Head Versus Heart

by Femina Serpens

What will poor Draco Malfoy do returning to Hogwarts off his sad lonely high horse, faced with a partnership in a new class with an old enemy; the highly envied, always praised Hermione Granger? Is high, prejudiced society less exciting than chasing his golden girl? "It's like a war, my head versus heart. But for once…I want my mind to rest, and I want to let emotion win."

36. Into The Rabbit Hole

Man, I've been writing this all night, from 10 PM – 9 am. I was having a LOST marathon, it's so weird because I'm writing flashbacks of Draco so all I can think about is the ones in LOST, for those who like the show you'll know haha.

Anyways, This is by and far the longest chapter I have, so I think it's time for something special.

I am not one for dedications, but seriously, there are a few of you lovely readers who always take the time to comment and have given me the drive to keep going when I've been down about writing. Without you, I probably wouldn't be still coming up with ideas for this.

And so I dedicate this 16,000 word chapter to my golden girls and guys;

BrightestWitchOfHerAge16
LittleMissHugALot
OBLuvr13
HermionenDraco368
Eryk Lestrange

You all comment or commented from the very beginning and some of you up til now, and for that I thank you. Now on to the story.

---

I never thought the day would come, to say sorry for the things I've done,
I know the list is long but that's all on me.
I can't really find the words, to make up to the ones I've hurt,
But I hope they see this side of me.

I swear that I've been waiting, I've been waiting, to say:

Oh jealousy, look what you've done,
You got a hold of me, you made me become,
What I'd never be, look what you've done; Oh jealousy, look what you've done.

- Jealousy, Good Charlotte

---

"Did that really just happen?"

Everyone is completely at a loss of what to do or say right now, shocked and awed from what Draco had to say mere minutes ago; what his impending return is going to bring us.

We're all sitting inside at the kitchen table, Harry, Ron, Ginny and I, anxiously awaiting his arrival. But I think we're all dreading it too. I certainly have a great desire to see what has gone on inside his head, but I'm afraid of what I'll see, maybe I'll decide I hate him afterwards. And I don't want to.

Yet he's choosing to show us his memories, he came up with the idea. I thought that he was laying it on a bit thick about how much he yearned for change, but I know now this isn't a bluff, a game. He must really be hurting. He's seeking redemption in any form he can.

"I have no idea; maybe we're in a dream. Pinch me." Harry squeezes Ginny's flesh to get an answer to his question. "Ow. Kay, nope."

Ron sighs heavily, head in hands.

"I don't think I want to do this."

When Draco left the table, we managed to convince Mr and Mrs Weasley that we were going to go through with this. Despite Arthur's misgivings about the whole ordeal, once both Harry and I explained the process of entering a pensieve, how it doesn't do any physical damage, he reluctantly gave in. I don't think Molly wants us to see the inside of the warped Malfoy heir brain either, but she's probably tense enough already with having to deal with a feud she has no part in.

Ron only agreed, I know, so he could hope for something he could blackmail Draco with. Ginny likes to be in on everything, she is probably as curious as I am. Harry probably wants to hear his side now because Draco hit a note with him in saying that he changed his perspective on Snape in a manner of minutes. Harry has a heart of gold underneath, but when he's angry at someone, he usually stays that way.

Perhaps all of them did it to appease me. Regardless of what Draco thinks, they are, at the end of the night, good friends. And I know, even though they hurt me yesterday, that they did all this because they don't want me to feel any pain.

"You don't have to do it, you idiot," Ginny replies exasperatedly.

"Yes I do. This is a grotesque once in a lifetime event. Doesn't mean I want inside the sick mind of Draco Malfoy," he spits.

"You know you do, Ron, you just hate the thought that you might view something in that white goo that makes you feel a little bad for the ferret." We four turn our heads to face George, who spoke in a light tone, but looks as if he's just cried a river.

"I will never feel bad for him."

"You might," Verity chimes in from behind George, patting her boyfriend's arm soothingly. "He needs a friend by the looks of it. I mean, no offense Hermione, but – the kid seems pretty fucked up," she whispers.

"Well, he certainly has been through just as much as we have," I try, figuring arguing is pointless.

"Mm."

The back door slides open again, and inside Andromeda brings in a Teddy, almost dozing in her arms, along with Arthur and Molly.

"Where's Draco?" Andromeda asks, looking a little worried.

"He's gone to get a pensieve. Apparently his family's got one," Ginny replies.

"Ran away, has he?" Arthur butts in, shaking his head as he reaches the table.

"Dad, please. I'm not his biggest fan or anything, but he had the guts to come here. He did not act how we expected of him, and actually apologized. I think that warrants him a little slack?"

Seriously, sometimes I wish I could marry Ginny.

"That is true, I suppose," he grunts regretfully, placing some empty dishes into the sink.

"Doesn't mean we should all of a sudden love him to bits," Ron refutes. "Seeing him helpless among people he's betrayed didn't make me feel sympathetic, it made me angry. If he regrets it so much, why did he do it initially?"

"Exactly," Arthur pipes up, coming towards us to join everyone at the table. Andromeda goes to sit on the couch in the fireplace room, coaxing Teddy to slumber, and easing her own mind from the argument.

"I never said that I love him or even like him," Ginny huffs. "Mum, what do you think?"
Molly looks like a deer in headlights as she packages the remainder of the roast in a tin.

"Well, I – Well, you both have a point. Certainly, I'm still wary of him, it's just that Hermione likes him and…well, I don't know ."

"Arthur," I begin, knowing Molly doesn't want to intervene in her husbands strong feelings, "try to see it from Draco's perspective. Think about how much you hate Lucius Malfoy, and then… imagine him as your dad. Draco's had this father figure for his entire life that not only tries to control what he does and who he talks to, but constantly berates him for what he isn't rather than what he's achieved. His mother agreed enough in those twisted beliefs, maybe too caught up in love, maybe growing up exactly the same as Draco, to go along with whatever Lucius did to save themselves until everything became disgustingly real. I imagine that they never thought Voldemort would come back, and considered themselves lucky they escaped. Draco has been horrible to us, and I know it. I'm not trying to pretend he hasn't. But he's also had it really rough too, and it is not his fault his family decided to be involved in that kind of business before he was old enough to understand what it meant."

Harry is just aching to say something, but he lets Arthur go first.
"I see your point, Hermione, but remember that he had the choice to become a bully. Even if he thought he was higher than everyone else, he could have kept his mouth shut. I agree that being in Slytherin comes with the bias from everyone around you, yet he certainly acted, from what I hear, the way that fits the stereotype. Lucius was the same at school, and as much as I can attest to the fact that upbringing definitely shapes you, Draco liked what he saw in his father up until recently. He liked manipulation and controlling people, and you have to admit that it's a difficult thing to convince people now that he's different."

"I suppose," I say, unable to come up with a solid argument. Maybe I've put on the rose glasses a bit in hanging around Draco. I just find him so…interesting. Now that he treats me like an equal.

God, he's going to be the death of me.

I sigh, looking to my friend across the table. "What is it Harry, you can't stop shifting."

"Look I know you're going to roll your eyes at me, but as Mr Weasley said, he had the option not to be so vile. We're no saints, I know we took revenge when we could, but he's done much worse. And that is what's keeping me from trying to see your way. Remember what Dumbledore said? Our choices make us who we are more than our abilities. And he, admittedly, is not that stupid. So when he decided to be a big man and chew more than he can swallow because his father fucked up, sorry Mrs. Weasley," he says when she clicks her tongue. "It was all on him to blame. He should've realized it was time to escape. Sirius,"

"Harry, I know-"

"No. Sirius came from the same kind of family. Exactly the same. And he realized soon enough that these are not good people to be around, and decided that he should get out."

"Yes, but Sirius was different. He was put in Gryffindor, he had a greater heart to begin with, he was braver than most people. But Regulus was brave too in the end, wasn't he? He realized that he was wrong, like Draco has done, and now he's changing his mind and actions, even if it is a little late. Consider that Draco loves his parents, and Sirius didn't. That's a big distinction you're forgetting to factor in. If he hated them, maybe he could've given it up, but it seems like he loves them so much he wanted to protect them, right? Wouldn't you have done the same?"

At my words, nobody responds, thinking thoughtfully at what I said. I've been toiling over Draco's past for a long time now, since I realized I found him attractive, and to me, what he did was human. Wrong, but would I have risked the chance of my parents getting killed to get help from the enemy? I did everything I could to save them, didn't I, what would I have done if they couldn't go away? I know I'm brave, but am I that brave?

"I don't know, Hermione, I guess I just know that in the end what I would do would be for the greater good of everyone, not just a select few. I appreciate him apologizing, trust me when I say I really do, I'm just trying to explain to you why you have to give us a while to accept him, if at all."

I sigh again. "Alright. Just take it from him, not me," I reply stubbornly.

Harry shakes his head at me, and Ron says nothing, frowning into distant space.

"Sorry to cut in, but I think we're going to take off," George says awkwardly, leaning in to the table. "Got to be up early for tomorrow; got a business meeting, yadda yadda."

"Okay George, well thank you for coming, love."

"Wouldn't have missed it, mum. Dad." He wraps his arms around Arthur's shoulders briefly and then walks to Molly.

"Verity, it was nice seeing you again, too." Verity thanks Molly and leans in for a kiss and hug. While George is giving her his affection, Verity turns to us.

"I'm really sorry if this is inappropriate a bit out of the left field, but a few days ago, George got a 'special' invitation to an opening of a club friday night. It's been in the news a lot, actually, in the entertainment section; Dragonblood. Since they know George is friends with you three," she points to Harry, Ron and I, "the owner told us to bring as many 'hype people' as possible, whatever that means. Now you're all of age, so I thought maybe if you wanted something to take a load off, it would be dancing and a shot or two," she winks. "If you're interested? We could go dress shopping tomorrow if you're not busy? Maybe the boys can come?"

A club?

Dress shopping?

"Ahm, I'm not sure if that's such a good idea," I reply, bewildered.

That is out of the left field. Draco definitely would not want to go.

"Yes, I agree, Verity. Though I appreciate the kindness extended, these kids have a tendency to get into trouble," Arthur states, raising his eyebrows. "I don't think any of these ones have been to a 'club`, and I'm sure Molly and I are a bit skeptical about what kind of reputation going there would build for them."

"Dragonblood?" Molly whispers uneasily.

"Well, I'd love to go dress shopping! May not be able to buy anything, but, whatever. I think it all sounds like fun. Don't you, Harry?" Ginny looks to her boyfriend, who shrugs.

"I can't dance to save my life, Gin."

"Yeah, and I'd be going stag, dateless while no doubt these two would end up making a gross display of themselves and Hermione would be moping over the absence of the great ferret."

"Draco would be coming, Ron," Verity says like he's daft, while George puts an arm around her. "And if you're that upset over going to a hot new club filled with tons of beautiful single girls, I can set you up with one of my friends."

George splutters. "Your friends? With Ron?" He tries to stifle laughter but let's out a tiny guffaw.

"Hey! I resent that."

"No offense, little brother, but Verity's friends are just as stunning as she is." Verity blushes, smiling. "You can barely speak around Fleur, and she's your sister-in-law now. You aren't exactly, shall we say, smooth?"

Ron glowers at George, but concedes and drops his head onto his crossed arms placed on the tabletop.

"Whatever, I don't want to go on a date, anyways."

"Oh come now, it'll be a blast! George, you can buy your sister a dress, can't you?" George nods silently, perhaps embarrassed by his wealth, but nods. "And I promise, Arthur, Molly, that I will act as the designated 'caregiver' so to speak, and ensure they don't have too much fun. If it ends up getting too crazy, they can come to our place. What do you say?"

Molly is afraid to speak. She definitely wants to forbid it.

"Well where is it?" Arthur demands of George's girl. "Is it a good idea to bring Draco Malfoy with you lot? Don't you think it'll start a semi-riot?"

You know, Verity does seem like a very bubbly person, very likeable. I've only met her a few times but she's always so friendly. I confess that it does sound a little fun. I've never experienced that environment before.

But Arthur is right. Bringing Draco and Ron in the proximity of alcohol seems a foolish thought, even if I stay sober and watch them. And I'd feel bad if I went without Draco, considering he asked me to go steady basically an hour ago.

"It's in Diagon Alley, where Knockturn Alley used to be. Now that all of those old shops have been boarded up and kicked out, they're renovating. I think they're attempting to attract more people by offering more than just shops."

"Hmm," Arthur ponders.

"Draco doesn't have to come, but I think in light of what has happened in the past year, it's not a bad idea to open our minds a bit to somebody willing to apologize. I also have no issue with him from the past, so you can call me on that too, but honestly, it'll make Hermione happier I'm sure."

"Please dad?" Ginny asks, putting her hand on his, and probably making a facial expression reminiscent of Molly's puppy eyes. "We promise not to get too rowdy. If it's a new club, lots of people to note will likely be there, not just Harry."

Arthur exhales deeply, looks to Molly who gives him a wan smile to give him the ultimatum, and then back to Ginny.

"Alright," he mumbles. "But no more than 2 drinks. And if I hear anything has happened, you're not allowed to go out again. The things I agree to."

"Yay!" Ginny claps, ignoring his restrictions. "We're going to go dannnciiinnnnng!"

"Great," Harry says sarcastically, and George laughs.

"Oh come on, now Harry, it'll be fun! I heard some players from the Wimbourne Wasp's Quidditch team were going to show up."

"Really?" Harry asks, now intrigued.

"They suck, though," Ron argues.

"That's what the owner said, he comes round often. I also heard a rumour that Galvin Gudgeon might make an appearance," George says casually.

"WHAT! The seeker of the Chudley Cannons?" Ron practically leaps out of his seat in amazement.

"Well I think we've got this one convinced. Hermione?" Verity turns to me, laughing.

I'm too wrapped up in this present situation to really care about tomorrow.

"I'll go, of course. I'm not sure about Draco though. He may feel uncomfortable about people talking about him negatively behind his back."

"I am not going suit shopping by the way," Ron interrupts.

"Same," Harry agrees.

"Oh bollocks, he'll have a grand old time," Verity disregards the boys. "Assuming you don't hate him after this pensieve ordeal goes down, just come!"

The thought of the pensieve grates something deep in my stomach.

"We will," Ginny says happily.

"Good. Must be off now, I suppose. Bye everyone!" George says, waving to us, and opening the front door.

"Meet me tomorrow at say 3 PM? Ginny, Hermione? At the store. We can go to a few shops, kay?" Verity puts on her pink wool coat and waves.

"Sounds wonderful," I say deadpan. Ginny squees.

"And drag Draco with you if you'd like." George salutes us before opening the door. "Here he comes by the way, Hermione. See you later all!"

George and Verity leave the house, and there is a distinct crunch of footsteps coming from the left open entrance.
I can hear George say too loudly, "Dodged a bullet there," as his voice carries away into the night.

"So….should be a good time right?" Ginny prods me in the silence.

"I guess," I answer, concentrated on what's about to happen in here.

I watch the door like a hawk, until Andromeda breaks the emptiness by rejoining the group and gently inquiring, "Would you three mind if I looked at the memories too?"

My eyes snap to her, but nobody answers.

"It's okay if you don't want me too, I don't know if it would be too- Oh, hi Draco."

A disgruntled looking Draco lumps into the house, holding a round disc filled with luminescent goo, and a vial filled with white. He does not look pleased.

The room's atmosphere changes from apprehensively eager to fearful as we wait for our guest to speak.

"You can look at the memories, Andromeda. If it'll ease your thoughts about me," he says with no warmness in his tone. He sets the pensieve on the table, and pops the cork on the vial.

Andromeda blushes, embarrassed he heard her.

"Was your mother okay with you borrowing it, Draco?" I ask, unable to sound like I'm not speaking to a child.

"Ha, she doesn't even know. Too busy in the bedroom with Jean," he says a bit scornfully. Huh, guess he only likes her fiancée when he's helping his mother emotionally, though I'd wager that having sex…no, I won't go there.

"Erm, so how exactly do we do this?" Ginny asks directly to Draco, who blinks as if she's stupid then grimaces, apparently very wary.

"You just stick your head in, Gin. You feel like you're falling for a split moment, almost like when you use a portkey. It's odd to view the memories at first, because you have the freedom to move around. But we just have to trail Draco in whatever's he's doing. I guess if five of us are going, we'll have to dip our foreheads in," Harry explains.

Draco places the stone basin at the head of the kitchen table, wherein it lights up; when Draco pours the vial in, the contents swirl around in circles.

"What he said," Draco nods, placing the empty vial in his pocket. "It's ready when you are. Actually, if Andromeda is going, I should probably add something more." He slides his wand from his trousers, and takes the tip to his temple.

He draws a thin silver mist out of nowhere, like he's extracting a vein or tapeworm. It's the eeriest thing. I've read all about how pensieve's work, but I've never seen it in action.

He drags it to the pool of airy liquid, and taps it in.

"There….it's all yours."

He takes a step back to survey us all, looking very grim indeed.

"How long will it take?" I ask lightly.

"Probably only 5 minutes out here. I'm not sure how long for you. I tried to keep it short."

"Do you mean…you put all the memories in just now?" I ask incredulous.

"Well…yeah." Harry and I exchange glances, and he looks at his enemy in shielded awe. Harry now sees this wasn't a plan. Draco had to rehash everything he wanted to show us….it really was a whim to do this.

"Cough, shall we get on with it, then?" Harry asks us. Ron sighs, and creaks out his chair to stand up.

Ginny actually seems fazed at the prospect of going in as she grabs onto Harry's shoulder, where he looks determined but a little uneasy of what we're about to see.

"Here, Dromeda….give us Teddy. We'll go upstairs and…leave you all alone." Molly looks deeply troubled, Arthur stone-faced. Andromeda looks at me nervously, giving Teddy to Molly, as she surrounds this mysterious bowl.

The Weasley heads retreat to the upstairs, Arthur narrowing his eyes at Draco before he exits the kitchen.

I make it to the other end of the table and glance at Draco behind me, who looks at me deeply, with sadness and almost apology in those eyes. I give him as much of a smile as I can muster before turning around.

"On three, we'll all go in together. Agreed?"

Everyone murmurs their accordance to Harry's request.

"Ready….1…2…3."

We all stick our heads into the pensieve, and immediately I feel myself falling, light as air; into the rabbit hole.

{}

"Mother, why don't I have any friends?"

We land in an enormous garden in the back estate of home; Malfoy Manor.

Sitting under an umbrella about 2 feet away from all five of us is Narcissa Malfoy in a large sunhat, lounging in a chair drinking tea from a saucer.

I have a sudden desire to squeal out of cuteness as I witness what looks to be a five year old Draco hovering on a mini broomstick. He floats to his mother as he asks this question, and gets off the broom.

Narcissa, who had been sipping her cup, puts it down clunkily and looks very uneasy.

"Why do you think you have no friends, sweetheart?" She tries first.

"I don't have anyone to play with. People don't come over to see me, momma."

"Well," Narcissa answers shakily, "you're just not old enough yet to have a lot of friends. Little Pansy comes to see you, but she can't all the time, you know. Don't you enjoy spending time with me?"

"Well of course I do mother, but not all the time!" he exclaims, shoving his arms above his head adorably. "But don't I have more family than just you? I heard father talking about my cousins yesterday. Can't I play with them?"

I see Andromeda next to me, her face falling rapidly. Ginny squeezes her hand.

"Well…it's not that simple, darling. Daddy is an only child like you, and…i;m afraid you can't go see your aunts," Narcissa says in a fake cheery voice. Andromeda emits a small sob.

"But why not? Why haven't I met them?"

Narcissa is having a greatly difficult time concealing her anguish.

"One of them is in Azkaban, you remember what that is?"

Draco's eyes go wide like saucers and he claps his hands dramatically to his mouth.

"Why is she in there?" He shudders.

"You don't need to know that yet, Draco. Please don't ask me again," she says firmly. Draco cowers slightly and nods.

"What about my other aunts? How many cousins do I have?" He asks a millisecond later, getting over quickly the fact that his aunt is in jail.

"Draco-"

"Please?" he begs with puppy dog eyes. Narcissa takes a deep shaky breath and rolls her eyes back, as if she can't handle to talk about it.

"You have one cousin. She's maybe 12 now. Named Nymphadora."

"And what is she like?" Draco asks, jumping up to sit down on the seat next to his mother.

"I- I've never met her, sweetie." Narcissa wipes an eye with her napkin as daintily as possible.

"Why?"

"Because I haven't seen your Aunt Andromeda in a very long time." Andromeda looks at her younger sister years ago, feigning that she's okay when she's clearly upset. And I can see the hurt in her eyes; why didn't she go to see her if she was so distraught over it?

"But isn't she your sister, momma? Why? Isn't that mean?" Draco looks directly into her eyes with his bright grey ones, with a look of confusion.

"Sweetheart, I'm going to explain you something important and I need you to remember it. Alright?"

"Okay." He looks expectantly up at her, making it all the harder for her to start. She takes a long swig of tea and sighs.

"You know how daddy taught you about Muggles? And muggle borns?"

"Yes," he replies, scrunching his face at the thought of it.

"Well, your Aunt, my sister, she married a man who had muggle parents."

Draco's eyes go wide again, and he gulps, unable to say anything at something so appalling.

"When I graduated from Hogwarts, you know, the school you'll go to, she went with him instead of coming home. Grandma and grandpa were very upset that she didn't want to be with a pureblood wizard like daddy is, like I am, and like you are. They were so mad, they didn't want to talk to her again. For us to talk to her. So we haven't. I want you to see your aunt, but I don't want to make your father angry, and I don't want you to grow up without your grandparents, without a good life. So…we don't see your cousin and your aunt because daddy doesn't want us to see them. It wouldn't look good on the Malfoy's, because we shouldn't associate with people who talk to Muggles. Okay?"

Draco looks down at the table for a moment, frowning, evidently trying to figure out why somebody wouldn't talk to someone they love even if they did something 'bad'.

Then he raises his head; "Okay."

The scene dissolves.

{}

We reappear into King's Cross, as all five of us land on our feet next to…an eleven year old Draco. He appears to be about to go on the train, his father speaking to him one last time, his mother stroking his hair.

"Now Draco," Lucius Malfoy drawls, looking vaguely proud, "remember what we told you. Make friends with good people, you know what that means by now, and anyone not in Slytherin should be someone like Harry Potter," Harry stiffens awkwardly, and pensieve-Draco makes an audible protest. "Now now, I know he's half-blood, but he's famous, and you would do well to be nice to him,"

"But father, I don't want to live in some hero's shadow. I want to be better than him!" he whines.

"You already are, son." This calms Draco down immediately, and he smiles up at Narcissa.

"Is that true, mother?"

"Of course, darling. I don't want you to worry too much about friends though, I'm sure you'll make many right away."

"Yes, go for the weaker ones. Vincent and Gregory seem a little dimwitted, I'm sure they could offer you some protection if you threatened them with your power."

"Lucius," Narcissa tsks, folding her arms.

"We need to make sure he's okay in that dump. If you had let me send him to Durmstrang…."

Draco crosses his arms exactly like his mother, evidently bored by his parents bickering.

"I'm sure any lesser bloods will not be in Slytherin, so he needn't worry about it. Just make sure you do your best in school, darling. Professor Snape will be your head of house, and he's our good friend, he can help you out with any problems. You remember him?"

"Yes, I remember," Draco rolls his eyes. "Can I go now? I don't want to look like a baby."

"Of course son, you only have a few minutes before it leaves anyways. Good bye, Draco." Lucius leans down to give his son a very trite hug, patting him once on the back.

"Oh, I'll miss you, darling. Please write! I'll make sure I send you sweets when you ask." Unlike her husband, Narcissa engulfs Draco in embrace and doesn't let go.

"Mother, you're embarrassing me." He grumbles into her robes.

"Don't coddle the boy, Narcissa," Lucius grimaces, looking around, as if displaying emotion is to display weakness.

Narcissa lets go of him, tears in her eyes. "Good bye, Draco."

Draco waves, no trace of fear on his face, and picks up his trunk. He steps onto the car and before going in leans out.

"Bye. Maybe send me my broom, too, hmm?" and disappears into the Hogwarts express, smirking.

Lucius gives him a stern look.

The scene dissolves.

{}

"But Father, why can't you tell me where we're going?"

It's the Quidditch World Cup – Lucius and Draco are walking fervently away from the stands, seems like it's right after the match. Draco's mother is oddly absent.

"If I have to tell you again, you're going to be in a world of trouble, Draco. Keep your mouth shut and follow me."

"But I thought we were going to leave this place immediately after the match, why couldn't I go with mother? We're not even going the right way. Pansy invited me over for dinner and I hardly think I should be kept waiting to hang around the common plebeians."

Lucius sighs greatly, and rubs his temple with a gloved hand. "Just follow me, son."

Draco rolls his eyes, but obeys him, and those of us in the present struggle to keep up with their heavy pace that leads away from all the tents and into the forest.

After a few silent minutes of walking through the trees, we find ourselves in a clearing full of around 15 men that look as dapper as our resident Malfoy's, grinning and laughing at their conversation.

"Ah, Walden Macnair." Lucius opens his arms wide for a moment before shaking the thin man's hand. "Been a long time, friend."

"Lucius," he nods in return. "It certainly has, too long. How nice of you to join our….hunting party." A few of the men let out malicious chuckles.

Draco looks perplexed, but joins the big boys in their laughter. A blond man turns his gaze to him, now that he's made himself known.

"Is little Draco joining us tonight then, Malfoy?" It's that Death Eater from the Coffee Shop, Rowle.

He gives Lucius a devilish grin, but Lucius doesn't return it.

"'Fraid not, Rowle. Just brought him along for the ride. Show him the ropes," he winks charmingly to the other unrecognizable faces in the cluster. They chuckle some more.

"The ropes, father?" Draco asks, raising an eyebrow.

Lucius turns around from the group, cape swinging, and faces Draco.

"A moment, please. Then the festivities will begin?"

"Certainly," Macnair replies, curling his lips to reveal a twisted smile.

Lucius pushes Draco away, grabbing him by the arm to drag him off to the side so they're hidden by a large tangle of brush.

Everyone in the dream sneaks forward to cower in to their conversation.

"I've brought you with me son, because you know about Death Eaters. When you inquired about the meaning to Severus and wouldn't stop, hm, prodding," he enunciates. "Severus thought it worthy to note to me. I thought perhaps seeing the real men in action would satisfy your curiosity. " Draco cringes slightly, like he was expecting a backhand.

"Now now," Lucius drawls patting his shoulder, snickering slightly. "There's no need to be scared, Draco. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not angry. No, I'm going to enlighten you. You're old enough to know now that I am, in fact, one of them. A Death Eater."

He trails a hand to his cloak, and gently rolls it up so as to not ruin the fabric, to reveal the dark mark. It's not as inky black as I've seen it before, nor as faded grey as it is now.

"You mean…" Draco inquires breathless.

"Yes. Once upon a time your father was much respected in the ranks of the Dark Lord. I'll admit that I enjoyed the fun more than the responsibility, but it looked as if the Dark Lord was going to vanquish, and now, you want to be on the winner's side, don't you?" Draco nods uncertainly. "Since Severus feels it necessary to indulge you on a term you no doubt stumbled across at school, perhaps I shouldn't hide it from you. Your mother thinks you are too young, but you're a clever boy, aren't you? You won't breathe a word of this to anyone, will you?" He looks at his son, with an ardent look in his eyes, desperate almost, grabbing him to pull him close.

"O-of course. Of course I won't."

Lucius loosens his grip, but doesn't let go of Draco's jacket. "You have a tendency to loosen your lips to impress people at school. If you get in trouble again like you did with that Hippogriff, if you tell anyone, especially Potter and pals, you will be in a world of trouble. I will be in a world of trouble, and so will your mother. This mark….this mark would ruin me, Draco. Nobody except these men know what I've done in the past. I donate plenty of money to Fudge, in turn he pulls strings for me. I told the Ministry that I was under the Imperius Curse, that Voldemort forced me to do these awful things after he fell so long ago. But they are lies."

"Does mother know about this?" Draco asks. Lucius rolls his eyes.

"Of course she does, you idiot. Listen to me. If Potter finds out, he'll rat me out. Even if the Ministry is unlikely to believe a boy over me, I can't risk it. This mark, Draco, he only gave it to people who were the most loyal, and I was very good at what I did. Concrete evidence would expose me as a fraud. It is imperative you know what I do on the side, but know only so you keep your mouth shut. And only bring it up when I do. You understand?"

"Completely," Draco replies automatically, searching for something in his father's expression. He looks in awe at him, clearly thinking his life up until now a bit boring.

"Good." Lucius straightens up and clears his throat. "Any questions you want to ask me?"

He looks thoughtful for a moment. "What do you do, exactly?"

Lucius looks deranged as his expression changes from neutral to pleasured. "Lots of things, son. It used to be whatever you were told; they were missions, issued by the Dark Lord himself. It was a rough time for everyone involved, but I was particularly good at, shall we say, putting the Muggles in their place."

Draco gulps. "That's great and all, father. But He Who Must Not Be Named…he's dead, right? I mean, why would you gather here tonight?"

He can't conceal his underlying fear, leaving Lucius looking a tad disappointed.

"He's still gone, son. There would be no point in us terrorizing the masses at a time like this, it's our choice now. I'd know if he were back, we all would. Every once in a while, we like to gather round for a good old romp like the old days. The stupid Irish are loud enough that we can get away with this once in a lifetime opportunity. The ones who aren't locked away convene in a manner such as this every once in a blue moon. Kind of like having a reunion party, ha ha," he chuckles heartlessly.

"Oh. Well what am I supposed to do? And what are you doing anyways?"

"You're supposed to stand back and watch. Everyone knows what you look like, who you are. They touch a hair on your head, they'll feel my wrath into the next millennia. So go and stand over by those trees near the Muggle Camp entrance. And don't move. I'll come retrieve you when I'm done."

"But what are you doing?" Draco repeats a little louder as Lucius walks back into the clearing with his 'friends'.

"We're going to have a little chat with the Muggles, boy." Who I'm fairly certain is Crabbe Sr. responds to Draco instead of his father, and the circle is roused with laughter once more.

"Now step aside, son, and watch how it's done, ah?"

"Masks on, gentlemen." With a flick of many wands, black masks appear from thin smoky air and form onto the men's faces. They put their hoods up for a full masquerade, and Lucius shoves Draco to steer him out into the clearing once again. After they've walked close enough to the edge of the forest to see tents, and torches have been lit, the scene dissolves.

{}

It's very dark.

We're in a corridor.

No windows seem to be visible, or else it's a cloudy night.

"I can't see anything at all," Ginny whispers.

I take a few steps out to get a bearing or sense of where we are, when Andromeda makes me jump from my skin: "THERE."

I turn around and she's pointing behind where we appeared; Draco in his nightclothes, standing at a large closed door, his ear to the oak.

We all run towards him, and awkwardly scramble to surround his frame so we too, can hear what he heard.

"Shh, stop moving," Harry commands, as we try to stand still.

"Tell me, Lucius, tell me what happened." I recognize the cold clear voice of Narcissa. Must be in their bedroom. She does not sound impressed.

"I just did, Narcissa. He's BACK. Do the details really matter?"

"Of course they matter!" she cries, her temper rising.

"I felt the mark burning, as you know it has been for months. But this time I was summoned for certain. Not like the stupid fiasco at the World Cup."

"And?"

He sighs, a very tired sound. "And all the ones who aren't locked up obviously showed up. We had to. He was there, the Dark Lord reborn, standing inn a graveyard, and so was Potter."

"Harry Potter?" she sounds shocked. "Then, the Dark Lord did not kill him?"

"Yes, and no. Of course he didn't, otherwise you would know. He was not pleased with me. He thinks that I should've pulled the Lestrange route and stayed in prison out of loyalty," Lucius spits. "As if that would solve anything. No, blast, the Dark Lord made Potter duel with him so he could defeat him. But something very odd happened – their wands intertwined, connected. Killing curse against Expelliarmus; I've never seen anything like it. Potter's wand exploded this strange white light and he managed to get away by using the Triwizard Cup which was a Portkey. So now obviously, The Dark Lord is livid. But I think that if I co-operate it will be alright…for now. We need to get back into his good graces."

"But what does that mean for us…..for you?"

"I don't know." His confidence wanes, his voice is sober.

"You're going to have to hurt people again. You're going to disappear and then expect me to pretend you're on business. Act like everything's fine, like last time."

"Do you think I have a choice? I'm going to have to do what he says or….who knows what will happen."

"And Draco? Do you think he's going to care if he's a child? "A thump, then a sob.

"He'll be fine. Narcissa, he's going to be just fine. I promise."

"You can't promise me that, and you know you can't."

Suddenly footsteps can be heard edging close to the door. Draco shoots up like an arrow, gasps, and leaps behind a vase that is in a nook of the wall just moments before the door swings open through Ron and Harry's torsos.

Narcissa saunters by with a handkerchief to her glistening face, too fast to notice her son, who stares at her with concern as she reaches the end of the endless hall.

The scene dissolves.

{}

We're in Malfoy Manor, in the same room where Bellatrix Lestrange tortured me.

Despite his apparent loathing at the situation, Ron squeezes my hand as he edges towards me, as I try blocking the memories out that are triggered by this room. I look at him briefly and give him a smile as best I can.

By the roaring fireplace are the Malfoy's sitting in chairs, but the set scene is odd. It's too tense, it doesn't look comfortable. Narcissa is sipping tea with a shaky hand, while Draco looks at the flames, no register in him. Lucius has pin straight posture, as if he's waiting.

KNOCK KNOCK

Everyone flinches slightly. Narcissa grabs her sons hands from across her chair arm.

"I'll get it," Lucius utters wordlessly, and walks heavily from the room.

Harry decides that he should move from standing in front of the scene to the right, so he can watch the full effect. He pulls Ginny along, while I walk with Ron to end up right next to Draco, whose eyes and expression I notice, are not lifeless; they're filled with silent anxiety.

Everyone's glued to the door, wondering who's going to return through it. If this stream of memories is in chronological order, I have a terrible hunch.

My intuition is correct as I hear a sharp happy cackle resonate from just beyond the door.

"Cissy, darling, oh it's been far too much time. You look as radiant as ever." Bellatrix ambles across the cold stone floor to her sister, Lucius in slow tow looking grim. She looks a lot thinner than when we first met her in the Department of Mysteries, though just as deranged.

Narcissa stands with fear, but still awaits her sisters arrival on the carpet by the fire.

"I trust you received my letter," she asks, going in to give her a hug. Narcissa is too shocked to speak, but wraps her arms around Bellatrix all the same.

"Yes, we did, Bella." Lucius replies scathingly. "What were you thinking? What if it was intercepted? What business do you have coming here? What do you think would happen should anyone from the ministry come round? You know they've come here 5 times since January. And where's Rodolphus?" He's absolutely livid, flailing his hands with animation, thumping the floor with his cane.

Bellatrix lets go of Narcissa, and turns towards her brother-in-law, giving him that small smirk that used to haunt me. "So many questions, Lucius. Perhaps you'd have all the answers if you weren't too much of a coward to go to Azkaban, be a real Death Eater." Lucius grunts his disapproval.

"You didn't answer my question."

Narcissa reaches in to grab his hand, but he shakes it away.

"Not that it concerns you; Rodolphus is with him, we stayed by his side since we escaped. I was permitted to leave to deliver a message," Bellatrix spits.

Draco emits a small intake of breath. His aunt spins around.

"Ah, Draco, I almost forgot you were here. Got a break from the Hogwarts filth?" she chuckles. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you." She puts her hands together with joy and strolls towards him. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, and looks to his parents for something to do, who exchange glances.

"Now, now, don't be afraid of me. I know it's been many years, but don't you remember your Aunt Bella?"

Draco grimaces, but gets up to receive the embrace from his aunt.

"That's a good boy."

She backs up and grips his face with her hands, pulling him down to examine him. The uneasy visage stays.

"So tall, you are. My, he does look a lot like you, Lucius. Pity." She lets him go and he rubs his face where she touched him.

"What was it you wanted to say, Bella?" Lucius asks exasperated, rubbing his temple.

"Aren't you even a little curious as to how we escaped? It seems you want me out of here as quick as you can. Do you think the Dark Lord will appreciate this kind of rejection towards his most faithful servant?"

Lucius sighs. "Bella, I was there when he returned. He called us. I've been doing my part to try and keep the Ministry under wraps, for him. My influence is no doubt helpful, and it would have disappeared completely if I had gone to Azkaban."

"Ha! For him? More like for yourself, dear brother."

"For my family; for him; for everyone that matters, including you, Bella. Excuse me for not being a little more acquiescing when my son is present. I've told him the basics but he doesn't need to know all this."

"Au contraire, Lucius, the time will come when he will need to know all this. Now would you rather him be prepared or be in the dark?"

"W-what are you talking about?" Draco asks hoarsely, still standing motionless.

"Nothing, Draco, go up to your room."

"But-"

"I said now."

Draco walks stiffly out of the room, not before his aunt has a say.

"Your daddy is going on a mission, Draco. To help out the Dark Lord, who seems to think that he is still worthy of being in charge. He'll be with me…and some others, so don't fret. It has to do with Potter, if that helps your blood thirst. If he succeeds you'll actually have something to be proud of him for."

"Upstairs, now." Draco exits the room and the last thing we see is Lucius glaring at Bellatrix, Narcissa heavy with worry.

The scene dissolves.

{}

This place we're in next all looks very institutional. Doors with numbers line the hall.

"Why are we in St. Mungos?" Andromeda asks. Oh, of course.

We're not in the same ward as when we visited Arthur, ditto the one as Gilderoy Lockhart.

"AUGH!"

Room 27 is right across from us, slightly ajar. That's where the scream came from, and I know it's Draco. It's the same sound he made when Crookshanks scratched him.

Ron is still holding my hand, and I glance at him to walk towards it with me as the others follow along.

As I enter the room first, I feel a sharp something attack me in the chest at the sight of him.

He's pale green, a healer is muttering some sort of spell over him. She holds his hand up to the wand-stream. It looks to be the consistency of pudding, and the colour of sludge. In fact, the whole lower half is putrid jelly.

The healer looks young, she has black hair and kind eyes. "I know it hurts, Mr. Malfoy, but this is the only way to get your arm in its rightful shape."

We watch in horror as the green slime transforms itself from liquid to solid bone, tendons, and finally regrown skin.

"I want to vomit." Ginny whispers, covering her mouth.

"Owwww," Draco groans as his wrist snaps back into place. "I want to see my mother, where is she?" he croaks.

"She was hysterical, Draco. She stayed by your side when we first brought you here, but she can't stay if you want me to be able to do this properly. It's distracting."

"Well fuck me, shouldn't there be some consequence for what's been done to me?" he yells as his pinky is solid once more.

"Language, Mr. Malfoy. And volume. There are other people in here."

"Harry Potter and 10 others on the Hogwarts Express attacked me and my friends, and you think I'm just going to stay calm? Nobody cares that he broke the law?"

The nurse rolls her eyes. "I have no discretion and I know you're bitter that your father is in Azkaban, Mr, Malfoy, your mother told me everything that you've been through in the past few weeks. For now, yes I need you to stay calm or you're going to be in this mess permanently."

Harry snaps his fingers. "This is when we cursed him with the DA in fifth year on the train home."

"Why would you do that?" Andromeda asks, looking like she'll be sick.

"Because he was plotting to curse Harry," Ron replies. "He had Crabbe and Goyle ready to attack him because his father ended up in Azkaban, where he belongs."

Draco is getting angry. "How dare you talk about my father so blatantly. You have no idea-"

"In fact, I do have some idea of who your father is," the nurse says scathingly. "You should feel lucky I'm even healing you. Nobody else wanted to get involved with your family on shift today. So if you please, you'll shut your mouth and let me do my job. I still have a while to go."

Draco growls in protest but stays quiet and turns away from her.

She walks over to his legs and takes the covers off of him.

Ron gags at the sight of the naked mangled flesh, Ginny whimpers, the nurse even has a hard time staring at it properly.

The scene dissolves.

{}

Our next destination is in front of a jail cell.

Azkaban.

I feel a chill down my spine as I look into the bars and see Lucius Malfoy, dressed in classic cinema inmate garments; a black and white striped jumpsuit. He looks tired and lifeless, all hope gone from him. He's sitting on the dirty cell floor, leaning against a small cluster of straw that looks like a bed. It's absolutely barbaric how these people are living.

Harry is looking around to catch glimpses of Dementors, but none can be found.

Narcissa is oddly absent again. Draco is clutching the bars, looking stern.

It's raining outside the barred window, and you can hear the seas waves crash against the walls.

"I'm going to get Potter if it's the last thing I do." Draco says, trying to hold back tears. "For what's he's done to you."

Lucius doesn't respond for a moment.

"The Dark Lord is furious."

"But you did your best didn't you? You tried to do what he –"

"You think he's forgiving, Draco?" he asks wheezily, almost laughing. "You think he cares at all that I tried? Don't act like a fool, son. It's time to grow up, face the harsh realities of the real world."

"What are you talking about…?" Draco asks, worried.

"Draco, I was the one who gave Ginny Weasley that diary that opened the Chamber of Secrets," Lucius says defeated.

"What?"

Ginny shuffles noticeably, loathing the man for what he's done to her. Harry holds her, trying to keep her soothed.

"The Dark Lord gave it to me many years ago. Before you were born. He told me what it did and entrusted it to me to help him with some stupid plot that never came to fruition. I gave it to the silly girl in hopes that I could sack Dumbledore once and for all for running an unsafe school, and discredit that buffoon Arthur Weasley."

"So?"

"So? Draco, do you understand I disobeyed the Dark Lord? You know what that means? I threw away one of his possessions. I never thought – In my wildest nightmares I didn't think – he wasn't supposed to return! How can he be alive?" He questions, more to himself than Draco.

"Now that I went and broke that stupid prophecy, as I just told you, the Malfoy's will never be entrusted with another task. Two times we've failed. We're going to be grovelling on our knees son. Now it's up to you to try and redeem us, the family. To protect us, yourself, and your mother especially. She's not a Death Eater."

He gulps. "What are you saying? Are you saying that I'm – that I'm –"

"The Dementors have gone, son. I'll probably be out of here soon, when he needs me again." Lucius avoids the question. "The Dark Lord runs this prison, despite what Fudge thinks, that stupid oaf."

"Father, what do you mean when you say I have to protect you?"

"I'm saying that he'll likely give you a mission. And you will do it unless you want your life to be ruined, and everyone else's that's important to you."

Draco looks at his father, whose staring at him dead in the eyes, unnerving. I imagine that he doesn't do it much.

"Okay. I understand." His voice breaks. "I – I love you, father."

"Don't let me down, son."

The scene dissolves.

{}

Raucous laughter fills the air.

"Please! Please don't do this."

"Be quiet, Cissy. Shush."

Narcissa is being restrained by her sister and brother-in-law, who stand among a small circle. The five of us cannot see what everyone is witnessing so we move forward. It appears we're in Malfoy Manor again.

In the centre stands Voldemort. And he's talking to Draco.

We're all frozen, it's quite unsettling to see Voldemort alive again, in such a lifelike circumstance.

"Draco, Draco, you look so frightened. Why my boy? Haven't you been just aching to join us?" The cold, chillingly debonair voice of Tom Riddle fills the room.

I shudder.

Draco is breathing raggedly, mentally out of his wits. He's barely able to stand.

"No? You haven't been? I take your silence as a protest, tsk tsk. Too scared to tell us all gathered here that you don't want to be a Death Eater?"

Narcissa sobs.

Draco tries to speak. "N- I – I,"

"What's that?" Voldemort says, cupping a hand dramatically to his ear. "Maybe you do want to be one of us? You think your father is weak? That he couldn't even accomplish a task involving children? Well, I agree."

The men with masks all have a great time with this jab. Plenty of them sneer. Others make snide remarks.

"Your father told me you loathe Potter; good choice, Draco. He's our Undesirable No. 1. Since I know you're just awaiting a chance for retribution on him for what he's done to your dear old dad, here's your shining opportunity." He walks around Draco, who tries to turn in unison with him. "Draco, your father used to be so very helpful, very valuable. The best torturer I had. And now he's failed me twice. Which makes you and your family a joke. What I need you to do now, is redeem yourself by assassinating someone for me. To earn your stripes. Do you think you're up to that?"

"NO! PLEASE, NO!" Narcissa has wriggled free from Bellatrix and runs to the centre to grab her son.

"SILENCE!" Voldemort brandishes his wand and flicks it to her; she flies onto her back.

Draco's first instinct is to reach out for his mother, but Voldemort is faster than him. He wordlessly curses Draco to make him flip onto the ground, smashing his chest.

"Narcissa, my dear, I know you wish to protect your son, but this is not your concern anymore. So stay out of it unless you wish to be hurt. Draco, your job for the new school year is to kill your headmaster; Dumbledore."

Draco's eyes go wide as he scrambles to get up and regain dignity he doesn't have.

"I've underestimated people like Harry Potter in the past. Perhaps your new generation of children are smarter than you look; so prove it. You will do this, and maybe, perhaps, you will be able to get back in my good graces. None of you in this room will speak of this to anybody else; it must be kept quiet or you'll face the consequences. Draco, you have the rest of the summer to devise a plan. I know your Aunt Bellatrix will help you. If you should fail, your whole family will be in a dire situation, so don't disappoint me. Now, on to the formalities."

Bellatrix squeals in delight contrasting her sister, who sits horrified on the ground, unable to move an inch.

"Come over to me boy, and lift up your shirt sleeve." He grins to show his disgusting teeth.

Draco takes a deep breath and glances at his mother before moving.

With the gait of a man walking to the guillotine he shoves his blazer upwards, and places it in front of his new master.

"Ready? You're the youngest Death Eater I've ever branded, Draco. Feel that honour spread through your veins," he hisses. He grabs hold of Draco's hand. "Maculamorde."

He points the tip of his wand to his wrist and his flesh flows red.

His whole body vibrates like he's being electrocuted. He gives out short shaky breaths , groans and whimpers for a minute until he screams.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuggghhhhhh !"

The Dark Mark seeps like poisonous ink onto his forearm, snaking in and out of his veins.

After what feels like far too long, the scene dissolves.

{}

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as we enter the next scene.

"I've never seen a wound like this Severus, what happened?" Madam Pomfrey is cleaning up blood off of Draco's chest, while Snape uses Vulnera Sanentur onto his split lacerations. She looks very concerned, and I would be too. His hair, his clothes are soaked in red.

We're in the Hospital Wing right after Harry jinxed him sixth year.

"It was an accident. The caster didn't know what the spell did. It just so happens, I've seen the very incantation used before Poppy, so I know how dangerous it is."

"What spell is it?"

"It's best if we heal now, talk later," Snape says avoiding her question. "Draco, are you still breathing?"

"Yes," he wheezes, wincing in pain.

"Good. I need you to hold your breath and count to 5. Be still, I'm going to heal one at the bottom of your abdomen." He unzips Draco's trousers and pulls them down slightly. Draco shifts to pull them back up, by Snape forces his hands onto the cot to be still. "Count."

"One….two…"

With a long stroke, Snape drags his wand over the place that present-Draco has a scar. The one I saw a few days ago when we were changing. The wound cauterizes, the cut traces over his pelvis. As it heals on the bone he screams.

The scene dissolves.

{}

Bellatrix, Snape, Draco and a bunch of other unnamed Death Eaters are striding down a street. It's raining. Everyone except Snape and Draco look elated.

"La la la la la la la, the Headmaster's dead! Ahahahaha!" Bellatrix sings, hopping down the road.

"This is right after they killed him," Harry murmurs, eyes fixated on his mother's lover.

"Draco, you can't go back there now, you know this? Even if I become Headmaster like the Dark Lord has planned, you'll be eaten alive by the students if they find out." Snape is shielding Draco from everyone else, explaining to him his new life.

Draco says nothing and nods.

"Don't worry about the Dark Lord. You were able to get the Death Eaters into the castle, and you had him at wand point. You may or may not be punished, but he will not be livid for too long with you because we succeeded."

"Why did you kill him?" Draco asks unhappily, wiping his face to rid himself of the droplets that have drenched him.

"Because you wouldn't have." Snape replies lifelessly.

"But it was my job, my task."

"If you're worried about the fate of your mother, I'll –"

"Of course I'm worried about her. Of course that's why I'm angry!" he spits. "What if he decides to –"

"Draco, you're going to listen to me," he says, stopping Draco by the shoulders who in turn snarls, and pulls him in front of him.

"Ya comin', Severus?" Dolohov calls from a few meters away.

"A moment Antonin."

He flicks his gaze back to Draco. "Draco, your mother came to me in the summer, begging for assistance to help you. I made an Unbreakable Vow that if you showed resistance I would step in for you. I put my life on the line for you. She defied the Dark Lord by asking for help because she loves you. I could see how troubled she was, don`t you even care about that? Maybe show a little more respect to me now that you know, show more than you have for this entire year."

Snape flicks his coat lapels to adjust them and spins around.

"Thank you."

Snape halts mid-stride.

"What did you say?" He narrows his eyes at Draco whose tone was anything but sincere.

He walks forward to catch up with his teacher. "I said thank you, but really? I meant thanks for nothing. Because you're already in his good books, and me? My mother? We're at the bottom. If he gets angry, we're first to go, and you know it. I appreciate you helping me, but everyone thinks I'm a coward already, and now I can never prove myself. My mother worries about me too much, I could've -"

"She worries because you are a child. You're barely 17 and you want to kill someone in cold blood? Most people don't have the nerve to do such things. You are not a murderer, Dumbledore was right. And you know it. So I suggest you take your blessings as they're handed to you before you run out of them."

Snape stalks away disgusted.

"I am not a child," Draco mutters.

The scene dissolves.

{}

"More, Rowle, or shall we end it and feed you to Nagini? Lord Voldemort is not sure that he will forgive this time... You called me back for this, to tell me that Harry Potter has escaped again? Draco, give Rowle another taste of our displeasure... Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!"

"I had a dream about this!" Harry says aloud.

We're in Malfoy Manor once more, Draco has his wand pointed at Rowle, who is cowering on the ground. This is right after we escaped Luchino Cafe. I remember because he is the Death Eater I first used a memory charm on. Out of habit, I try to find a window, as an indicator of season. There's snow on the ground.

"Please, let me do it master, I beg, I beg," says a loyal servant. "The boy has no stomach for it."

"No, let the boy do it. Go on." Voldemort sits on Lucius Malfoy's chair, watching the scene play out.

Draco looks up to the sky and blinks hard, hating what he has to do.

"Crucio."

Electric waves shoot from his wand to Rowle and last but a few seconds. Rowle passes out nonetheless.

"That was hardly good enough, Draco. Come on now. Put your back into it next time. Travers, you can do the honours."

Travers grins and goes to shoot Rowle, but Voldemort puts a hand up.

"No no, not Rowle. To Malfoy." Fear shines in Draco's eyes as Travers twists his lips up and reveal teeth. "Maybe this will make you see, Draco."

"Crucio," he inflects with no hesitation. Draco is on the ground in seconds, writhing in pain.

The scene dissolves.

{}

It reforms in the same room. We're next to Draco and his Mother and Lucius.

I'm about to shade my eyes and huddle into Ron when I notice that across the room…it's me. On the ground. Of course, Lucius isn't stunned. We haven't escaped yet.

I can't bear to watch the next scene that appears.
Why would he add this onto his list of memories? Why wouldn't he skip this?

"I'll ask you again, you filthy Mudblood, How did you get my sword?" Bellatrix screeches.

My excruciating screams fill the room as Bellatrix once again uses an unforgivable curse on Dream-Hermione's limp form.

"I swear – it's a copy, a copy!"

"LIAR!"

"STOP, PLEASE, NO – IT- AHHHHHHH!"

Harry grabs onto my shoulder, while Ginny and Ron have either of my hands. Andromeda has buried her head in her own.

Suddenly a thunk; Draco has fallen to his knees.

"This didn't happen," I whisper, confused. "He didn't fall on the ground."

"What?" Harry asks with concern.

'Draco?" Narcissa whispers to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"S-stop….Aunt Bellatrix.." he starts weakly, trying to get close to his evilest relative.

"What! ?" She screams, turning madly from my lifeless form to him."Ohhh, is ickle Draco sad about the poor filthy girl dying? Make your stomach churn, does it? Ahahahahaha!"

She laughs like the mad woman she is and turns to Greyback, who has been standing watch from afar, lust and hunger clearly in his eyes.

"Fenrir, my darling, why don't you finish her off for me? She clearly isn't telling the truth."

"Be my pleasure," he says with relish in his tone, his rancid teeth spreading to a grin.

Like a horror movie, I watch as the deranged werewolf walks towards me. Draco is gawking at him, tears splashing his cheeks.

The next thing I see is ripping flesh and clothing. Now I'm almost completely naked, shielded by the monster, crying hysterically as the werewolf runs his hands all along my bare skin, violating me in the most fiendish way, and then – he bites into Hermione's neck.

Her blood sprays everywhere. He hit her jugular, and it gets onto Draco's hands. Onto his clothes, and in his mouth.

"God," I sob, holding back tears as Ron pulls me into him so I can't watch anymore.

The last thing I see before my eyes close is Draco hovering over me, completely cold and lifeless. She's dead.

"I don't understand…" Harry says again horrified. "You didn't die- so?"

"Wait a second – " Ginny says. I push Ron away slightly.

The scene doesn't dissolve, it merges to form a bathhouse. Slytherin robes hang on the door.

Oh my god.

I leave my warm embrace to walk over to the bath in a daze, putting my hands on the cold edge. Draco lies underneath the heavy water in the great stone basin. His eyes are wide, as if he's just realized where he is, as if he's just awoken, before he chokes. Bubbles rise to the surface for a few seconds and then the water goes still.

He was dreaming about me that night, the night when I saved his life.

I look at Harry, who's just as taken aback as I am when the scene dissolves.

{}

Voldemort has arrived again, and he looks positively evil. No hint of his regular ferocious humour, just unaltered loathing. This is right after we all left with Dobby. If I have to visit a reformed Malfoy Manor one more time, I may break down.

"You call me over to inform me that you have Potter? But he got away? With my sword! MY SWORD? ! PATHETIC IMBECILES. FOOLS!"

"M-my Lord-"

With a wave of his wand he shocks Lucius into unconsciousness once more.

"My Lord, I swear, I swear it's in the vault. My vault! The Mudblood said it was a copy, and the goblin told us it wasn't the real one! We tortured it out of them, didn't we?"

Bellatrix grovels at his robes, but he backs up disgusted.

"It's not going to be as easy for me to forgive this time, Bellatrix. A lot of our main Snatchers are dead thanks to you."

"But it isn't my fault! Draco is the one who didn't recognize them! Draco is the one who said he wasn't sure if it was Potter, but it was. If he had told us straight away, maybe we could –"

"How dare you blame him!" Narcissa yells, balling her fists.

"Is this true?" Voldemort asks of my boyfriend, striding towards him, who recoils immediately.

"P-Potter had a – a jinx on his face. I – I didn't want to inform you, m-my lord, because I was uncertain it was him." To us we know it's a blatant fib, but Voldemort surprisingly falls for it for a moment for he furrows his brow. "I didn't want to waste your t-t-time."

"But what about the other two? The blood traitor and mudblood?" he asks, searching for lies.

"I do not associate with them," Draco gulps, and then adds, "My lord. I didn't recognize them without school robes, they were battered and unclean."

Draco tries very hard to look into his master's eyes, to make his claim sincere. Voldemort clutches his face, likely about to read his mind, but instead lifts him above the ground and tosses him aside so he hits the wall.

His head cracks on the stone and I feel a compulsion to go over to him.

"You are all useless."

"My lord, please."

"You'll all face the consequence, I'm afraid Bella, this time." He raises his wand and swirls it to create an almost thunderstorm in their fireplace room, cascading it in a hurricane-like fashion, hitting the Malfoy's and Bellatrix over and over.

The scene dissolves.

{}

"Draco! Draco! Oh, thank Merlin. Thank you, thank you." Narcissa runs up to her son, who is sitting against a dark green wall. He's battered and bruised, but looks like he's reached salvation when his mother wraps her arms around him. After the battle.

Must be the Slytherin common room. It's unrecognizable as a comfortable area, because the furniture is mangled or destroyed, the walls barely preserved.

"Why aren't you outside with the rest of them?" Draco croaks.

"A 'happy to see you too, mum' would be nice," Narcissa sniffs into his hair.

"I'm o-only worried they'll come after you." Narcissas eyes flood with tears and she openly sobs while holding her only baby.

"They won't son. Potter's still alive. He's pre-occupied."

Lucius walks through Andromeda over to him, looking as horrible as ever, red circles under his eyes, his clothing tattered.

"What are you doing here? Why aren't you out there trying to defend your honour," Draco hisses.

"Now Draco-"

"No, let go of me mother," Draco says, pushing her gently off of him. She looks surprised. "I've been a fool. I tried to get my wand back, tried to steal it from Potter, and Crabbe nearly had us all killed. In fact he died because he doesn't know how to control his magic. I almost burnt to death because I was too proud like you to just give it up and I almost stopped him from winning."

"Potter?" Lucius asks, confused.

"Yes, Potter," he snaps. "You think I want the Dark Lord to win? You think I've ever wanted to be involved in this? Do you know what I've done? What I had to go through? I suffered for months on end as a result of your mistakes. Because you were stuck in Azkaban and I had to fix everything, and I never wanted to! I'm not brave enough or good enough to do this. And neither were you."

Lucius looks at his son and is unable to say a thing. Because he's right.

"We're leaving, Draco. We're leaving and we're never going to see that, that creature ever again. I don't care if we have to move. Your father is here because he loves you, and this is his way of apologizing. He doesn't care anymore about them, do you? Now get up so we can go."

Draco stands up slowly, clutching his arm, which bleeds, and holds onto his mother's outstretched hands.

They walk by Lucius, and Draco refuses to acknowledge his existence as they walk away from Slytherin tower.

The scene dissolves.

{}

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are here under inquisition of the Wizengamot for crimes committed during the war against Voldemort."

Draco is sitting in a courtroom in the Ministry of Magic, though not the same ones in the basement when we infiltrated it last year. He looks very formal, light grey dress robes, a blue tie. He's sitting in the middle on a chair, facing Kingsley Shacklebolt who is raised up higher than the rest of the jury. There are only a few people here, mostly Aurours.

We end up sitting in empty chairs next to the jury, so we can witness Draco' trial. Narcissa isn't here. I imagine Lucius was charged a few hours or maybe days ago.

"You are being charged with being an accomplice to Lord Voldemort, a Death Eater. You are also charged with the attempted assassination of Albus Dumbledore." The crowd ripples with silent speech. "Do you accept these conditions? Do you plead guilty or not guilty?"

Draco sinks into his seat. "I do, sir. Guilty, Minister," he answers, gathering his wits.

The jury look back and forth to one another, surprised at this development.

"Interesting, your father pleaded not guilty," Kingsley notes more to himself in his thick Nigerian accent. "And here you are taking full responsibility for your actions."

Draco squirms uncomfortably, unsure if he should say something.

"I suppose that is irrelevant. How old are you, Mr. Malfoy?" He asks him kindly.

"18 this March."

"And you became a Death Eater when?"

"The summer I turned 16, about two years ago." More murmurs, some gasps.

"So that makes you the youngest Death Eater ever to be branded then?"

"Apparently," Draco sighs, fear etched into his face like in every other memory we've seen him in.

I wonder just how long he's had to live that way.

"And did you consent to being a Death Eater? You admit that you committed crimes, but was it your choice?"

"Uh – " he gulps, wary of the eyes on him. "Because my father failed in retrieving the prophecy about Harry Potter, Voldemort punished him by punishing me. He wished for me to assassinate Dumbledore, and if I did not succeed he would kill my mother and myself."

Kingsley stares at Draco with new eyes, tilting his head like he's unsure of how to view the boy before him.

"You did not quite answer the question."

"He threatened my life, and my families lives. I consented only to protect myself, and by extension them. So I suppose I did, though I did not want the mark."

"I see. Is there anything you did under Lord Voldemort's rule that you'd like to admit to the jury?"

Draco shakes and starts to hyperventilate, but takes a deep breath. "I-I tortured Death Eaters who failed to do as V-v-, the Dark Lord wanted. Often I couldn't do it for very long because my heart was not in it. I was sent on missions to question wizards about the whereabouts of their family members, and – and to hurt them if they disobeyed. I couldn't – I couldn't hurt anyone. I always got punished for it, I d-don't know how I'm still alive."

Kinglsey frowns.

"You don't believe him do you?" pipes up a stout Aurour from the jury. "He's a Malfoy, we looked at his school record. He may be intelligent, but he was a constant bully before he became bullied himself by the Lord Voldemort that he had to answer to. He was seconds away from killing one of the greatest wizards the world has ever seen, why -"

"Quiet please, Mr. Shepard. I believe him."

"Y-you do?" Draco asks, his face softening.

"Yes, I do. Harry Potter told me you did not identify he, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley at your Manor, where Voldemort was holding people prisoner. But you knew it was them, didn't you? Six years in school together, and you managed to enable them to escape. You did not stay behind to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts. It seems like you did not want to do this, Mr Malfoy, but you could not find the bravery to get out of the situation. Mr Potter told me to let your mother go free, for reasons he wanted secret, but basically because she is a good woman."

"Okay?" Draco says, unsure. "But what does that have to do with my sentence, your Honour? Minister?"

"Your father went to Azkaban, Draco, because he escaped from it twice. He deserved to be in there for things he's done twenty years ago we don't need to rehash. He deserves to be in there for his involvement in this war again, and for dragging you into the mess. But you? You have a future ahead of yourself. You're so young, and I do not think it would help anybody to put you behind bars for a few years to 'teach you a lesson.' Technically, every offense you've committed before age seventeen should be stricken from the record, but we didn't know about them until now. You'd do better to try and make a good citizen of yourself with a clean slate. Under the circumstance, however, I do not think you should treat this lightly. You should not feel lucky, rather you should take it as an opportunity to better yourself. But the decision is not entirely up to me. All those in favour of conviction?"

Three wizards raise their hand.

"All those opposed, to clear him of his charges?" He raises his own hands with seven others. He gives a slight grin.

"Draco, you are free to go, not guilty," he swings his gavel. "This trial is adjourned."

Draco gets up and bows to Kinglsey, who nods back.

As he walks away from the courtroom, I can see tears or relief form in his eyes.

The scene dissolves.

{}

"Draco, are you drinking again?"

Narcissa is peeking into her sons room, where we currently stand, around an enormous black bed. Draco is laying on top of the covers, two empty bottles of unnamed liquor on his sheets. He's holding a pint of beer in one hand, swaying.

"Why yes, mother, I am," he slurs, his face completely red, his eyes squinty.

"Why?" she asks heartbroken.

"Because I've been having horrible dreams again," he says happily. "Rum makes them disappear."

I look at Ginny beside me, and she gives me a sad, sympathetic look.

"Draco," Narcissa sobs, "You need to stop this. You need to eat. The Minister let you off because he thought you'd do well, and look at what you're doing to yourself."

"Frankly, I don't give a single fuck, mother," he laughs mirthlessly. "Where can I go without people shunning me or kicking me out? Talking behind my back or spitting on my shoes. You cry all day and all night, then run away to France for days on end without informing me? And you can't talk to me because I remind you of him. So what is there for me? This," he says in a low voice, pointing to the bottle.

He raises the glass to his lips while his mother slams his door, and as he guzzles it down the scene dissolves.

{}

We're back in Azkaban again.

"Holy Merlin, how many memories are there?" Ron asks. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Me too," Ginny whispers. "It's mentally draining. We've been to all the most horrible places."

"It can't be long now…we're in the past few months, I know it. We're almost done." I word silently.

Azkaban looks a hundred times cleaner than it did a few years ago. Lucius is sitting on a single bed with a cot, no jumpsuit, the floors are free of dirt, and there are photos of his family on a small bedside table. Draco is actually inside with him, a human guard waits outside to make sure Lucius doesn't get out of line.

"Tell me, Draco, how is your mother?"

"Fine. She's fine," he says strangled, talking to his father like he's a stranger.

"Where is she?" he asks casually. "Did she not think it worthy to visit?"

"She's in France, father. She didn't know I was coming."

"France, hm? Shopping away her pain? Typical...and she didn't know? But why?" he questions with narrow eyes. Draco glances at the guard and then back to Lucius. He walks in closer.

"I've been drinking a lot. I didn't know why. Mother is no help…I remind her too much of you."

"So she doesn't talk to you?"

"She does, but she can't for very long before breaking down. She doesn't want to discuss what happened with me. And I need to do it. I did…quite a lot before you got released. I realized recently why I've been feeling low. It's because I feel…guilty. I feel…like I should be punished. Or something."

"Or something?" his head is down, facing his shoes.

"Here you are stuck in a cell when you were doing basically the same things as me."

Lucius laughs, then tilts his head back up. "Yes Draco, I am stuck in a cell. I am here by myself day after day, using my own money to pay for better quarters. And you come to me today, have the audacity to tell me that you feel like somehow you belong here? HA!"

"Oi, keep your voice controlled," the guard says, thwacking the prison bars.

"Would you rather switch places, son? Would you like me to ask the nice guard over there to let me free so you can be here for another 5 to 10 years? Would you? Because I'd gladly get out of here if it meant you could get some satisfaction for yourself out of it as well!"

Draco backs away from his father, who stands up slowly and ambles towards him like a madman.

"I find it a little funny that you escaped scot-free and now you don't really appreciate it the way I would."

"That isn't what I'm saying, it's just –"

"It's just -what?"

"I just feel as if I deserve some kind of retribution...or maybe -"

"YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY THAT YOU AREN'T DEAD YET! DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT WHAT YOU DID WAS REMOTELY EVIL COMPARED TO ME? DO YOU FANCY YOURSELF SOME KIND OF MORAL RIGHTEOUS MAN NOW AFTER BEING COVERED IN COWARDICE ? YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO DO, LIKE ALL THE REST OF US." He yells at his son and inches in closer so Draco is backed into a corner. "And you didn't even do a good job. I tried to protect you, and you show me no gratitude by rubbing your freedom in my face!"

"OI!"

"Tried to protect me? ME? Are you kidding me, Lucius?" Draco says disbelieving. "You did all this so you wouldn't seem like a coward, so you could gain power, and so your name wasn't slandered. It was only for yourself, for your personal gain and pleasure. So don't you go and get angry at me for feeling remorse. I thought you could enlighten me for once, thought perhaps you changed, but I guess I was wrong. I want to get out now, guard!"

Draco faces the gate and the guard quickly begins to grab the key, but Lucius grabs hold of his wrist before he can leave.

"Let go of me!"

Lucius yanks Draco closer to him and whispers into his ear. "If you think that for one second, your existence mattered to him, that somehow you've accomplished something in your pathetic little life, think again. You will never be of value to anybody for anything because all you know how to do is slip through the cracks and leech off of people. If you think I'm pathetic, you`re ten times worse, son."

Draco shoulders his father in the chest while the guard scrambles to open the gate and begins to ask if he's okay, as he knocks Lucius with his baton.

"Get off, get off, I'm fine." He brushes off his arms, adjusts his coat, and wipes a tear from his eye. He walks away without a word to anyone, pretending he's okay, before sobbing as he gets halfway down the hallway.

The scene dissolves.

{}

We're in a dark room; immediately I spot a pink bed, and on it lay a half-naked Draco….and Pansy. Oh god.

"This is a revolting sight," Ginny says, turning to Harry.

"What the bloody hell is this for? Why is it necessary?" Ron agrees.

"Probably for Hermione," Andromeda says, turning away at the indecency of her nephew.

I turn my attention back to them, sitting next to each other, Pansy is draping her arms drunkenly around Draco while he attempts to interrupt her

Sure enough after a few seconds of squabbling between the two, talking about moving or something, there's a catalyst.

"Pansy, I kissed Hermione Granger."

"It'll have a big bay window, lush carpets and –WHAT!"

"We had a group project together and...I fell asleep at her house and kissed her."

She stops, mouth agape for what feels like ages, until -

"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?"

"Is that true!" Ron asks, outraged.

"Shush."

She's gripping Draco's shoulder so tight I swear the flesh is coming off, and her eyes would be red if she were a metamorphagus.

"Yes. I'm serious."

Pansy's chest is wrought with ragged breathing before she turns into full frenzy mode.

"GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."

"Pansy!"

"You – you bring that girls filth into here and – and don't tell me, and – and kiss me, then try and seduce me –"

"I did all those things? I was only let in here so you could seduce me,to try and marry me.For money! And filth?Are you fucking kidding me? You told me a few hours ago you were over the prejudice!"

"Oh please! Who was the one who abused her mercilessly throughout the years? Who threw around Mudblood like it was an adjective! Or was that all because you secretly love her, and just had a juvenile way of showing it, don't make me puke. Just LEAVE."

She jumps off her bed and scrimmages around for I suppose his pants and jacket.

"Pansy, I have nowhere to go!"

"I DON'T CARE!" She bellows, throwing clothes at him in a fit of rage. "You humiliated me. Kiss another girl, fucking Hermione Granger of all, and then come to see me? Why? Why couldn't you go somewhere else?"

He looks like he's struggling for words "I thought. I thought that if I came here maybe I'd feel the same way I did when…"

"When what?"

"I just thought that I was horny. But I came over here, and you were all over me and it…Granger doesn't even like me…..but all this wasn't the same."

"It….wasn't….the."

She slowly walks across the room to the wardrobe and opens it to retrieve a robe, donning it.

"You're a fucking loser, you know that?" she whispers as she covers up. "Your whole family is a joke.Your mother is only dating that man for the same reasons my parents want me to date you. You think you can just go and kiss a stupid Gryffindor, impure minx who happens to be really famous now, and that everyone is just going to turn the other way?"

Draco scoffs.

"How dare you? Does your minuscule brain have any capacity to feel or understand anything other than gain in relationships?" he spits out at her.

"Excuse me?"

"I kissed Granger because I had a dream about her, because I can't get her out of my godddamn head, and because she was nice to me, even after everything I've done. She was willing to forgive me enough to let me into her house, and not be a petty bitch."

"A petty bitch like me? You like that bitch don't you, Draco. Sounds like you both will live a great life in Muggle London with all the grimy city folk. Sounds like you'll really love her and her saintliness."

"I don't love her! All I did was kiss her once."

"AGGGGH!" she wails. "But you still did it! YOU. The fucking king of venomous threats and insults. You hated that vile bitch because of the company she keeps. Surely Weasley and Potter won't be happy about this?"

"I don't care anymore, Pansy. I don't care about being better than everyone else. Obviously my life is turned into shit, you see? But I just want something to make me feel again. Love, hatred, anything.

"You have me! Don't you understand I want you back? Even after you're status is shit I still want you."

"But you don't get it! I want someone who loves me unconditionally, who doesn't feel like they're settling. Who cares so much wealth, like you do. I just don't fucking care anymore about everything we were told."

"I don't get it? Well you know what, neither do you! You know how the world works here, and you're rebelling for no goddamn reason other than to get out of your cycle of life."

"Exactly! That's it, you fucking tart, you understand? Je ne veux vivre comme ceci plus! I don't want to live like that anymore!"

"Get out then! If you're not willing to commit to this life you were given, the one full of luxury, then fine! But I never want to see you again!"

"FINE!" he shoves his legs into crumpled pants, his chest and arms into a shirt and grabs his blazer, running out of her room as quietly as he can.

The scene dissolves.

---

I've been sitting on this couch alone for 5 minutes, an excruciating 300 seconds that feels like 300 years.

I have no idea what anyone is going to say or think coming out of that pensieve, but I put my worst memories on the table for all to see, and I only hope that they can make something of it.

Suddenly I hear a whooshing sound – could it really be that quick? The bodies of my former enemies reappear in the Weasley kitchen, looking as disgruntled as I felt walking back down the hill to re-enter the lion's den.

For a moment, they all simply stare at me while regaining stability as they come back to reality.

And then in the next, Hermione has run towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that," she whispers into my ear while stroking my hair.

"It's not your fault, Granger. None of it. So don't be sorry. I just thought…maybe you could see why I am so…fucked up." I murmur back, hugging her back.

She kisses my forehead before letting go and backing up to reveal the other four witnesses to my most horrific times.

"Been through a lot have you, Malfoy?" Potter says first.

I smirk, and look up at him. "You might say that, Potter. I know I'm not the only one, though."

I look to Andromeda , who smiles wanly at me.

"I just needed someone to understand."

"Well, I take your gesture in good grace. It's not enough to make me forgive you, knowing you weren't so evil but doing nothing, but it's a start."

"Yeah," Ginny agrees, less lively than normal. "I thought that we had it rough."

"I suppose I felt a little bad for you, ferret boy. But don't think I've gone soft and stopped keeping tabs," Ron admits.

"Of course, Weasel features," I reply. He raises an eyebrow at me, but he smirks back actually, which surprises me. "While I love interrogation as much as the next person, I think maybe it's time for me to go home. Leave you alone to think. You've probably had enough of me tonight."

"I'll walk you out," Hermione says. I stand up, not feeling as numb as when I got here.

"Bye, Draco. I'm going to go get Ted from Arthur and Molly." I wave good bye to Andromeda and the rest.

"See you tomorrow," Ginny says as I grab my coat off the rack.

"Tomorrow?" I inquire to Hermione as we exit the door.

"I'll explain it to you tomorrow if you'd like, come over in the morning?" she says, sauntering up the hill.

"I wish I could 'come over' now," I pout. I stop her in her tracks to pull her in for a kiss. She returns it, pulling me in close.

"Tempting, but no. I'm going to have a chat with my friends, Draco." I frown. "Don't look so sad. It's probably just going to be a retelling of out pensieve trip."

"So shall I come at 6 in the morning, then?"

"Draco, no. Make it 10-11 am, okay?" she titters.

"Okay, fine," I concede, my head a million times lighter than a mere 15 minutes ago. I hold her hand as I reach the forest. When we hit the borderline, I pull her in for a bigger hug than she gave me at the Burrow.

"I'll miss you too," she says chuckling when I don't let go, squeezing me.

"You are amazing, Hermione. For everything you've done tonight for me," I lean away from her shoulder but I keep my grip, looking into her eyes. She turns her head sideways to stare at me, her usual embarrassment not popping up.

"I've done? You did it all on your own. I just gave you the open door. Draco, I must admit that I'm impressed by some of the things you said in your memories. I was wrong about you, even if I was right about other things. Sometimes I forget that it's not so easy for people to just get up and do the 'right thing'."

"Impressed?" I ask surprised. "Why? I wanted to create sympathy more than amicability, than being able to relate."

"Because I've seen how you changed your mind, how you never really wanted to be bad and you just didn't know how to fight it. I used to think you were a coward, but you're not. What you are, is a survivor Draco. And you are not worthless. You mean something to people, you matter to me," she says, wetness glistening on her face. My stomach tightens and I wipe away her cheek with my thumb.

"Why are you crying?" I ask, my voice catching.

"Because I want you to know that people care about you. It seems like you don't know it enough, or even at all. People treat you different because you're a Malfoy, and that's not fair. Everyone deserves to feel like they're wanted."

"A-and you want me?" I ask, breathless.

"I want you, Draco."

She smiles at me in the radiant moonlight, eyes dewy, cheeks rouged.

And it is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.