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A Little Knowledge

"Leglimens!" cried Draco. Harry was ready. He hadput up a shield around his mind. There was no way Draco could get in this time. In his mind, Harry pushed forward on the shield, slowly forcing Draco out of his head.

"Good, Mr. Potter. Nicely done. Your turn, now." Snape was officiating this lesson.

Draco prepared himself as best he could, but he was just so tired.

"Leglimens!" called Harry. He was in Draco's head. He could tell that Draco had not been practicing, or he was tired. Yes, Draco was tired. Harry could feel it. Why is Malfoy tired? Harry used this thought to navigate Draco's mind. Feelings and thoughts rushed forward on a screen in Harry's mind. Memories of studying for the OWLs, the duel between Harry and Draco in their second year, and finally a study, walled in wood paneling, lit only by firelight. Harry – in Draco's memory – was staring at Lucius Malfoy. Lucius was angry. Lucius pointed his wand directly at him. Then there was pain. Horrible pain. And Lucius was enjoying it. Harry pulled back in horror.

"Get out of my head!" shouted Draco. He was so angry his normally ashen face was pink with fury. "You have no right to be in those memories!"

"What was that?" asked Harry carefully.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" yelled Draco. Snape watched on in confusion.

"He was hurting you. Why was he angry? Why was he hurting you?" Harry became more persistent with each question. He'd found something very interesting about Draco, but didn't know what it was yet.

"No he wasn't. Drop it!" barked Draco and he stormed out of the room.

Harry looked helplessly at Snape. "Professor?"

"I don't know Mr. Potter. I'm sure he will be fine." Snape replied, furrowing his brow in contemplation. "You are dismissed."

Harry gathered his things and left the dungeon in confusion. Does Snape know what I have seen in Malfoy's mind? Why was Malfoy's father torturing him? What did Malfoy do to anger Lucius? Harry's thoughts and questions continued the rest of the day.

Draco had run from the classroom so fast, he forgot his book bag. He hoped that when he returned to the dungeon later that night, Snape wouldn't be there. That way, he wouldn't have to answer any questions.

Draco turned the corner and peered into the classroom. All clear. Draco hurried down the aisle, grabbed the bag, and turned, just in time to see Professor Snape close the door behind them. Draco sighed.

"Mr. Malfoy. Come back for your books, I see. You left in such a rush, I wasn't sure you even knew where you were going. What happened there?" Snape looked at Draco questioningly.

"I couldn't block Potter. He got a glimpse of a few memories I don't wish to share with anyone," he said resignedly.

"What do you mean you couldn't block him?" asked Snape.

"Maybe he's stronger than me!" Draco retorted, his anger rising again.

"No, Mr. Malfoy. You both have equal strength. Whether you realize it or not, you are already a team. Now you two must learn to trust each other," Snape answered calmly.

"Trust or not, there are certain things Potter doesn't need to know." Draco's voice was menacingly calm. "And you know very well which things I'm talking about, Professor. So don't lecture me about trust. There are some whom you are supposed to be able to trust, and when they turn on you, it is very hard to trust anyone. So don't you dare lecture me about trust." With that warning, Draco stormed from the dungeon classroom for the second time that day.

Snape watched him go. He now had the information he was looking for. He stood, and strode purposefully to the Headmaster's office.

Draco lay tossing and turning in his bed that night. Thoughts of the day tumbled about his mind. Potter had seen the memory of that horrific night. And yet, he had asked questions. Why? Why had Potter asked questions? Hadn't he witnessed the dream before?

The only thing Draco could come up with was that it was not Harry that had invaded the dream the first time. On that thought, Draco fell into a fitful sleep.

He was standing in his father's study. He didn't feel scared this time, though he knew he had been when it had happened. This time, he had a witness, a friend, someone to share the burden. His father took him by the shoulders and stated the command slowly, though he knew there was anger and insanity behind his father's eyes. He didn't flinch. He didn't falter. He held his father's gaze. This time, it was easier to defy him. This time, the pain was lessened, cut in half by the witness who accepted his pain for him. This time, when he woke up, Draco didn't wake up screaming.

But Hermione did. Once more, this nightmare wrenched her from sleep, sweating and screaming, and scaring half the Gryffindor house. Bloody Hell! I've got to remember to put a Silencing Charm on myself before I go to bed.

Ginny remained at the end of the bed once Hermione had reassured everyone else that she was okay. The two friends silently padded downstairs to the common room. Hermione's body ached with the pain she had endured, and still she wondered how a father could do that to his son. That evil, evil man!

"Same nightmare?" asked Ginny, once both girls were settled on the couch in front of the fire.

"Same nightmare. Just as bad. But…" Hermione hesitated.

"But, what?" Ginny prodded gently.

"I think he knew I was there," Hermione sighed.

"What do you mean, knew you were there? Did he look at you? If it's a memory, can the events change?"

"The content is the same as it ever was. It's still sickening and painful. But, the atmosphere changed. His feelings in having the memory changed. I wasn't invading his memory. It was more like… I was sharing his memory. He let me in." Hermione didn't realize this until just now. The thought that Draco had willingly let her share his memory pulled at Hermione's heart.

"You need to talk to Harry. Especially since he's got those 'detentions' with Malfoy," urged Ginny.

"No. I don't know why I'm reliving Malfoy's memories, but I do know they aren't mine to share. I can't tell anyone else." Hermione was unyielding. "And neither can you."

"I know. I won't. Not yet."

Hermione looked at her friend. That was the second time Ginny had said 'Not yet'. Hermione hoped that Ginny would keep her secret as long as she could.

A/N: Hi all! Please review! Even if you just write "liked it!" or "hated it!". Thanks!

Karone-sakura - Thanks! Everyone has their own fave characters they like to bash. Can you guess mine?

Miss Extraordinary - I've gone and read your fic, and there are some shocking similarities! And Draco coming to the good side is definitely something I like seeing.

Hi Festis - Hope you like this one too!