Title: Speak to me

Setting: Seventh Year, Hogwarts

Rating: R- Slash, violence?

Disclaimer: Don't own HP

Summary: Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort. But his victory had major consequences. One being the fact that Harry has totally shut himself away from any contact with anyone. No one can help. No one, that is, except a certain Slytherin enemy. (Slash HP/DM!)

Authors Notes: Well, it's been a heck of a long time. This chapter was obviously extremely hard to write, and it doesn't help that i'm only writing it to get it over with. I can assure you it will be dull :) But! The next one might actually start the romance. I know, the slash is taking really long. But hey, you cant fall in love in a matter of seconds, the most I can get Draco to do right now is treat Harry with pity. However! I do need to get Harry to remember, and fast! I'm practically falling asleep while writing this story. But, it's all good... Who knows, maybe the chapter will actually be good? Who knows? Anway, hoping you enjoy?

Chapter Six: Secrets

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Draco stared at the unmoving ceiling above him. A candle near his bed was quickly burning out, causing the objects surrouding him to be eerily shadowed. His soft, platinum hair strayed slightly to one side of his forehead as he adjusted his hands behind his head, making himself more comfortable.

His mind kept racing, as if watching his day happen before his eyes. He saw himself one minute, living normally, with Theodore, Blaise and Pansy. Then all of a sudden, it was as if he had hit fast foreward and saw himself practically shoving food into Harry's mouth.

With an uneasy sigh, he turned over, allowing his weight to shift to his elbow. He stared at Harry's bed for a few moments, his silver eyes analyzing the sleeping form. It was a shock, really, to be in the same room as Harry. Just weeks ago, if anyone had asked him to be kind to the boy he would have laughed openly. Something Malfoy's should never be caught doing.

When he slowly closed his eyelids, he found them opening again. He felt almost as if he were guilty of doing something horrible. There was an awkward feeling in the pit of his stomach. A feeling that one moment was peaceful, but in a second turned immensley horrible. So horrible, in fact, that it was almost painful.

Draco's hand rose to itch his nose, when he heard it. Something he had felt he had heard enough of to last 100 lifetimes. He closed his eyes when he heard Harry groan. There was a pause and Draco thought he was safe, but then, of course, he heard the first sob.

It wasn't really a sob. More inbetween a gasp and a wail. Draco slowly opening his eyes, his brain contemplating whether to pretened he was asleep or to help the pitiful boy. He felt his stomache lurch with an uncomfortable jolt and he dragged himself out of bed, very unsure of what to do.

Finally, with reluctant footsteps, he made it to the edge of Harry's bed. There was a layer of sweat already forming at Harry's hairline. Hesitantly, Draco tore the silky covers off the bed, allowing Harry's suffocated body some air.

Heading for the bathroom, Draco pulled out a clean towel and turned on the sink. Cool water skimmed across his fingers and he soaked the cloth in it, before making his way back to Harry's bed.

Harry had a few tears clinging to his eyelashes, but other than that, there was no sign that he had cried. Draco secretly marvelled at the boys bravery before sitting on his knees and moving Harry's fringe off to the side of his forehead. With shaky fingers, he allowed the cloth to just touch Harry's burning skin. He heard Harry sigh softly, his eyelashes fluttering, still thick with tears. Finally, Draco reached Harry's scar. He found himself absolutely terrified to touch it and slowly let a tremmbling hand dab it, expecting it to hiss.

It didn't.

Almost breathing a relieved sigh, Draco continued to lightly touch the cloth to Harry's head. When Harry had finally seemed to relax, Draco pulled the covers back on and slipped into his nightrobe. It was a velvety-green and he sunk himself into it, sitting on the armchair directly in front of the dying fire.

A slightly rough hand patted Draco's shoulder, and he snapped his head up, feeling incredibly stiff. With a stiffled yawn, he looked up to find Harry's round, frightened eyes staring at him.

"Potter, stop staring. It's rude." He said, feeling nervous under the intense gaze.

Harry blinked a couple of times, then looked towards the fire. It was then Draco realized he had fallen asleep on the armchair. He felt his neck protest as he turned to look at Harry.

"You know." Started Draco, almost believing Harry wasn't listening to him. "I feel as if i'm talking to a wall. If you could at least nod and pretened you're listening..."

Harry's eyebrow lifted slightly and he almost smiled.

Draco was very amazed, at the same time positively confused. "You're in a good mood, I presume."

Emerald eyes locked with Draco's and he felt his cheeks burn, for reasons he did not know. Then, almost magically, Harry smiled. A small, actually tiny, smile, but a smile nonetheless. When he realized Draco noticed, he looked away, almost fearfully.

Just as Draco was about to make Harry talk, the portrait door swung open and Snape entered, his robes bellowing dangerously behind him. He looked like the vampires that Draco learned about in Defence Against the Dark Arts and was just as frightening.

"Draco!" He practically yelled.

Draco looked at him stunned, his eyebrows knit into a frown. "Snape?"

Snape narrowed his eyes at his student and Draco looked back, flustered. "You and I need to talk."

"You know, you don't look like you're in the friendliest mood. Perhaps after we've eaten"

"Be quiet." Snape snapped, his beady eyes flashing menacingly. Draco noticed Harry flinched.

"If you haven't noticed." Draco said, somewhat annoyed. "We have both just awaken, and our ears are quite sensitive." Obviously, Draco felt quite distressed with his godfather, considering he hadn't even tried to free Draco from this nursing job.

"It turns out." Said Snape, his greasy hair flickering over his forehead. "Since Dumbledore cannot be here, I have to explain Potter to you. And trust me, i'd rather be doing many more productive things with my time." There was a very Snape-like sneer placed on his pale face.

"Explain Potter?" Draco asked, feeling rather curious in spite of himself.

Snape's upperlip curled, showing his very unattractive teeth. "Isn't that what I just said? Now make sure Potter's out of earshot while I conjure up some tea. God forbid Dumbledore leaves an easy task on my shoulders for once." He snarled.

Draco looked towards Harry and found he wasn't there. Feeling a trail of panic from his stomach catch in his throat, he violently shook his head, feeling himself grow pink when he realized Harry was sitting on his bed, reading another book.

Letting himself fall back onto the armchair, he turned so he was facing Snape. "So?"

Snape looked at him from underneath his narrow eyebrows. "Potter is not in his right mind. Even you have noticed that I hope."

When Snape was irritated, he was quite frightening. "Of course I've noticed." Draco said, taking the tea from Snape's outstreched hand.

"Would you like to know why?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Naturally."

With a deep sigh, Snape folded his arms neatly on his lap. "About 9 months ago, Potter finished off the war, to the great relief of wizards everywhere." He paused, making Draco extremely ticked off. "Potter fought The Dark Lord in a secluded place, away from any help and witnesses, so even I do not know exact details. Dumbledore claims he knows nothing as well, but he obviously knows more than what he tells."

Draco felt like prompting his godfather to get to the point, but knew it would only make Snape continue slower.

"The Dark Lord had beaten Potter for quite some time. When he emerged from the castle where he had his battle with The Dark Lord, his scar had been bleeding. That is how we knew the curse was forever broken. The Dark Lord was gone permanently, and nothing would bring him back. However, this did not mean he had given up without a fight. Though I am quite unsure of what happened that night, it was believed The Dark Lord drove Potter to insanity by showing him replays of his loved ones deaths. If you are unclear, those were mainly his mother, father and the dog Black."

Draco tried picturing seeing his loved one's dying. His mother hadn't really been severley close to him, and his father wasn't someone he loved. He settled for picturing Snape, though at the moment he wasn't exactly mournful.

"That is all I know of the fight. In fact, until i recieved Dumbledore's letter this morning, it was all I knew on the matter itself. It's all anyone knows, really. Anyhow, Dumbledore's letter this morning surprised me, as it had very confusing news. You do know, Draco, that Potter has lost his memory. But what you do not know was that even though The Dark Lord caused him to go insane, mainly meaning he would cry and shout random things quite frequently, he hand't caused Potter's memory to disappear. That, Draco... That was what Potter did to himself."

Draco almost dropped the cup from his hand, spilling a small amount of tea on his robe. It was quite un-Malfoy-like but that was the least of his worries. "That makes no sense, why in the world"

"Do not interrupt me. It does make sense, Draco. Potter hated the memories of his life so much, he simply did not want to remember them. He did not cast a spell on himself or drink any silly potion. None of that nonsense. Quite plainly, he chose to forget and pushed all the memories to the back of his head, forgetting everyone and everything. His magic, though, was too strong to forget, and Dumbledore believes it's the only thing that keeps him at ease."

Draco stared at Snape, his mouth hanging open in a very unattractive way. "So, if he wanted to, he could remember?"

Snape looked at Draco closely, before taking a long sip of tea. "Well, it's good to see we've finally gotten something through that thick skull of yours."

Draco rolled his eyes. "But how does one get him to remember."

Snape rubbed his index finger and thumb together, examining them intensely. "It's not that easy. You cannot make him do anything, Draco. The only way for him to remember is to make him want to remember. Which, Draco, even I wouldn't attempt. It's obvious those memories should stay in the deepest corners of his mind."

Draco looke at Snape wonderingly. There was a minute of silence before Snape stood up and headed for the door.

"However, Draco. I believe Harry's heart would be at ease if he could remember."

Draco watched his professor leave, quite aware he had used Harry's name.

There was a long pause in motion before Draco turned around to stare at Harry's bed. The boy looked very captured in his bookd and Draco sighed. It was a while before Harry realized he was being watched and he averted his gaze to meet Draco's. The pale boy quickly looked away, his neck reddening.

A/N: It was alright, i guess. I tried to explain what I could. This should pretty much end the introduction. NOW i can get focuss on the romance. That's good at least. Bear with me, please. I know, it was short and all, but I promise the next few chapters will be more exciting. This was really informitve, though. At least I hope it was. If you have any questions or comments please email and ask! By the way, I've lost word, so if I have spelling/grammatical errros, please try and do your best to ingore them. Trust me, I know what it's like reading a fic with thousands or errors in them. Sorry!

Shadow