Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter…Oh to be J.K. Rowling and have that marvelous privelage!! But I don't. I own any character you haven't seen in Harry Potter. They are the works of my mind…or Sarah's…it's a joint effort, you know. I don't know if I need this, but it can't hurt. This chapter is dangerously similar to Confessions of a Dangerous mind.  I don't own that either.

~~ Okay…last chapter was utterly boring, but critical, like I said earlier. They said the 3 big words to each other! Yay! This next chapter is set…hmm…a few days after this. ~~

Chapter 16: Regressions of a Dangerous Mind

You'll find better love

Strong as it ever was

Deep as the river runs

Warm as the morning sun

Please remember me

-Tim McGraw, "Please Remember Me"

            Opal was standing in the hallway a few days later, talking with a group of Ravenclaws.  Draco was walking down the hall with his face buried in a Muggle Studies book, not looking where he was going.  Opal spotted Draco.  She bid farewell to her housemates and moves to walk next to him.  She didn't say anything, though.  Draco was reading out loud, not noticing Opal.  "'Muggles use a post office to send mail.  Instead of being delivered by owl, Muggles in a uniform called postmetn go from house to house delivering mail.' Fascinating," he whispered. 

Opal looked over his shoulder.  "What are you reading?"

Draco jumped, dropping the book.  "GAH! Don't do that Opal!  I'm reading up on muggles.  Figure it'd be easier to understand you."

Opal picked up the book.  She looked at and laughed.  "Sorry!"

"That's alright.  Nice surprise," he said, smiling.  "How are you?"

"I'm alright," Opal said.  "Better, now that I finally found you.  I"ve been looking for you."

"Really?  How come?"

"Do I need a reason?" she asked mysteriously.

"Besides the fact that you had to see my dashing face again?" he said, grinning.

"That's a good reason," Opal said, causing Draco to blush.  She decided not to say anything about it this time.  "Come on, let's go. I'm done with classes for the weekend."

"Me too," Draco said.  "Alright, where will we go?"

"We could—," Opal stopped, shuddering.  She was going to say they go to Hogsmeade, but she remembered what happened the last time she went.  "Nevermind.  Let's go outside."

"Okay."

They went outside and were sitting at the willow tree when they saw Harry Potter coming down the hill.  "Opal! Hey, Opal!" he cried.

"Hello, Po—Harry," Draco said when he reached them. 

"Hello, Malfoy," Harry said, glaring at Draco.

"What's your problem, Potter?" Draco asked; eyeing Harry surprised.

Harry ignored Draco.  "Opal, can I talk to you?"

Draco looked at Opal, and then back at Harry.  "Can't you see we're talking?"

"Yeah, sure, Harry," Opal said, standing up. 

"Fine, I'll be over there," Draco said and walked away.

"I'll be back in a second, Draco," she said.  Draco nodded. He sat on the ground, glaring at Harry.  Harry led Opal off up the hill.  They spoke at the top of the hill for about ten minutes or so.  Then they both walked up to the castle together. 

Draco was sitting at the tree, not really watching Harry and Opal.  When he looked up, they were gone. "What the?" he muttered, and stood, running up towards the castle.  He went looking for where they went.  He stepped into the Great Hall after searching almost everywhere else.  He spotted them at the table.  Harry and Opal were sitting there, talking and laughing.  He walked over and grabbed Harry's arm.  "Well, Potter, that was so polite.  Can't stand others having friends, can you?" he demanded.

"Let go of me, Malfoy," Harry said cooly.

"Why should I?" Draco demanded.  Harry wrenched his arm from Draco's grasp. "You probably had that all planned out.  'Let's sneak Opal away so I have her all to myself,'" Draco said mockingly.  "Honestly, Potter, I thought you had more sense than that."

            "Oh, yeah," Harry scoffed.  "I had it all planned out.  'Let's go steal Malfoy's girlfriend from her.'  I just wanted to talk to her.  She doesn't need to be hanging with you, anyway," he said bitterly.  "After all, look what happened to Jade!"

            Draco scowled and punched Harry hard in the nose.  He stumbled backwards, clutching his nose.  "What the hell?" Harry cried, pulling out his wand. 

Draco pulled out his wand as well, ready to block.  "Don't tempt me, Potter."

"Hey!!" Opal cried, stepping between the two.  "Stop, you guys!"

"Opal, move out of the way," Draco said calmly.  This is between me and the spoiled dickweed over there."

Harry glared at both Opal and Draco.  "Opal, move," Harry ordered. 

Draco was still pointing his wand at Harry.  "No!"

Harry pushed her out of the way, and then pointed his wand at Draco.  "Stupefy!" he cried. 

"Serius flectus!" Draco screamed himself.  Harry tried to dodge the spell, but couldn't.  He fell to the ground, stunned.  Draco laughed.  "What a fool."

"Harry!" Opal ran to his side, pulling out her own wand.  "Ennervate," Opal whispered as Draco left the Great Hall.  Harry groaned and opened his eyes.  Opal looked up.  "Draco!" she yelled at his retreating back, and then got up and ran after him.

When she left the Great Hall, she spotted Draco walking briskly down the hall.   She called out his name again, but he didn't look at her.  "Go take care of your precious Potter," he said coldly.

"What are you talking about?  Please, look at me!"  Draco stopped.  He looked at her shortly.  A single tear fell from his face and he turned and continued walking again.  Opal walked after him.  She caught up to him shortly and grabbed his arm.  "Please, stop!"

"Why?" Draco demanded.  "What's the point?  Stupid Potter!" he cried suddenly.

Opal released Draco's arm, surprised.  "Alright then, don't stop!  I don't know what I did, and if you won't tell me, there's no point in me trying."

Draco stopped and looked at her.  "He still doesn't get anything.  He is so thick headed."

"So this is about Harry, then?"

"Of course!" Draco cried.  "Why would it be about you?  You didn't do anything, except revive him."

"So I should have just left him there," she said.

"In my opinion, I should have stepped on him, then left him there," Draco said coldly.

"Just like you to kick a person when he's down," Opal said angrily, and walked away.

"He deserved it!" he screamed down the hall after her.  "You heard what he said about Jade!"

"Maybe he wasn't so far off in the truth!!" Opal screamed back at him.  Draco stumbled back, hurt.  He then scowled at her and ran off in the other direction.  Opal covered her mouth.  "Oh lord, I shouldn't have said that," she said and ran outside.  She went to the tree, sitting on the side facing away from the castle.  She began to sob softly. 

A few minutes later, Draco came outside.  He sat on the opposite side of the same tree Opal was at, but didn't see her.  He watched the branches sway in the breeze.  Draco noticed someone crying on the other side of the tree.  "What's your problem?" he asked, not knowing it was Opal.

Opal sniffed.  "I said something to someone I really shouldn't have," she answered, not recognizing Draco's voice.

"What did you say?" Draco asked, not identifying Opal's voice either.

"Basically that he killed the only girl he ever loved," Opal said, another wave of guilt washing over her. Opal? Draco thought.  "I didn't mean it," Opal said.  "I don't know why I said it."

Draco's face contorted.  "Well, maybe you were right," he said bitterly.  He stood and walked back up to the castle, sitting on the floor just inside the castle.  He had his head in his arms.

Opal looked behind the tree, seeing the retreating back of Draco.  She still didn't realize it was he.  "Why…would he say that?  I don't know what to do…" Opal said quietly.  She stood and went back into the castle.  "I'm sorry, Draco," she muttered as she walked past Draco, not really seeing him there. 

Draco lifted his head.  He saw Opal, but didn't think she saw him.  He stood and walked behind her silently.  "What are you sorry for?" he said.  "I told you already, you are probably right anyway," he said, and turned around, walking the other way.

Opal whirled.  "Draco!" she cried and went after him.  He kept walking, a few tears running down his cheeks.  Opal stopped.  "I'll let you alone then," she said, then turned to go. 

"Opal, wait."  She turned to him, not saying anything.  "Do you really feel like that? Because, if you do…then we shouldn't even be together.  I might kill you just like I did Jade," he said and turned around to look at her. 

"No, I don't feel like that," Opal said. "I did when we first met, but that was my way of venting.  I—love you Draco.  I wish I'd never said something so stupid!"

"I read once that the things you blurt out are the things you really think," Draco said.  "I don't know what to think.  I love you too, but I don't know what to do." o...

"Even if I did think that at one time," Opal said carefully.  "It doesn't mean it's true."

"If it wasn't for me she wouldn't be here."

"That is true," Opal admitted.  "But it's also true that if it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have been happy.  She died happily, Draco."

"But she died.  She fucking died! No one's happy dead," Draco said coldly.

Opal was taken aback by this sudden outburst of anger.  "There's nothing we can do about it, Draco."

"No, there isn't," Draco said sadly.  "And that kills me even more."

Opal cursed herself for being so stupid.  "I shouldn't have said anything.  I've just opened old wounds."

"Maybe they never died.  Maybe it is just meant to be kept in our minds.  I don't know." He walked over to Opal, hugging her.  "Don't worry yourself over this."

Opal hugged him back, burying her her head in his shoulder.  "But I do, Draco.  I worry about you."

Draco hugged her tighter.  "I know, but you shouldn't.  You'd get all wrinkly from all the worrying you'd have to do."

Opal smiled slightly.  "Malfoy," a voice said from behind them. 

Draco let go of Opal, turning to see whom it was.  "Potter!" he cried.  "Go away, Potter.  Oh, did I say away? I meant to hell."

Harry glared at Draco.  "Shut your mouth, Malfoy.  I don't need to waste my breath talking to you."

"Then why show up? Draco demanded. 

"Opal," he said shortly.

"Everything you say is a waste of your breath," Draco spat.

"If you don't like it, go away."

"Why should I leave?" Draco demanded again.

"You should leave this school, Malfoy.  You're a disgrace to the wizarding name.  I can't believe Jade ever fell for scum like you."

"Well, at least I earned my way here," Draco said coldly.  "I didn't just get in through my dead mother!"

It was easy to tell that struck a nerve with Harry.  "Don't you ever insult my mother, Malfoy!!" he screamed.  "She's ten times the witch you'll ever be!!"

"Why would I want to be a witch?" Draco said cooly.  "I'm full male, Potter.  Unlike you, wuss boy.  I'm half the wizard you'd ever wish to be!"

"Get out of my sight, Malfoy, before I really hurt you," Harry said with a calm fury. 

"I'll be where I want, Potter.  You don't control me.  I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be," Harry cried.  "I'll turn you into a ferret just like Moody did our fourth year."  Draco scowled, remembering the ferret incident.  "Ohh, still remember that, do you, Malfoy?  The humiliation?" Harry laughed coldly.  Draco was still scowling.  "What, no witty remark?"

"You aren't worth my time," Draco said through clenched teeth.

"Oh, finally figuring this out, are we?" Harry snapped.  "Good, maybe now I can get you off my back," he said, and walked off.

Draco scowled deeper as Harry left, then turned to leave as well.  Opal was torn between going with Harry or Draco.  She thought for a moment, and then followed Draco.  "He'll regret this," Draco said angrily. 

"Draco…" Opal said.

"Yeah?" he replied, his voice softening.

"You okay?"

"I'll be fine.  It's him you should worry about."

"He's just venting," Opal said calmly.  "You really shouldn't have said that about his mother."

"Well, he shouldn't have said that about Jade.  Or you," Draco pointed out.

"Maybe," Opal said slowly.

"So you do think he's right!" Draco cried, angry again.

"That's not—," Opal began.

"If you don't then why are you agreeing with him?" Draco cut her off.

"I'm not—," Opal started again.

"Then why say maybe?" Draco demanded, cutting her off again.  "Maybe is like saying there is doubt."  Opal couldn't say anything, only stutter.  Draco shook his head.  "It's okay."

Opal looked down.  "I—I—," she stopped, abandoning trying to justify herself.  "Don't listen to Harry, Draco."

"You sure seemed to be listening to him when you ditched me outside," Draco said coldly.

"Oh!" Opal cried, remembering what happened.  "I'm sorry about that.  I just got to talking with him.  That's all."

"Glad I'm so easy to forget," Draco said, his tone not changing.

"It's nothing like that," Opal insisted.  "I could never forget you.  It's just—I'm sorry!"

Draco shook his head, laughing a tiny bit. "Nah, it's alright.  It's just Potter, having to control everyone." Opal didn't respond.  She looked down.  He decided to change the subject.  "What's a plug?"

Opal looked up at him oddly.  "It's how Muggles work their lights and other electronics," Opal explained.  "Why?"

"I was reading about it in that muggle book, and I didn't understand what it was," Draco said. "It's kind of funny.  It said Muggles avoid, or are sometimes afraid of, magic, but they have things like clappers.  Isn't that magic? You clap your hands and lights come on."

"No, it isn't magic," Opal said, laughing.  "Though they kind of like to think it is."

"Odd," was all Draco could say.

"You don't think Owl Post is odd?"

"Why would I?"

"I guess you wouldn't, you being around it your whole life."

Draco laughed.  "Yeah."

"It scared my parents," Opal said, smiling.

"Do they not like owls?" Draco asked.

"It's not that, its just a bit…unnerving to have an own swoop into your home."

"Oh."

"Wait, why are we talking about Muggles?"

Draco looked innocently at Opal.  "Wasn't that the topic?"

Opal scratched her head.  "I don't think it was."

"Oh.  Well it is now.  So, explain.  Malls…"

Opal rolled her eyes.  "Malls…kind of like Diagon Alley, except all in one building."

"Oh," Draco said.  Opal looked at Draco, her eyes glazing over.  "You about to cry or something?" Draco asked, pulling a tissue from his pocked and handing it to her.  She didn't respond.  She didn't even appear to be looking at Draco anymore.  Curious, he waved his hand in front of Opal's face.  "Hello?"

Opal's eyes fluttered shut.  "Opal?" he said, looking very worried now.  Her knees buckled suddenly and she fell.  "Opal!" he caught her and lowered her to the ground.  "Opal…what's…what's wrong?"  He rocked back and forth slightly, her head in his lap.  Opal's face paled and went cold.  She began to shake.

Draco's eyes widened.  He held her for a second, then picked her up and started walking to the hospital wing.  Opal opened her eyes.  "LET ME GO!!" She screamed.  Draco jumped, and then set her down.  She looked at him, terrified, and ran. 

"Opal…" Draco stood there very confused. 

Opal ran past Harry.  He glanced at her.  "So she finally came to her senses," he said, watching Draco.  Draco walked in the direction Opal went.  As he passed Harry, he turned and punched him hard in the nose again, and then sped around the corner after Opal.  "Damn you, Malfoy!!" Harry cried, clutching at his now bleeding nose.  He ran off.

Draco wiped his hand free of Harry's blood, and then ran after Opal.  "Opal, wait, what's wrong?" he yelled after her.

            "No!!" She cried.  "I won't let you hurt me or Jade anymore!"

Draco stopped suddenly.  "But, I didn't…"

"You say you love us, and yet you keep doing this!" Opal continued running.  "There's no point! Mom and Dad will find out, then you'll be sorry!"

"What are you talking about?" Draco cried, confused.  "I didn't do anything! Your mom and dad don't even know me!" He ran after her again.

"Don't try to play me for a fool!  Of course they know you!"

Draco kept after her.  "I don't know what you're talking about. Opal, I've never met them before."

"Stop following me!" she cried.  "Mom and Dad should have left you in Japan!"

"Opal I've never been to Japan.  Why would your parents send me there?"

Opal scoffed. "You're so thick, Peridot!  Leave me alone!!"

Draco stopped.  "Peridot?" Opal got ahead of him.  "I'm not Peridot! I'm Draco!"

"Don't try to trick me! You've done that way too many times!"

He ran after her.  Draco almost caught up to her, but he tripped and fell to his knees.  "Please, Opal!! It's Draco! I promise! Peridot is gone;  he's out of your life! Please, Opal!"  He screamed after her.

"You're a liar!

"No, I'm not," Draco insisted.  "Opal, look at me.  I'm not Peridot!"

"That won't work this time, Peridot."

Draco got to his feet and ran after her.  He caught up to her, jumping on her.  He pinned her to the floor.  "Opal, look at me!"

"GET OFF!!" she screamed. 

"Opal, please," Draco whispered in her ear, getting close to her face.  "I'm not Peridot."

Opal squirmed, her eyes clenched tightly shut.  "No!" she screamed, and kicked at him.  "Let me go!"

"Ouch!" he cried as she kicked him.  He looked at her, very concerned.  Unsure of what to do, he leaned in and kissed her.  Opal pushed him back, her eyes wide. "Opal.  Look at my face.  Look at me, Opal.  Look how short I am.  Peridot was a lot taller.  I have blonde hair, he didn't.  I am not Peridot."

"You're sick, Peridot.  You'd do anything to get me to stop, wouldn't you?"

"Opal!" Opal shook her head; her eyes clenched shut.  "Opal, please."

Opal stopped suddenly, opening her eyes. Draco looked at her, very worried.  He still had her pinned to the ground.  "What the—?  Why are you on top of me, Draco?"

"See I told you I was Draco!" He declared triumphantly, and then looked at her oddly.  "Huh?"

Opal looked confused.  "I know you're Draco.  You're easy to recognize."

"Then why did you think I was Peridot?" Draco demanded.

            "I don't think you're Peridot!" Opal cried.  "You look nothing like him! You have blond hair, and you're shorter than him.     

"You did," Draco insisted.  "You ran away.  Kept yelling at me, saying I was Peridot."

"Is that why you're on top of me?"

            "You wouldn't listen!" Draco explained.  "I had to convince you.  Yes, that is why I'm on top of you."  Draco rolled off ofe her and sat next to her, ignoring the odd looks they were receiving from passing people. 

Opal sat up, rubbing her head.  "Hey, Draco…how did I get here?  We were in the entrance hall, last I remember."

"You got a glazed look in your eyes," Draco said.  "You pased out and went pale.  I picked you up and was going to take you to the infirmary, but you woke up.  And ran, yelling at Peridot, or me, who you thought was Peridot."

"Whoa," Opal said.  "I remember feeling really weird.  Then it all went blank."

"I was really worried.  Potter said something like 'she finally got to her senses.' I think I broke his nose again."

"He probably thought I was running from you, which I guess was what I was doing.  Although I didn't know it was you."

"Well, he was mad.  But I don't care.  Are you alright?" Draco asked.

"Utterly, utterly confused," she answered. "I mean, I blank out in the entrance hall, and when I come to, I find you on top of me."

"I'd imagine so.  Is that such a bad thing, though?" he asked, raising his eyebrows repeatedly.  He smiled playfully.

Opal laughed.  "No, I suppose not." Draco smiled, and they both stood.  Opal shivered. 

"Are you going to be alright, Opal?"

"I think so, but who's to say that whatever just happened won't happen again?"

"I don't know.  I'll just have to convince you again."

"Maybe, but—," she stopped, swaying.  "Whoa," she said, and sat back down.  I wish I knew what it was."

"I don't know, but would Madame Pomfrey know?"

"She might.  You'd have to describe to her what happened, though."

"Yeah, I know."

Draco stood up and helped her get to the hospital wing.  She was still a bit weak from passing out.  They entered the hospital wing.  Madame Pomfrey looked at the two.  "Yes? Can I help you?" Draco looked at Opal, and then explained to Madame Pomfrey what happened in the entrance hall.  "And you don't remember this at all?" she asked, looking at Opal.

"No, ma'am, none of it.  All I remember is passing out in the entrance hall, and then waking up in another hallway."

Madame Pomfrey nodded.  "Amnesic regression.  Opal, you regressed back to a period in time when you wanted to confront Peridot about what he was doing to you.  The first person you saw, Draco," she gestured to Draco, "became Peridot.  In your mind's eye, Draco was Peridot.  Usually a potion can only snap a person out of it.  Draco, what did you do?"

"I, uh, kissed her."

Madame Pomfrey smiled.  "That could have done it.  I'll give you a potion that should stop this from happening again, all right Opal?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Madame Pomfrey left the room and came back with a potion.  Opal drank it, grimacing.  They left the hospital wing.