Draco cringed as Snape's shadow crossed over him. They were huddled in the forbidden forest, as Snape had insisted watching the burial of Dumbledore from afar. The two now waited for the blanket of night before they dared move. Draco bit his lip, a thin line of sweat tread down his pallid cheek.
"What do we do now, professor?"
Snape mustered a grimace and waved the young man off.
"No, really. Its you I'm worried about, Sir, I…I just cant believe… it all happened so fast."
Draco's thin blonde hair fell over his eyes as he struggled not to cry.
"You are indeed pathetic, Malfoy," Snape muttered. "-if you truly believe I intended to stay with you. There is no 'we' in this situation."
Draco looked at Snape with confusion written on his face. The young handsome boy and the potions master, weathered beyond his age measured each other like this for some time.
"Imperius" Whispered Snape, pointing his wand at Draco as the sun hit the tops of the trees and began its final decent. Draco seized and stifled a scream.
"This wont hurt for long…" Snape said, looking oddly tender as he bent over Malfoy, his wand still drawn…
Draco awoke in unfamiliar bedclothes. He sat up suddenly to see Harry Potter sitting on a chair opposite his bed.
"You're in St. Mungo's," Harry answered Draco's unasked question. Harry was holding a basin that was shimmering silver, and he proffered it to Malfoy. "Snape did a good job on your memories, hardly foggy at all. Not like Slughorn's pathetic attempts." Draco stuttered, but Harry interjected.
"He addled your brain, fixed up your memories so that by the time the Aurors came and killed him, the veritaserum they gave you revealed that you had nothing whatsoever to do with Dumbledore's death." The dark-haired boy sneered slightly. Draco's brow furrowed and he cleared his throat and asked in a hoarse whisper,
"What do you want in return for keeping quiet, Potter?"
Harry smirked.
"I want your help."