreacher, John rebuked Kreacher. (Draco remembered that John smirked at him). Hermione was the only one to defend the elf.

Kreacher left, saying the mudblood knew her place.

That night, Kreacher dared to approach him when he was getting ready for bed.

"Master Draco?" The questioner sounded pitiful.

"Yeah?"

"Why does everyone tell Kreacher he is wrong?"

"About Hermione?"

"About the mudblood. Yes."

Draco paused, his shirt in his hand.

"You insulted a guest."

"But. Why was the mudblood a guest?"

Draco dropped the shirt and sat on the edge of his bed. "It's because she's Hermione. I can't explain it any better than that."

If possible, Kreacher looked more confused. "She IS a mudblood?"

"Yeah. I guess you've heard those rumours, too. How she's too good a witch to be a mudblood." He shorted. "Half the people at school think she's adopted." He added wistfully, "she's muggleborn, though. Even brings her muggle boyfriend over. Sometimes."

"What makes her special?"

"Oh, John does. She's why I have my brother." He smiled at Kreacher and patted the bed next to him. "You better sit down. It's going to be a long story.

A wry smile came to his lips. "Kreacher things I'm fantastic."

"That . . ." Sirius managed to stop himself from expressing his opinion in vulgar terms.

Draco laughed. "Hermione gave him a Christmas gift and he thanked ME for having wonderful friends."

Even Harry was grinning at Sirius' stunned look.

"Did he thank Hermione?"

"Of course not," Draco drawled. "He's MY house elf."

"You own Kreacher."

"Father said that since I can manage him, I can keep him."

Draco smiled smugly as they turned the corner. They were four blocks from Kings Cross.


Theodore Nott listened in as his father gave his friends their last minute instructions. His subtle hints had played themselves well. His father would apparate with him to Kings Cross. He would be seen in public so that no one would connect him with the events. No one objected to this. The elder Nott was an excellent planner but he was old. His magic was still strong but his reactions had slowed. As much as he was admired, he could be more hindrance than help in a fight.

The plan was simple. Sirius Black had always walked Harry Potter to Kings Cross. They didn't know exactly where he lived but they knew where he would be once he reached a certain point. They chose the most convenient point, a few streets north of the station.

"Father," the boy said with pride.

His father didn't frown that he was listening in. He seemed proud that his son would do something like that.

"Remember, Theo. Act surprised."

"I didn't like him, father," the boy recited. "I didn't want him dead. I wanted him to change." He looked mournful. "His death is such a waste. He had so much potential."

The man smirked as he grabbed his son's arm. "Let us get you to the train. We both need our alibis."


"Are you sure?" Remus Lupin asked Lucius Malfoy. "You do know there's a full moon tonight."

"You and Tonks will only be scouting the area. If our suspicions are confirmed, we'll contact UNIT. The muggles can handle the physical work." Lucius Malfoy frowned. "If there are any problems, leave immediately."

"Don't worry, Remus," Tonks said with a playful smirk. "I'll get you home in plenty of time for bed."


The subject during the last part of the walk was the New Year's concert. Everyone knew that Ron would sing his one song. Both boys agreed that Ron did a wonderful imitation of someone who wasn't nervous.

"My favorite part was when Hermione began singing along," Draco said with a laugh.

Harry agreed. "And Ritchie said they should have put her on stage."

"Then she grabbed his hand," Draco added, "and you told her to go ahead and kiss him."

Harry snorted. "I swear, she kept holding his hand to spite me."

"You embarrassed her," Sirius warned Harry. "She will make you pay for that."

"She's too nice to do something like that, " Harry insisted.

"I don't know, " Sirius mused. "With a little encouragement . . ."

He never finished the sentence. Someone shouted a spell and Sirius collapsed.

"What . . ." Harry started to say. He started to draw his wand when a masked man appeared in the alley they were passing . The man's wand was out. He cast his spell before Harry could.

"AVADA KEDAVRA."

Harry fell to the ground.

He was dead.

Draco stared, his wand drawn. The man wore a mask. A Death Eater mask. His hesitation was short enough to cast a binding spell that was deflected. It was long enough for him to not notice the second man until it was too late. That man cast the killing curse as the first man called Draco a 'stinking mudblood lover'.


Harry was grinning ear to ear. "And Ritchie said they should have put her on the stage."

Draco stopped in his tracks. Ignoring both Harry and Sirius Black, he looked around. They were passing the entrance of a apartment building. It was a covered entrance so that the people who lived there did not have to worry about the rain when they were opening the door. He looked ahead. There was an alley, for access to the car park for the building.

"This just happened." There was fear in Draco's voice. He began to take out his wand.

"Draco," Sirius said angrily, "There are muggles around. Put that . . ."

He never finished the sentence. A man stepped out of the alley and cast a spell, stunning him. Draco casually wondered why they didn't kill him as well. He cast a binding charm which was deflected but he didn't bother to watch. He grabbed Harry and dragged him to the partial protection of the entranceway.

"Death Eaters," Draco explained before Harry could ask. "They want to kill us."

"Sirius?" Harry asked, confused.

He's only stunned," Draco answered. He looked around the pillar to see. It was a mistake. Someone shouted, "THERE." Two Death Eaters appeared on the sidewalk in front of the entranceway. Their wands drawn. Harry shouted out a shielding spell while Draco tried to cast another defense spell. The result was that the Death Eater who targeted him deflected the spell before casting the killing curse again.


Harry was grinning ear to ear. "And Ritchie said they . . ."

"Stop," Draco hissed as he found himself on the sidewalk again. How many times had this happened? Seven? Eight? "Shhh," he insisted when Harry tried to question him. He learned not to shout.

"Mister Malfoy," Sirius was saying.

"There are Death Eaters at the entrance to the car park." He tried to drag Harry to the entranceway of the building. Sirius held out his hand to stop them. He grabbed Harry but Draco slipped his grip. Draco ran to the entranceway. He tried running away the last two times. That didn't work. The entranceway gave him a minute. Two at the most if he kept very still and quiet.

"What in Merlin's . . ." Sirius did not finish the sentence. He was struck by a stunning spell. Draco watched as Harry looked ahead. He knew what was going to happen next and could not stop it. He closed his eyes as he heard the killing curse being cast. He kept them closed as he heard the thump of a body hitting the ground. What could he do? He needed time to think.

He smiled. He had time. He could call someone. He was trying to think of who when the Death Eaters found him.


Harry was grinning from ear to ear. Draco was getting used to it. He was ready for his sixteenth try. Or was it the sixtieth? It could have been two hundred and sixty. All he could remember was that it had a six in it.

He was sure it would work this time. He stopped, forcing Sirius and Harry to stop as well. Harry stopped talking about Ritchie. He asked why they stopped walking.

"Harry, this is important. When Sirius stops talking, we need to run to that entranceway." He was reaching into his pocket. He smiled when Harry imitated him.

"And why would I stop talking, Mister Malfoy?" Sirius said, indignantly. "Instead of running off, why don't we continue to . . ."

That was when Sirius was hit with the stunning spell. Draco grabbed Harry and rushed him to the entranceway. This should work, he thought, as he pulled out his spell phone. At first, he tried calling one person. That never worked. They always asked a question. That took too much time. How many times did he try to call someone?

He had another plan. It involved the spell phone. He tried adjusting the device with his wand but he always failed. How many times did he try that?

He tried using the sonic Screwdriver. It sort of worked. It affected the phone. He tried changing the settings. Each time. This time, he made some changes and tried again. He grinned at Harry and said, "That did it."

Harry was staring as he pressed the spell phone on. But Harry wasn't looking at him. Draco knew what he was looking at. He shrugged his shoulders. The next time, it would definitely work.


Harry was grinning from ear to ear. "And Ritchie said . . ." He stopped and looked at Draco. "Why did you stop?"

"Harry, this is important." Draco had never seemed more serious. "When Sirius stops talking, we need to run to that entranceway." He nodded his head to indicate the entrance behind him. Harry noticed he was reaching into his pocket. He decided taking out his wand was a good idea.

"And why would I stop talking, Mister Malfoy?" Sirius said, indignantly. "Instead of running off, why don't we continue to . . ."

Harry stared briefly as Sirius collapsed from a stunning spell. He felt Draco grab his arm and decided that running to the entranceway was an excellent idea.

As Draco held himself against the column that was more decoration than support, Harry hugged the door with his back. To his surprise, he saw that Draco didn't draw his wand. He was holding his sonic screwdriver. His eyes widened as he noticed Draco was pointing it at the spell phone. He grinned at Harry and said, "Universal Calling." He pressed it on. "Anyone. Everyone. Death Eaters. Three blocks north. Anyone. Everyone. Death Eaters. Three Blocks . . "

He stopped because Harry was staring past him.


"Don't worry, Remus," Tonks said with a playful smirk. "I'll get you home in plenty of time for bed."

He grinned at her. Then something strange happened. Everyone in the room had a call on their spell phones. At the same time.

At the Ministry, Kingsley Shacklebolt was surprised when his spell phone began singing. He noticed, with mild surprise, that everyone else with a phone was reaching for it as well.

Severus Snape was casting the charms to keep his house safe while he was back at the school. He idly reached down as his spell phone beeped to let him know he had a call.

At Kings Cross Station, everyone stopped as every spell phone activated at the same time. Theodore Nott was close enough to hear the message. The same message from over one hundred phones. He even recognized the voice. Draco Malfoy. Around him, his worst fear was realized. Two dozen men and women pulled out their wands and apparated.

"Get on the train, son," his father said, softly. "I should be going."

"Be safe, father," Theodore said, trying to control his fear. He boarded the train after his father apparated. He spent the time he was alone trying to decide who he hated more. Potters or Malfoys.


Lucius Malfoy was hugging his son for all he was worth. He apparated to the scene with Tonks and Remus. Two death Eaters were on the sidewalk ahead of him, wands pointed towards the building. He shouted a curse at once. It was joined by a dozen others. One man fell to the ground. The other stayed in place. Despite the fact that his wand was burning as well as the sleeve of his robes.

"There," someone shouted and Lucius turned around. Men and women were shouting spells into the space between two buildings. Popping sounds could be heard. Lucius ignored them and ran to the building. He wasn't the first one there. Severus Snape was already holding Harry, saying how happy he was that the boy was safe.

Draco was smiling. His screwdriver was in one hand, his phone in the other. He laughed, a laugh with a hint of madness. "Oh, the cleverness of me," he said. His smile faded. Lucius knelt and held his arms open. The boy was now crying as though he would never stop. Lucius hugged him for all he was worth and whispered into his ear the only words he could think to say.

"Oh, the cleverness of you."


Sirius Black opened his eyes to find himself lying on the ground. Remus was looking down at him.

"Sleeping, Sirius?" Remus said, grinning foolishly. "Can't we trust you with a simple task?"

"Remus?" He looked around to see dozens of witches and wizards. Tonks and the Weasleys were standing near, watching him. Molly told him that the boys were safe. Arthur asked if he needed help getting up. Stunning spells were no laughing matter.

"I could use a drink," Sirius admitted.

"Children to the train station, first," Remus admonished.

"Lucius Malfoy already took care of that," Tonks assured Remus. "And we can waste an hour at the Leaky Cauldron before we go back to work."

"A drink it is," Remus said as he helped Sirius to his feet. "And we get to tell you what you missed."

"And when you get back to school," Tonks insisted, "You have to ask Draco how to make a conference call."

Sirius ordered a second drink after Remus answered his question of how many people Draco called.

"Everyone. That bloody stupid boy went and called every single person in the world?"


Kingsley Shacklebolt was interrogating the prisoner, one of the two that survived. The man with the burning arm was now a permanent resident of Saint Mungo's hospital. He had been the primary target of the rescuers. The top healer estimated that the man was hit with eighteen different spells, simultaneously.

"He was caught in the act,"Kingsley was explaining to the Ministry lawyer.

"It doesn't matter," the lawyer insisted. "The man cannot be forced to take veritaserum simply to tell what else he may have done." He added with emphasis, "There's a witch in Azcaban right now. When she's released for her crime, less than a year from now, she comes back to 10 million Galleons and immunity from all past prosecution. And her sentence was reduced, from the dememtor's kiss."

Kingsley cursed. He knew the point. If they could do it to her, they could do it to everyone.

Lucius Malfoy walked into the Auror Interrogation room and demanded to know the results. Kingsley reminded the lawyer that the man's son was involved and then told Lucius that the man refused to talk.

"There are ways to make a man talk," Lucius insisted firmly.

"Only about the crime itself," the lawyer repeated.

Lucius drew his wand and pointed it at the smirking prisoner.

"IMPERIO."

He put his wand away. The Aurors did nothing to stop him. The only thing Kingsley did was tell the lawyer to shut up. Lucius smirk at the lawyer then turned to the ensorcelled criminal.

"You will tell these gentlemen anything they want to know. And you will admit to doing it freely and willingly without thought of compensation." He turned to Kingsley with a sneer. "Ask away, Shacklebolt."

As Lucius left, the lawyer erupted with questions. They were all the same question asked different ways. What was going on?

As the other Aurors questioned the now eager Death Eater, Kingsley took the lawyer aside.

"His son is one step away from Saint Mungo's. He has reason to be upset."

"But you didn't try to stop him."

"Do you know the Department of Mysteries? You mentioned once that they . . ."

"That they give me the Willies. Yes. Yes, I said that, but what does that . . ."

"Lucius. His group gives the Unspeakables the Willies."

"He's . . ." The lawyer mouthed the letter, T.

Kingsley nodded his head. The lawyer looked surprised.

"They're real?"


"I don't know," Harry was telling everyone in the common room. He was the second most popular boy at school. The most popular was given a sleeping draught to help him calm down. "Somehow, Draco knew they were there. He knew Sirius was going to be stunned. All I know is that he did something to his phone. Then a hundred people appeared and cast curses at the Death Eaters." He tried to look everyone in the eye. "It was all over in two minutes."

"And they told me John was the smart one, " Angelina Johnson was heard to say.

"He is John's TWIN brother," Hermione pointed out. She then told Harry she was just glad they were all safe. Harry thanked her. He also thanked everyone else he talked to. They didn't talk about the one thing they were thinking about.

Draco Malfoy was in the infirmary. All he did on the train was sit there, staring out the window. Sometimes he laughed. If anyone talked to him or called his name, he turned to look at them and laugh. He never bothered putting on his robes. Harry and Neville walked with him from the train station because he refused to get into one of the carriages. Hermione and the others went on ahead to inform the teachers.

The only change was when he saw the Slytherin, Theodore Nott, in the Great Hall. "Nott, Nott, Nott, Nott . . ." Draco chanted the name, with fits of laughter whenever he spotted the other boy. It became necessary to delay the Sorting to remove him. Hermione mentioned to Harry that Theodore Nott seemed terrified.

"Is it me?" Harry asked Hermione as everyone headed off to bed. "Nott's been saying before the holiday that everything is happening to MY friends. And now . . . Draco."

"It isn't you," Hermione assured him. "As to what happened to Draco." She paused, thinking. "You told us on the train that everything was fine until he suddenly stopped." She paused again. "You said he used his sonic screwdriver? But he doesn't know how to use it. He told us that only days ago."

"Now he does," Harry admitted. "At least he knows how to change the spell phones."

Hermione admitted it was too much for her to understand. There were too many things she didn't know.


Albus Dumbledore was in the infirmary. It had been a full week since the students returned. He was looking at the twin boys, sleeping in beds next to each other.

"John?"

Poppy frowned. "If Draco is to be believed, he will wake up in mid-March."

"Draco knows this? How?

"That screwdriver of his. I said out loud that I wished John would wake up. Apparently, Draco was awake and in one of his more lucid moments. He pulled out his device and waved it over his brother. Then he looked at it and made his pronouncement. He even commented that John isn't even a wizard, yet."

"Has he had many lucid moments," Albus asked hopefully.

"Three or four that I know of." Poppy sighed. "It's only been seven days."

"Are you giving him any potions?"

"NO." Poppy was angry. "Albus, I can't do anything for him. I don't even know how to start. Saint Mungo's . . ."

"Lucius asked me, personally . . ."

"I know what he asked. I had an old friend stop by. He's a specialist in these kinds of cases."

"And?" Albus knew from her tone that he would not like the answer.

"He told me they'll prepare a bed for him."

"Is he a danger?"

"Only to Theodore Nott. And that's more disturbing than physical violence. I brought the boy in, over his objections. Draco gave a repetition of the Great Hall. Shouting 'Nott' over and over while laughing."

"Keep him here, Poppy."

"Because of Lucius Malfoy?"

"Because of his wife. I know Narcissa well enough. If we send the boy to Saint Mungo's, she'll see it as giving up on him." He sighed. "I discussed this with her. What she said hurt me. The only one who would benefit would be Neville Longbottom. He could visit his friend the same time he visited his parents."

"I'll keep him here until Spring break," Poppy decided. "John should be awake by then. He might be able to do something. If he can't, I have no other choice."

Albus thanked her. He understood. He also admitted that she had given him hope. If Draco could be helped, John would be the one who could do it. He also wished that he had thought of John. He had been thinking too much of Draco.

"Oh, I must be getting old. I didn't think of that and I almost forgot to tell you something else. Narcissa Malfoy wants to send one of their house elf to Hogwarts, to help care for Draco."

Poppy nodded. "It might even be helpful." They both knew there was another reason. Narcissa could be informed the instant there was any change, better or worse, in her son.


It was February. Hermione made her way to the infirmary. There was another attack. Parvati Patil. She was using the prefects bathroom. If she hadn't been petrified, she would have drowned.

The infirmary was becoming a dreary place. One section was screened off. The statues were there, all Gryffindors. Two beds were occupied. Also by Gryffindors.

"Mistress Hermione," a familiar voice said as she neared the beds.

"Good evening, Kreacher," she whispered. They always whispered. When she first met the elf, he was belligerent, to use a nice word. Then Draco talked to him. The elf was polite. Now, he was even friendly. There was someone to share his grief. "Has there been any change?"

"Master Draco is always changing. He said it was called puberty. He wants to grow a beard."

She never even had the urge to laugh. "He was awake today?"

"For over an hour. Master Draco thanked Kreacher for being here."

Hermione smiled as she sat down. Draco rarely awoke during the day. And the times he spent awake at night were growing shorter. He was becoming John's identical twin in his sleeping habits as well. She wondered if he was remembering his life. But that would only take half a day.

"Did he say anything else?" Hermione asked.

"Master said that Master John is a wizard." The elf sounded sad.

"Draco was talking about John's memories. Did Draco tell you about John?"

Kreacher nodded his head and even smiled when Hermione explained how John became a wizard when Merlin tried to heal him. It was a hopeful smile. If Draco was saying things that made sense, it meant that he was getting better. A hope that Hermione shared.

"Friend Ron is back there," Kreacher noted.

"I should join him."

"Help him," Kreacher urged. "He can be helped."

Hermione reached over and squeezed his hand. "Tell Draco we're always thinking about him."

She made her way to the curtained area. Her first thought was Medusa's garden. In mythology the serpent headed woman would turn anyone to stone who looked into her eyes. And Ron was standing there, by Parvati.

"I know," Ron hissed before Hermione could say anything. "I'm only twelve. I'm almost thirteen. I'm too young to love anyone that way."

Hermione slipped her hand around his arm. "All those things you did together, Ron. If nothing else, she was your closest friend. That always hurts."

Ron smiled. "Thanks, Hermione. For understanding."


Theodore Nott was cursing himself. Another slip. The Parvati girl managed to become petrified. She should have been dead. That was what Tom had promised. That was why he let Tom possess him. Once someone died, they would have to close the school. Theo would end up at Durmstrang or some other appropriate school. The riffraff and trash would be left to fend for themselves.

It was then he did the unimaginable. He doubted. Not what he was trying to do but if he could trust Tom to do it properly. Tom assured him he knew what went wrong. It was the water, she was rinsing her hair and saw his pet through a thin veil of water. It was enough to prevent the kill.

Reassured, Theo asked when they could try again. Tom suggested they wait. He also suggested a new rumour. Theo should be afraid. After the last attack and what the Malfoy brat was saying, let them know that he was afraid that he would be the next victim. Tom told him to emphasis that he didn't think they would only petrify HIM.

Theo asked how long to wait. Tom said until a blond boy left the infirmary. It would be best if the next victim were a Malfoy.


It was time for Quidditch. No one in Gryffindor cared about the results, they only wanted something to distract them. Between the attacks and the rumours, it was not considered safe to be with a Gryffindor, much less be one. The first years of their house took to traveling in packs of five or more, just in case.

Madam Pomfrey was preparing her emergency pouch. She asked Kreacher if he would be fine. The elf promised to contact her if there was any problem. Reassured she left for the match, hoping, as she always did, that all she would have to do was watch from the stands.

Kreacher sat by the bed, alone. His master was hurt. He did not know what to do. So he watched. And he waited. Master John would awaken soon. Before the next weekend. Before the spring holiday. He would help, Kreacher told himself, willing himself to believe that the hope was also the truth.

Master Draco changes everything he touches, Kreacher thought to himself. He changed the way Kreacher viewed people. Before, with the Blacks, blood was important. It was who your parents were. Now was different. Draco taught Kreacher that it didn't matter who your parents were if you weren't doing your best. He taught Kreacher to see Hermione and Harry as better than pure wizards because they always tried to be their best. Master Draco was better than them because he always tried his best AND he was to the magic born. Kreacher was lucky to be the servant of such a great wizard.

Judge people by what they can do before you judge them on where they came from. That was Master Draco's lesson. He reached out and rested his hand on that of his master.

"Such a loving servant," a kindly voice said from the doorway. "Draco is the lucky one. To have someone like you as his servant."

"Sir knows Master?"

"We've met once. Although I have never had the good fortune to meet you before, Kreacher."

"Sir knows Kreacher?" His voice held pride and surprise.

"Only by reputation." The man extended a hand. "I am the Doctor."

Kreacher's eyes grew wide. He admitted he had heard of the Doctor. Was he here to help Draco? The silver-haired man smiled. That was his plan. The man gazed at Draco's twin and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "It will save John the trouble." He paused and smiled to himself. "I haven't used that name in a long time." He smiled at Kreacher and pointed. Draco was waking.

"You," Draco giggled.

"It is I," The Doctor assured him as he approached. "I thought you would like to forget a few things. Not forget them, really, more like blocking away the memories so they're not always there." He put his hand on the side of Draco's forehead. "Does that help?"

"Master is cured?" Kreacher asked, hopefully.

"Not yet. Making sure the cure isn't worse than the illness." The Doctor smiled. "Soon, I think."

"Clara?" Draco asked. "She was with you, before."

"Gone. Back to the land of daily life. It's been quite some time. For me that is."

"Oh." Draco smiled as though it was expected of him. "I hope she had a nice life."

"She will. She's still here, living it." The Doctor paused in thought. "Perhaps a visit. It would be nice to stop by, to say hello."

"Tell her I said hi."

"You could come along. I wouldn't mind."

Draco looked as though he was considering the idea. Then he blinked a few times. "Oh, that's right. You're the Doctor."

"And you had a nasty experience with time loops. Very nasty since you saw the changes. I've been in a few, myself. I always remember the last one."

"I remember them all," Draco said mournfully. "I think I'm older than John." He paused. "Than you."

"Me? Older, perhaps, than when we first met. Definitely not John. But." He did the usual pause for effect. "Do you know why you went into a time loop?"

"To prevent a paradox, John said once," Draco recited. "He said it loops until the issue resolves itself." He looked up at the Doctor's expectant eyes. "Was it Harry?"

"Very good. Hermione would say you thought that out well. Yes, Harry was the paradox. He is a fixed point in time. In his seventh year at this school, he must confront Voldemort in battle. Emphasis on must. The universe will make that happen."

"And me," Draco demanded in a clear voice. "Why did I have to live through it?"

"You mean to ask why did you have to remember. You didn't. Given enough time, You had an infinite amount of it, you would have thought to do the same thing with your spell phone, did it on the first try, purely by luck, and called for help. You remembered each time because you are special."

Draco snorted. "And how do you know all this." He jerked a thumb at the bed next to him. "You were asleep when it all happened."

"There," the Doctor said, removing his hand. " You remember that everything happened, but the memories themselves are locked away. You don't lose what you've learned. Only the memories of learning them." The Doctor smiled. "And to answer your question. I know all this because I'm special, too. Do you know about Time Lords?"

"Is that what you call yourselves? John never said anything, so I never asked."

"That is so Draco. You think you shouldn't know. Therefore, you don't tell anyone even when they ask." The doctor laughed lightly. "He's much later than I am, by the way. But back to what I was saying. About being special. A Time Lord, when he dies, regenerates to a new form. He can do this a total of twelve times in his life span. That is why I'm special. This is my thirteenth regeneration."

"And why am I special?" Draco asked. "I know it's because of something I did."

"What you did is not for me to say, except . . . it did not seem like much at the time. It was only as the results began to spread that others realized . . ." The Doctor shrugged. "I don't think I've spent so much time in serious conversation since my sixth regeneration. Anyway, it isn't what you did. It's what came of it. That's what makes you special. That's why you remembered. The next time, you may not even notice, because you're . . . well, you'll find out."

Draco pulled out his sonic screwdriver. He waved it over his head and then looked at it. "Oh, that's how you do it." He frowned. "But if you're not John, yet, how do you know about me?"

"I told you. I'm special. I know things I'm not supposed to know. They'll get locked away when I regenerate." He paused. "John should remember everything when he awakens. You can ask him. The explanation is a bit long. It includes such things as how I know you won't marry Hermione."

Both Draco and the Doctor were amused. Kreacher had frowned when the Doctor said that.

"I know that," Draco said, surprising himself when he laughed. "I already know who I'm going to marry. " He thought about the girl he had met, a few years in the future. "I don't know her name though."

"Yes, you do," the Doctor said with a grin. He tipped an imaginary hat and said goodbye. If he needed a 'Doctor', Hermione knew who to call.

Draco frowned. Then he smiled. "Kreacher, I'm hungry. Could I bother you?"

"Kreacher will go at once."

"And get something for yourself as well. You must be hungry. We can eat while we talk. I have a million questions."

The elf smiled at his master's sudden eagerness and energy. "Kreacher can wait. He will be happy to fetch Master's food and answer all questions."

"But," Draco seemed anxious, "haven't you ever had a conversation over a meal?"

Kreacher shook his head.

"Don't you want to know what it's like to talk to someone else when you have food in your mouth." He added, encouragingly, "it can take a lot of skill."

Kreacher agreed. He would learn how to talk with food in his mouth. It would make his master happy.


Draco smiled as Kreacher left. The nightmares were over. His mind was clear for the first time. A noise attracted his attention. He looked toward the entrance to the infirmary. The door opened and Father walked in with Hermione.

"Draco, when John wakes, let him know he'll be sharing your detentions with Professor Snape. And make sure this foolish child stays here until the adults return."

Lucius Malfoy left them. Hermione grumbled that he had no reason to yell at her. She then asked Draco how he was doing. He stared at her.

"Hermione, why are you holding a chicken?"

"It's a rooster."

"Oh?"

He hoped Kreacher returned with enough food for both of them.