Disclaimer- I wish i owned Draco and Snape and the twins...
Author's note: Sorry for the long wait, many, many things have come up... and sadly i only got the same three people to review.. T_T So no hints for you...
Forgotten Memories- Chapter Eight Misconceptions
Sunday Night-
The heir to the Malfoy name, and two ancient and powerful kingdoms, could be found in his prefect room, tossing and turning in a restless slumber. The sign's of detention with Umbridge burning into his raw hand, as he was in the throws of yet another memory.
Black smoke filled the air and his lungs quickly, while hot flames licked at the young boy running to find an exit. Running blindly, Draco collided with another young boy, looking up he recognized the three people in front of him. The boy he had crashed into was Will, a young boy only a year older than his 5. Behind him, he saw Mr. Meintez the Orphanage counselor, and beside him was Melly, a little girl with long black hair and scared brown eyes. The two boys picked themselves up and the four started to silently look for an exit, they did not want to waste what precious little oxygen they had left.
It was Will who had found the exit, motioning wildly for them to escape. As Draco ran to Will, he unconsciously glanced back, only to see Melly fall, her foot catching on a piece of ceiling that had begun to fall. His five year old heart not wanting to leave her, he turned and jogged over to where the girl had fallen. He uncovered his mouth, freeing both his hands, in order to help her, the young Malfoy tried desperately to lift the ceiling tile, and could feel more tears threatening to fall from his clouded eyes, when the tile seemed to lift of its own accord.
Relief flowing over Draco, he helped Melly up, gripped her hand tightly, and sped off in Will's direction, who was still waiting for them. Dragging Melly out into the open, Draco finally let go of her hand, only to feel a large calloused hand cover his small mouth, and an arm encircle his tiny waist. Once more in a panic Draco began to struggle feverishly, trying to make any contact with his captive. He suddenly stilled when he heard Mr. Meintez scream, his eyes sought out the counselor who was being dragged by more heavy men.
The young Malfoy watched, his stormy gray eyes wide with fear as the men restrained the thrashing counselor, and strung a rope around his neck and hoisted him on an old broken chair. By now the weak struggling stopped and the once loved counselor stood erect and silent as the strangers finished knotting the rope around a tree's loose limb.
Draco's terrified eyes met with Mr. Meintez's warm blue as the old counselor gave him a last soft sad smile, before the chair disappeared from underneath him. Another scream ripped through Draco's already dry throat, and tears fell freely as he renewed his attempts to escape his captive, while helplessly watching as the counselor hung lifelessly from the tree, the sad smile remaining on his lips. He could see Will across from him, also trying to escape the man holding him, as both boys fought fruitlessly, yet another man appeared this one wearing a dark billowing cloak, his face hidden by the shadows of his hood. The new arrival gave both struggling boy's a disinterested glance before he spoke, "They fight, shoot them."
Young Draco suddenly stilled as the man holding Will, pulled out a strange object, the object was pressed against Will's head, and the man pushed the tiny lever on the object. Draco jumped at the sound the object made, and looked over at Will, who was now lying motionless on the ground, warm red liquid pooling around him as lifeless brown eyes stared back at him.
Silver hair shot up from its pillow, a scream ripping through his throat, while cold wet tears touched his raw hand. Thanking anyone who would listen that he had silencing charms around his room, as his tears slowly stopped; he scooped up the young fox, which was looking at him worriedly from her position on the pillow, and headed out the door.
Blaise woke to the light hesitant knocking on his prefect door, "Come in." he said groggily, slowly moving to a sitting position on the bed. The door opened slowly and quietly, revealing his sleepy eyed best friend with Candace in his arms. After his moment of surprise he took in the sad gray eye's laced with blue (Color of sadness for a demon's eyes) and his usually pristine hair, ruffled from tossing and turning. The Italian let a soft smile grace his feature's, he lifted the covers next to him and inclined his head to the empty spot beside him.
Draco's worried expression disappeared replaced with relief. Blaise watched as his dearest friend stumbled to the other side of his bed, and climbed up. The sight reminded him of the many; many times they did this during their childhood, when Draco would snuggle up next to him after revisiting one of those horrible memories and drift off to a dreamless sleep. He silently cursed his Defense Teacher who was putting the person he thought of as a brother, through this again. Bloody Toad, when I get my hands on her… his silent threat was interrupted by the teen beside him, "Blaise….." the uncertainty and fear in his voice clenched at his stomach.
The Italian gave him another soft smile, "Don't worry about it Drake, I know." The teen beside him looked down, a mix of silver, gold, and violet strands falling into his eyes. Blaise let out a small chuckle, "Come here Drake." He knew from years of experience how to lull his best friend back to sleep. The smaller Slytherin moved closer to him, Candace leaping from his arms and curling into herself at the end of the bed. Blaise held his best friend and hummed a melody from his library of music he had acquired for this very reason, while running his fingers through his hair. He could feel the tension leave the smaller teen's body and right before he succumbed to wonderful dreamless sleep he mumbled, " 'm… s'rry…. Blaise…." The Italian let out a sigh, when he got a hold of that toad……
(Just so there's no confusion, Blaise loves Draco as a younger brother, meaning their relationship is more of a very overprotective older brother type, Blaise is paired with Hermione.)
"Tell me again why we have to play with her?" whined the demon, as a young fox child wandered in the forest. "Because Emo Lord, tomorrow classes begin again and Draco is still angry at us", replied the angel, who slumped down near a tree watching the young fox. "And whose fault is that Featherbrain? You're the one that let him hear about the questioning, oh, intelligent one." He asked as he moved beside her. The angel looked up to glare at her companion, when her expression turned to one of concern. "The presence in the Hall that day, have you figured out what it was?" The demon shook his head as he sat down beside her ungracefully, "Not yet, I couldn't pin point the location, but we both know it was directed toward Draco and it wasn't good."
Ameretta gave a heavy sigh and searched the demon's coal eyes, "We can't lose him Damion, not again. I can't lose him twice, I won't." Her final words were almost too soft to hear. Damion looked at his angel companion, a sad brown tinting his usually charcoal eyes, "We won't lose him Ameretta, I'll make sure of it…. Hey! Don't go down there!" both mentors jumped from their positions to go chasing after the fox child that was running away, laughing merrily.
The Golden Boy of Gryffindor walked out of the Owlery with confusion and slight disappointment mixed in his features. He had just finished speaking with the girl he had thought he had a major crush on last year, and he had unconsciously started comparing her to an irritating Slytherin, who was currently assaulting his sanity. Harry had stopped himself when he realized what he was doing, but it didn't erase the fact that he had been doing it! That bloody ferrety git! Why do I have to be attracted to someone like him? He's a bloody death eater for crying out loud! He probably already has some plan to kill me!
Harry's thought's were interrupted by the very Slytherin he had been demeaning in his mind, when the said Slytherin had bumped into him. Malfoy staggered a bit, before drawing up his full height, inclining his head ever so slightly in apology. Since the teen in front of him seemed to be keeping silent, Harry decided to speak going straight to the question foremost in his mind, "What are you planning Malfoy?" Cold gray eyes regarded him coolly, "What ever do mean by asking such a question Potter?" responded the condescending drawl of the student in front of him.
Harry could feel irritation and anger surge through him at the calm disregard of his question, "Don't play innocent with me Malfoy, we both know you're far from it. What do you plan on doing with Hermione? What orders did Voldemort give you, to have me killed?" He practically yelled the last statement. He now waited for Malfoy's response; when he looked to meet the Slytherin's cold gray eyes, he almost jumped when traces of violet could be seen. That's not the light playing tricks on me! Malfoy's eyes are actually turning violet! He came back to his present mind by the sound of Malfoy's voice devoid of its usual qualities, "Potter…." Harry was determined not to shiver at how utterly emotionless he found Malfoy's tone, "I will tell you this once, and only once, you are trying my patience. You, Wonder Boy Extraordinaire, are an utter fool. So let me make this clear to you so that your incompetent mind can comprehend this, One- I do not plan on doing anything to Miss Granger, as long as she doesn't hurt Blaise. Two- and let this sink in Potter, I am not, nor never will be a follower of Voldemort, and to say so will end in embarrassment and pain for you. Three- if I truly wanted you dead Potter you would have been so long before now."
Harry could only stare in astounded horror as Malfoy swept past him, leaving the other in complete and utter shock. After several minutes slowly, and agonizingly trickled by, Harry some how brought himself back into consciousness, his thoughts going by, almost too quickly for him to coherently follow. What the bloody hell was that about? I know Malfoy's eyes changed, I'm sure of it. But seriously? Did the bloody ice prince wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Who was he to tell him he could kill him or not? That conceited, spoiled, selfish, pompous ferret! How in all the reaches of logic and sanity did he become attracted to someone like that? There was nothing special about the ferrety git! He was shorter than him, he couldn't beat him in any Quidditch match, he had silver hair with gold and violet strands, that was the envy of the entire girl population, he had beautiful eye's that began to change color...
Harry physically slapped himself, for letting his thoughts stray to that. He refused to elaborate on the last two thought's that had snuck into his train of thought. What he needed was to consult his one friend that wasn't crazy about house unity, on what was wrong with him.
Draco stormed through the Halls, not bothering to take any notice as to his current surroundings. How dare Potter accuse him of bowing down to that man! And what in Merlin's name would I possible be planning to do with Granger other than try to tolerate her presence for Blaise's sake? The young heir was so caught up in his raging thoughts that he failed to notice the student right in front of him. "Draco, correct?" came the sound of a hypnotic voice. The Slytherin looked up in time to prevent himself from colliding with the dark haired student yet again.
"Hello Mr. Clearwater." Draco answered as formally as possible; thought's about his previous conversation still floating in his mind. Jacob grinned at him, "Please call me Jacob." Golden eye's seemed to dance with merriment at Draco's obvious discomfort at addressing him by his given name. Jacob's grin seemed to broaden, only making the Slytherin more nervous, "Could you possible be lost again Draco?" the student asked smoothly. The heir's eyes glanced at his surrounding's quickly, only to come to the conclusion that he was indeed lost…again…
The smaller teen remained silent, and Jacob seemed to take his silence as confirm-nation. The golden eyed boy let out a chuckle, "Where are you supposed to be headed? I wouldn't mind accompanying you." Draco, couldn't pin point why he was so nervous around Jacob, yes he was extremely cautious and very: very picky about whom he trusted, but he felt unsafe with this teen, and he couldn't understand why. It unnerved him that he always seemed to meet the teen when he found himself helplessly lost, like now. May as well get someone to help me, seeing as how I am apparently LOST. "I'm supposed to be meeting a friend of mine near the lake." The heir couldn't identify the look that seemed to cloud the other teen's gold eyes, before he took hold of his hand, "Well then, we'd better get going."
Harry had initially thought to go find Ron, but catching sight of the irritating Slytherin again, compelled him to follow Malfoy. As Harry followed him, he lost track as to where he was in the castle. He watched as Malfoy almost collided with another student. The Gryffindor inched closer, hoping to catch their conversation, when he took in the other teen. It was the same teen who had lead Malfoy to their first detention, and the one who had smirked at him in the Great Hall. "Draco, correct?" the sound of Malfoy's name coming from the stranger sent a foreign feeling coursing through Harry. "Hello Mr. Clearwater." Malfoy answered him, his tone sounded as if the Slytherin were greeting someone at a meeting. "Please, call me Jacob."
Jacob Clearwater Harry ingrained the name to memory, filing it away for future use. He could see Jacob grin, "Could you possible be lost again Draco?" His eyes drifted to Malfoy, who seemed to be looking around helplessly. He IS lost isn't he? Harry chuckled darkly at the thought of the Slytherin Ice Prince getting lost. "Where are you supposed to be headed? I wouldn't mind accompanying you." The Golden Boy felt another strange feeling shoot down his spine. He looked to Malfoy, who seemed to be thinking about something before he spoke, "I'm supposed to be meeting a friend of mine by the lake." The lake? Isn't that where Hermione said she would be today? His confused thought's turned to a darker sense when he saw Jacob take hold of Malfoy's hand. "Well then, we'd better get going." Harry turned away quickly, murderous thoughts clouding his mind, he needed to find Ron, and he needed to find him NOW.
Hermione was trying to remember just how she had ended up sitting under a tree, with Pansy Parkinson; waiting for the other's to arrive. Over just a couple days the young Gryffindor had begun to feel more comfortable in the Slytherins presence, though she was still slightly weary of Malfoy. She chanced a glance over toward her silent companion, who was humming an odd melody. Jumping at the chance to break the silence she asked what song she had been humming. The Slytherin's eye's came to focus on her, and Hermione jumped at the soft smile on her face, "I don't rightly know the name, it's a melody that Draco occasionally hums, you'd have to ask him." Hermione had spent enough time with Parkinson and Zambini, to notice that whenever they spoke of the Malfoy heir, their eye's seemed to visibly soften.
The idea surprised Hermione even more than a Slytherin smiling. She couldn't understand how the boy, who had tormented her and her friends for four years, could ever produce such a tender expression off of anybody, much less two Slytherins. The young Gryffindor decided to get some answers to the many question's floating around in her head, "Parkinson?" the Slytherin beside her made her jump, when, instead of mocking laughter; she heard light laughter coming from her as she said between giggles, "Hun, if you plan on breaking through anyone's shield's you're going to have to be a little bit more informal than that. Call me Pansy, or Pans whichever." Hermione's mind was reeling, "Okay….Pansy?" the Slytherin's laughter seemed to die down to a few giggle's, "Yes Hermione?"
The brunette sighed, whoever thought Slytherin's would be this…well… weird. "Parkin….Pansy, what exactly do you mean by that?" It was her companion's turn to sigh, "Listen Hermione, you could describe Blaise and Draco as brothers, Blaise being the older overprotective one, and Draco being, well Draco." The Gryffindor nodded, waiting for her to continue, the Slytherin gave another sigh and began to plunge into a story, "I met Draco and Blaise during our first year here. When I had first met them, I had accidently poured pumpkin juice all over Draco." Pansy paused, letting out a giggle at Hermione's dumbfounded expression.
"I had heard the rumors about Draco Malfoy, and was waiting for him to hex me to hell and back when he surprised me. He had told me to watch where I was going next time, and be a little more careful. He was a complete mystery to me, one that I was determined to solve. I started trying to talk to him and Blaise, but I only got polite conversations, nothing of real interest. I decided to take a more subtle approach; I started to use their given names first, hoping it would give them a feel of friendship. The only one who seemed to warm up to me was Blaise. Draco continued to keep an aloof appearance. Second year came and went, and Blaise was the only one who had begun to call me by my given name. Third year arrived and I was feeling hopeful, though Blaise seemed to be the only one to warm up to me. That was until I watched Draco go into Hagrid's hut after the Hippogriff incident."
She had paused again to let the information sink in to Hermione's brain before continuing, "Yes I know, I was a stalker, but could you honestly blame me? So, I followed Draco into Hagrid's hut, and what I heard him say almost made me drop to the floor. You see, Draco Malfoy Slytherin Ice Prince had apologized to him. I stayed where I was, yes I was eavesdropping…. Sue me. Apparently I had forgotten where I was when Draco opened the door and spotted me. I was terrified that the legendary wrath of a Malfoy would soon descend upon me, but it never happened. Quite the opposite actually, after I was caught snooping, I found he had started to very slowly warm up, but it still wasn't until the very end of our third year that he had used my given name for the first time."
Pansy had stopped her story when Hermione spoke, "Wait…are you telling me Malfoy…..I mean…..D…rac…o…apologized to Hagrid?" the name felt weird on her tongue, but not a terrible weird. The Slytherin smirked at her, "Didn't I tell you, mystery. Even now he's still a mystery to me, but now that he's allowed me to actually know him, I don't really mind anymore, and I can honestly empathize with Blaise, I care for him like the little brother I'll never have." She finished with finality as if her statement couldn't be argued with, and Hermione wasn't stupid enough to do so but the Slytherin's story brought another question to her mind and out of her mouth, "Park….Pansy, if you, a Slytherin yourself who hasn't done anything to Malfoy….Dra…co…couldn't get him to open up till fourth year, how am I, someone who has had a mutual hate relationship with him for four years, going to get anything out of him?"
Her companion gave her a wry grin, "Hermione, you have something I didn't have four years ago, an advantage." The Slytherin's statement perplexed the young witch, "I don't quite follow, and if anything I have a disadvantage." Pansy's grin only seemed to broaden as she explained, "You see, Draco had no reason nor want to get to know anyone other than Blaise, but now he's become a little more open… because he doesn't want to disappoint Blaise." Now, Hermione was beginning to understand that Slytherins usually confused people, intended or not, but this one just seemed to dumbfound her. Before she could ask what the Italian had to do with this, a voice made her jump.
"Now Pans, don't go giving our little Gryffindor any strange ideas." The Italian in question said as he strolled up to them with a fox trailing behind him. "Yeah, Pans…." "…We don't want…" "…to have Hermes…" "…thinking we've…" "…gone nuts…" came two voices that seemed to pop up behind them, as Hermione turned to see the two mischievous twins. She was still unsure of how the two of them could be so familiar with these Slytherins. She watched as Fred glanced around, "Drake's not here yet." He stated as if it was a revolutionary concept. George glanced around as well, "He's probable lost again." The two Slytherin nodded at his statement, when the fox Hermione had seen came up to her.
The Gryffindor slowly held out her hand, trying not to scare the animal. The fox carefully extended its head, and cautiously sniffed the hand presented to it. After the animal seemed to accept her, she looked up at one of the twins to ask what he meant by Malfoy getting lost. Fred plopped down next to her, "Drake's always getting lost. He has absolutely no sense of direction." Hermione turned to him slightly worried, "then shouldn't we go search for him?" George, who slid down next to his brother gave her a grin, "Don't have to Herm's, his highness is right there." He inclined his head a little toward the castle. She looked up to see the Slytherin Ice Prince advancing her way, looking slightly dazed. As he came about three feet away, the small fox she had been tending to, wriggled away from her and bounded toward him.
Hermione's jaw visibly dropped as the fox tackled Malfoy to the ground, and she was pushed into a deeper state of shock when she heard Malfoy laugh. It wasn't the usual jeering and mocking laugh that she usually associated him with, but light refreshing laughter. To make matters worse for her mind, she could feel herself pulling her lips into a smile. Malfoy should not be able to make me smile! ...but he can't be all that bad can he? To get Parkinson and Zambini…no Pansy and Blaise to smile like they do…maybe… her train of thought froze when she realized that Malfoy and the small fox had picked themselves up and made their way to their small group. Hermione took a quick breath here goes nothing, "Hey, Draco." The Slytherin noticeably tensed for a few second's before he turned to her, "Evening Granger, I hope you were not kept long." After the words left his mouth, the twins bombarded him, leaving the young Gryffindor a few precious moments to think. Pansy was right, this will be difficult…
(Jacob left Draco before he arrived near the lake)
As soon as Harry caught up with his best friend, he confessed to Ron what had been plaguing his thoughts since the semester began, "Ron! I think I'm attracted to Malfoy!" The red head stopped, bed sheet's left to dangle in his hands as he turned to Harry. "You're what?" he nearly screeched, making Harry wince. "I think I'm attracted to Malfoy." He repeated collapsing on his bed. "Harry! How could you be attracted to that slime-e git?" said teen groaned in response, "I don't know Ron, but I've tried to think of other people, I even kissed some person in the hallway to try and get rid of it. I don't know what I'm supposed to do…"
The raven sat up looking at his best friend who had been silent for too long. The red head locked eyes with him, a thoughtful look on his features, "Slow down Harry, think about this. We know Malfoy's up to something right? And Hermione is definitely stuck on trying to form house unity, so why don't we kill three birds with one stone? If you can get the git to go out with you, Hermione will think you're trying to help her cause, you can find out what the git is hiding, and you can get a quick shag off him so this weird attraction can disappear, and as extra we can knock him down a few pegs." He finished with finality as if he'd thought of magic itself.
Harry took a few minutes to let the idea swim through his mind, Sounds a little cruel, but Malfoy's been nothing but cruel to us for four years. Hermione though…well she might get over it… and I would love to bring Malfoy down a few pegs. The Golden Boy nodded, agreeing to his best friends plan.