Ever After
A/N: I know, we left off with Draco's eyes opening and suddenly we're back with him and Hagrid. I decided I speed things up too much so we moved back a bit. I also re-named the Library of History to the Hall of Recordsfits in with the rest of the landscape. Previous chapters can be found at http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=234819 .
Chapter Three: A trip into the mind of the dead
"Alright, let me get this strait. I'm dead, and while I am in the after life, I'm not quite to the other side yet."
"Correct." Hagrid said, hands in his pockets. "This is sort ofa holding place if you will. A place that you go so that you can re-adjust to everything. It's basically all in your mind."
Draco glanced around, raising an eyebrow. "My mind must like roman architecture." He muttered, staring at the buildings on either side of the path.
Hagrid laughed, looking at Draco. "These are not of your making, these are replicas of the building on the other side. Their memories of what you knew."
"You keep saying that, what I knew', you act as if I've been dead before."
"You have young Malfoy." Hagrid sighed, trying to think of where to start. "You remember Hogwarts? The daily classes, the homework, the lessons?"
"Of course." Draco said, pausing to sniff a rosebush filled with red roses so beautiful no colour could ever compare, until he saw the purple roses right next to it.
"Well, think of your life as a lesson. A long day in school if you will. And this is Home. The place you return to after class."
Draco paused, mulling this over in his mind. After a bit he turned to Hagrid. "Alright, if that was school, did I pass or fail?"
Hagrid shrugged, turning to him. "What do you think? There are no grades here, Draco. You return to earth to learn, if you do not well, that is your choice, but none of us are going to judge you for it. We'll leave that to you."
"Oh." Draco bit his lip, walking on. "So if these building's are replica's, what are they of?" He asked, changing the subject."
"The Hall of Records, where all the history of the worlds are written. The Halls of Justice, never been in there myself. The Halls of Dreams and Discovery, that is where they create new and wonderful things. And lastly the Hall of Science. They're working on the vaccine for the flu in there now, they think they've finally got it. Even have a scientist on Earth to whisper it to."
Draco nodded, pieces falling together slowly inside him. "I used to work there."
"That you did." Hagrid said, looking at it. "You helped with the small pox vaccine. Saved a lot of lives."
Draco shook his head, staring at the willow tree in the middle of the Gardens of the Halls of Justice. "It's coming back but it's a jumble still. "
It'll get easier. Not even all of my memories have returned to me or are fully clear. Well, what would you like to do now?"
"I want to go Home Hagrid."
"Draco, I'm not sure"
"Now. I want to go Home. I want to see him, to hold himto see the others. I left Cotty in charge of my cat for crying out loud!"
Hagrid laughed and held out a hand.
*
Quarantine-Halls of Science
*
"Welcome home young Malfoy." Hagrid said as Draco sat up, the top of the glass coffin sliding out of sight.
Draco rolled his neck and stood, hopping to the floor. "You really need to tell Rafael that those are uncomfortable."
"I will tell him if I see him. He is quite busy being an arch angel and the head of the Hall of Science."
"Yeah well. Have they posted the programs of today's events?"
"Went up a nine am this morning, but don't you think you should rest? You've just returned Home, you don't want to go running out already."
"Come on Hagrid, what's the fun of being Home if you can't run out and have fun."
Hagrid gave a heavy and completely fake sigh before smiling and hugging Draco tightly. "Nice to have you here again, missed you."
"I know, I know." Draco grinned. The pair walked down the hall, heading for the Check In/Out room to gather Draco's things he left. After signing the form that indicated yes, he was Draco Malfoy and yes, he was dead. He picked up the messenger bag from his cubbyhole, searching through it before pulling out his set of keys. "Well, I'm off to go kick Cotty and Jaclyn out of my housewish me luck."
"Like you need it. I hear Cotty is getting tired playing dress up."
Draco froze before slowly turning, staring at Hagrid. "He's wearing my CLOTHES? Oh he is so deader." Draco took off at a fast pace, jumping on the people mover and dodging in and out of groups of scientists, hurrying to get home.
*
Draco's House
*
Draco sighed as he unlocked the door, trying to escape his neighbor. He headed in and shut the door, leaning against it letting his eyes fall closed. His eyes shot back open and he stared at Cotty Finnigan who was staring at him. Cotty was wearing what appeared to be a pink furry bathrobe, champagne glass in hand.
"Draco?"
"Cotty what in the name of all that is white are you wearing?!"
Cotty played with his robe ties, shrugging. "Jaclyn's robe, I couldn't find mine."
Draco shook his head, massaging his face. "Don't EVEN want to know." He muttered, heading into the kitchen for a drink. "Any messages?"
"Gwen and Lancelot wanted you to stop by when you recovered. Sigmoid wants to examine your latest report after you typed it up andHarry called."
"Harry?" Draco said, standing and banging his head against the top of the fridge. "When did he ring?"
"About an hour ago, said he was going to stop by Quarantine as you weren't here."
"Oh fuck a duck!" Draco muttered, kicking the fridge shut. "I had to have just missed him, damnit!"
"Your father also rang, he woke up last night."
"Damn, that means another big family party...hate those he always throws them when I'm in lecture."
"Maybe he'll throw it during Yurikito's and you won't have to show up."
"That would be too much of a blessing to hope for." Draco muttered, grabbing an apple. "Think Harry would be home by now?"
"Two hours from here to quarantineyeah, you gonna go see him?"
Draco nodded, grabbing a juice as he headed for the door. "Yeah, might as well not put it off."
"Shuttle's running slow, you might as well walk and he changed his house again."
Draco paused. " What is it this time?"
"Cottage, in between Mrs. Mason's Victorian and Mr. Wimple's space dome."
Draco nodded and looked up at his house, a simple two story, smirking. "How could people get sick of their homes?" He asked Cotty before shutting the door, heading down the road to find Harry's new cottage.