Icarus Syndrome

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

(Hint! The portrait woman is one of a few women turned into a bird at the end of the story)

Warnings: Warm fuzzies. My own explanation on why Slytherin became insane.

Thank you, dear readers, for the hits, reviews, alerts and favorites. An author loves to know their work is appreciated. I am impressed so far by the amount of attention this has garnered so far. Please keep it up. Seriously, keep it! I love to read reviews!

-X-

Draco groaned as he came awake. He hated sleeping on the ground, even if the ground came with extra warm blankets and a very soft pillow. He sat up, rubbing at his eyes and staring at the black blanket. He couldn't remember where it came from. As a matter of fact, he couldn't remember where the pillow came from...Potter!

He swiveled his head around frantically, relaxing a bit as he saw Potter sitting on one of the stone benches in front of a mirror with a stone lion. His memories caught up with him and he calmed himself before he could hyperventilate. Focus on the now. Relax. Make your mind like water.

“Are you well?”

He looked down at the ferret and nodded. The creature nodded back and began to climb up to his shoulder.

“You are not well, even though you feel well at the moment. Your curse plagues you.”

“Of course it plagues me.” He sneered at the stone creature. “It is my sin.”

“It is what binds that man to yourself.” The ferret said bluntly. “If you were without the curse, then you would have to suffer alone.” It paused thoughtfully. “But if you did not have the curse, you would not need the room. How curious.”

“It all comes back to this curse.” He spat, moving to stand. He was careful to avoid the blanket and pillow because he wasn't too sure if he could trip over it and still keep his balance.

“Your friend has been watching the mirror.” The ferret said, pointing over at Potter. “Would you like to continue your healing as well?”

“No.” He gave the mirrors a mistrustful glare. “I want to talk to Potter. How did he get here? I thought you said the room was private and solitary.”

“It is.” The ferret agreed, sounding a bit like Loony Lovegood. “It does not exclude souls mated or souls bound.”

Draco stop dead in his tracks.

“You mean he's in here because he's either my soul mate or he's soul bound to me?” He demanded. The ferret shrugged.

“The curse could have mutated the bond that was formally between you. It does not change the fact that you are now bound to him. He is your other half.”

“No.” He denied panicking. “My father would never bind Harry Potter of all people to me! He hates Potter-” He stopped. Yes, his father despised Potter, for reasons not wholly confined to Potter killing the Dark Lord or tricking him into freeing a house elf. But...He trailed a finger over the scars on the side of his face. His father wasn't as fond of him anymore either...If the Savior turned out to be homophobic, as most raised in a muggle-dominated society were, Draco would have suffered at his hands. The Savior's love and forgiveness didn't extend to former enemies. He was hedging that Potter was only so kind and generous because Draco no longer had any power against him and he pitied the boy kicked out of his family and social life.

“Do you still wish to talk to your companion?” The ferret asked.

“Does he know? That we're bound?”

“Yes.”

“I can...talk to him...”

He approached Potter, glancing nervously at the stone lion at his feet. It tilted its head to the side, licking its jowls and yawning. He glanced up at the mirror, seeing a woman with emerald green eyes Potter had obviously inherited, a man with Potter's ugly hair and a cleaner version of that convict who escaped from Azkaban. They were clustered around a tiny little baby...

“Potter, is that you?” He asked, coming up beside Potter. He saw him jump in the corner of his eye but fixated on the adults playing with animated toys and baby Potter.

“Yeah.” He turned at Potter's thick voice, alarmed. Potter had tear tracks down his face, but his eyes had that same happy glow he could remember seeing in a mirror after holidays. He bit his lip and turned away, sinking onto the bench beside Potter.

“Have you been watching your memories long?”

“Just after you fell asleep. The lion suggested I remembered things I had forgotten.” He patted the stone creature's head and Draco's eyes widened in alarm as it purred harshly.

“So you're watching your memories from your childhood? When your parents were...”

“Yeah.” Potter smiled and turned to look at the mirror. “I had no idea they were so...”

“Yeah.” Draco coughed a bit, feeling uncertain that he should be watching these memories too.

“Stay.” He looked over at Potter and nodded a bit. He relaxed on the stone bench, unsure how to approach Potter with his questions and not wanting to ruin this time. He treasured his memories with his parents and both were still alive. He couldn't keep the grudging smile off of his face as he watched the ex-convict argue with Potter's dad over a stuffed snidget toy.

-X-

“I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good.” Hermione whispered. She didn't approve of getting to class late, especially Snape's Potions class, but she needed that damn map. They were in the back of the library for study period now.

“I can't believe how much work he assigned!” Ron complained, looking over the assignment he'd written down. She grimaced. Snape obviously wasn't very happy that Draco was still in the Hospital Wing, and she wasn't sure if he knew that Draco was missing but she definitely didn't want to be the one to tell him. He wasn't particularly impressed that Harry wasn't there either, and she knew for a fact that even if he wasn't missing, he wouldn't have excused it.

“I know Ron, but there's nothing we can do about it now.” She muttered, trying to find Harry's name anywhere on the map. “I can't find them on any of the lower floors...”

“The Map only shows places the Marauders knew about. If they're stuck somewhere like the Chamber, we won't be able to find them.”

“They could be in Hogsmede for all we know!”

“No. Pomfrey said that they were definitely in the castle.”

“But you are right. They might be in a part of the castle that the Marauders didn't know.”

“So, what are we going to do?”

She shook her head and tapped the map.

“I don't know Ron.”

“He'll be fine. He always is.”

“I know. It doesn't make me any less worried.”

“Yeah. The Professors know, and he's probably with Mal-Draco.” He forced out grudgingly. “We'll have to sit this one out.”

-X-

“The second exchange will begin as the sun sets. There isn't much time, Lucius. Scrimgeour has Aurors watching all my movements. He's suspicious!”

“I know, Narcissa, I know. There is not much left to us. Scieran was very careful when explaining. We must hope that Severus uses the memories properly. We need his attention drawn to another direction.”

“He is growing impatient. The lineage tree is showing the wavering between Draco and his family. As soon as the heritage magic passes even more firmly into Draco's hands, it will not waver long. He will expose us long before the magic is complete. I will not see my child hung to satisfy his greed.”

“Then I suggest you provide him with a more interesting quarry.” Lucius said coldly. Narcissa may have been his wife, lover and confidant, but she was also a Slytherin. A beatific and dangerous smile curved her lips.

“I believe I will.” She snapped her fingers and ordered the house elf to fetch her cloak and her traveling kit.

“Where are you going?” He asked sharply.

“To a hunt, my husband. I will return before the sun sets, be assured.” She bent down to kiss his cheek, red-stained lips not leaving the faintest trail as she pulled away. The house elf handed her her cloak and she draped it around her shoulders, the dark cloth hiding her dress of ice blue. The house elf also presented her a small kit that she tucked away into the folds of the black cloth.

“Be well, my wife.” He replied, taking her hand and kissing the Malfoy crest on her ring.

“Be well, my husband.” He scowled at her cruel sense of humor.

-X-

“Missing?” Snape said softly, rolling the memories he procured from Draco in his fingers. “He has been missing nearly twelve hours and I was not informed until now?”

“We know where they are-”

“They? Who else is missing?” Snape interrupted sharply.

“Mr. Potter.” Dumbledore admitted reluctantly.

Snape remained silent.

“They are safe. They are in the room of the Mirrors.” Snape snorted, glaring at the Headmaster.

“Safe? In that room? Hah. How are they together in that place? It is impossible.”

“Not, apparently. I believe that it has to do with the curse. It has bound their magic in some way.”
Dumbledore had steadily increasing confidence in his voice. “We must review Draco's memories to be certain of his curse. The symptoms are all correct and consistent, but there are things that make no sense.”

“Very well. I wish you luck in discovering the inconsistency.” Snape said with a dark smile.

“Severus. You must promise to leave this in my hands. I will find a way to set them free.”

“Of course, Headmaster. You know well the faith I have in your abilities.”

Dumbledore gave him warm smile and Snape left his office.

He didn't know if he should watch Lucius and Narcissa's memories or research some way to get inside the Mirror Room. He glanced at the division in the path, to head to the dungeons or to trust the Headmaster to rescue Draco. He chose.

-X-

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Harry asked, standing over Draco's shoulder. The blond gave him a hesitant nod but refused to look at the Mirror. “You don't have to watch.”

“Yes I do.” Draco answered sharply. “They are my memories. It's my head. I refuse to be afraid of myself.”

“But-”

“Shut up, Potter.”

Harry sighed and stood behind the bench Draco was sitting at. The ferret instructed both of them on how to use the mirror and it had been really vague. The Mirror chose what was important. All Draco had to do was let it feed on his blood and magic like Harry had to to watch his past. Draco hadn't even hesitated as he cut his hand on the frame and his face didn't even twitch as the blood and magic were drawn out. Harry watched creatures and flowers and fire spill around the outside of the mirror before it settled on the image of a field of narcissus and a leopard prowling.

The mirror rippled, becoming clear instead of billowing smoke. It brightened until it was a light grey and then memories began to pour out.

“Draco. Draco. Draco.” Voices whispered. He recognized a few. Lucius. Snape. Zabini. Crabbe. Goyle. Parkinson. Narcissa. The mirror focused on her voice a lot. Gradually images began to fill the space between the voices. Lucius handing over the reins to a winged horse. Narcissa placing flowers in a vase on a fireplace. A painting instructing him on how to skin something. Snape asking for ingredients. Parkinson catching his arm and smiling, looking more beautiful than he'd seen her. Crabbe and Goyle teaching him some card game. Zabini leering at him suggestively, gesturing with his fingers.

It began to flash through quickly, blurring together. Abruptly, it stopped. Lucius was standing across from Draco, eyes cold. Harry couldn't bear to listen, but he did for Draco's sake. Someone needed to know what happened. Harry couldn't believe that any father could be as cold as Lucius. He tried to picture James saying the same things to him, but failed. He wasn't sure if it was just because he didn't know his father as well as Lucius, but he couldn't picture James ever disowning him in the worst way imaginable just because of his sexual orientation. It seemed so petty, considering all the other things Draco had done.

“Draco?” He laid a hand on his shoulder, gripping it just hard enough to let him know that he had support.

“I thought I said shut up, Potter.” Draco shrugged the hand off and turned only part of the way to glare at him. Harry frowned but nodded and crossed his arms, looming over him like an irate statue.

“Hey!” He turned sharply, seeing one of the statues wave him over. “Come here!”

“We will keep him company.” The lion suddenly spoke up. The ferret nodded and climbed into Draco's lap. “Go talk to her.”

“I'm going to talk to a statue.” Harry mumbled to himself. “Right.”

“Well, introduce yourself.” The statue insisted as soon as he stood in front of her. “Don't just stand there. It's impolite.”

“Sorry.” He said hurriedly. “I'm Harry Potter.” He was so used to people recognizing him, it never occurred to him to introduce himself anymore.

“I'm Atlanta, huntress of Artemis and swiftest runner in the land.” She bowed slightly, obviously expecting him to know who she was talking about.

“I, uh, don't know who that is.” He admitted, eyes averted. She sighed.

“I'm beginning to wonder what they consider important information in this time. Never mind. Let's simply say that I know what it is like to have a Slytherin lover.”

“What?” He sputtered out. “He's not my...lover.” He said the word with distaste.

“Really?” She looked him over and turn turned to stare at Draco's back. She made a thoughtful noise that he'd heard Hermione make a few times. “No. I can see that now. Not quite lovers. Not yet.”

“Yet?” He said stunned and irritated. “There isn't going to be an ever!”

“You believe such?” She shook her head. “It's like looking back in time.”

“What are you talking about?” He demanded.

“You, young man, are just like I was.” She said firmly. “I am a huntress of Artemis. I am a Lioness. Gryffindor.” She said pointing at herself. “You are just the way I was. Brave, full of confidence and swagger-”

“I don't swagger!”

“And hot-tempered.”

“I'm not!”

She smirked at him.

“I'm really not.” He said, much calmer. “You're just- Just accusing me of things that are really-”

“Disgusting?” She asked innocently. “Isn't that a tad hypocritical?”

“What?” She gestured for him to turn and he did. Lucius was still in the mirror's image spitting hateful and hurtful things. “I'm nothing like him!”

“Yet you find merely the idea of being his lover heinous? A person with respect and empathy would have denied it with tranquility and outlined what a good friend you are but that you are unable to be anything but a guardian and friend to the boy. You, however, act as if you have something to hide.”

“I don't have anything to hide. And you surprised me! I can't act calmly if you surprise me.”

“You're calm enough now. Why couldn't he be your lover? You act as if he is the earth everything orbits around.”

“He's a boy. He can't be my lover.”

“And?”

“What and? That's all there needs to be.”

“You truly are a poor friend.” He glared at her.

“You truly are rude and bossy.”

“If you haven't noticed you are soul bound to the boy, the possibility of a romantic relationship is very high. You will think only of his needs soon, his wants, his fears, his comforts, his protection. You will covet everything about him.”

“No.” He said, waveringly. “I'm won't.”

“The curse on him binds you two. It will be inevitable.”

“No!” He shouted, magic still even in his fury. He looked at his hand in disbelief.

“Your magic is already beginning to comply. It won't react explosively without acting in his defense. He's tamed it just by existing.”

Harry sank to the ground before her. It was like...the Imperius Curse.

“I'm just going to be his puppet aren't I? I'll have to obey him.”

“Of course not. You'll be his guardian not his slave. You will simply put his concerns before yours. Think of it as...being betrothed. You would put your expected's needs before yours wouldn't you? You're Gryffindor. It's not like you'll be forced.”

“It still feels like mind-control.” He said bitterly. “I can't tell if I'm worried about him because I truly like him, or if I'm worried because of the Curse making me.”

“It's a bit of both. If you can deny him so vehemently, don't you think you're under your own control?”

“Well, yes.” He said, blinking. That hadn't occurred to him. “But-”

“No more. I am bored with this subject. You are exasperating.”

Harry scowled at her.

“I was speaking of Slytherin lovers before we were sidetracked.”

He grimaced and turned to ignore her.

“I wouldn't if I were you.” She said casually. “I'm not saying that you need to take him as your lover, but what if you fall for a girl who is a Slytherin? Or if you wanted to comfort him about what makes him special?”

“Whatever.” He groaned.

“I only married my husband because he outwitted me in a contest. He beat me in a race by laying out three golden apples to distract me. He knew I was unbeatable in my speed, so he thought as a Slytherin and outsmarted me. I fell in love with that man.”

“He tricked you and you fell in love with him?” He asked in a tone that questioned her intelligence.

“He outsmarted me. I wasn't tricked. There were no rules against it. I fell in love with him because he tried the hardest out of all my suitors to win me. I thought I had set an impossible task. He won because he would not let anything stand between us. I am forever honored that someone fought so hard to gain my attention.”

“What happened after?” He asked genuinely curious.

“We had a family. I cared for my family to my best ability until my husband and myself were turned into lions by Zeus.”

“What?!” He asked aghast.

“My husband had a Gryffindor's recklessness. We were lovemaking in one of Zeus' many temples. He grew displeased and outraged and turned us into lions. It was believed then that lions could only mate with leopards. Zeus kicked up quite the fuss when we continued despite his interruption. I learned later that Aphrodite struck us with a spell of overwhelming desire. She thought it was quite the riot.” She smiled at him. “I can understand Slytherins somewhat now. They never see their worth for themselves. They always see their worth in the eyes of others. If you will not be his lover, then worship him as a friend.”

“Worship?”

“Honor and respect him. Do not point out his flaws to be cruel. Point them out to better them. Be his friend if you wish to see his confidence in himself rise. The only way to better him faster would be to worship him as a lover.” She laughed when he both blushed and growled at her. “Be calm, little lion, I am only jesting.”

“It's not very funny.”

“As you say.” She shrugged. “If you wish to verify my words, go and gaze into that mirror.” She pointed at the pond. “That is the Mirror of Truth. All magic mirrors are sanctified with water from the Mirror of Truth so that they may only reflect the truth. You can see if a bond exists between you and the Slytherin if you would look into the mirror.”

Harry looked at the pond, willow branches brushed the surface temptingly.

“It shows the truth? If I asked it a question, would it show the answer or would it just show me as I am truthfully?” Atlanta blinked at him thoughtfully. She brought up a stone hand and tapped it against her chin.

“Well. All the past visitors have simply looked into the mirror. I can only recall one person ever asking it a question.”

“And? What happened? Who was it?” Harry asked eagerly.

“The person who asked was Salazar Slytherin. He asked the Mirror if he should remain at Hogwarts. The Mirror did something. I think it...spoke to him...I can't recall.” She began to press her fingers against her temples. “The Mirror...it...it took...” She gasped, reaching forward and grabbing his shirt. Harry leaned back as far as he could. “The Mirror demanded an exchange. It took his sanity. Don't question the Mirror, Harry. Don't ask it a single question.”

Atlanta let him go and he looked in disbelief at the seemingly innocent pond. That pond was the reason Slytherin went crazy? He felt even less inclined to go and look at the water now. He might accidentally say something and get his mind stolen too. He shivered.

“I don't think I want to take that risk.” He said, feeling like he was disappointing someone.

“That's all right, Harry. Some risks are not worth any prize in the entire world.”

Harry thought about learning about the bond between himself and Draco. Looking at the magic that effected Draco. Finding out what exactly was the reason Draco's magic had risen up and attacked him, trapping Draco within. He wavered. It was tempting. He had done riskier things. Killing Voldemort, for example, had been the most dangerous experience in his life. It had nearly cost his life. Was it worth it to find out the truth? Atlanta had thought so and then blithely changed her mind. He looked over at Draco, seeing the image of Lucius still in the Mirror. Why was he tormenting himself like that? He looked over at the pond. Maybe...Maybe he could chance it...It would help Draco after all... Harry chose.

-X-

“My first kiss was with a boy you know.” Draco whispered to the ferret as his father's voice thundered at himself in the mirror. “I'm sure my father already knew about it after it happened. It was on my thirteenth birthday. He was some...lackey's child, but he was cute. I'm doomed to fall for the cute and stupid ones. It's all because of Blaise's big, blabbering mouth that this happened.”

“Do you really believe that?” The ferret asked back. Draco stayed silent. Lucius screamed at him, voice chilly and eyes very cold.

“No. He would have discovered my preferences eventually. I didn't think he cared much though. I was the perfect heir in all other ways. There are ways to procreate between wizards. I thought that as long as I presented him a worthy heir, he would not mind that my partner was male.”

“Perhaps he did not truly think about it. He accepted it in theory, maybe.” The lion replied.

“Father only acts if he has facts and support. That's why he never tried to resurrect the Dark Lord when he was still fever-caught. There wasn't any support to his existence and Father moved on. He paid for that mistake.” Draco grimaced. “He had fact from Lady Zabini that Blaise and I were involved. I just thought...”

“He does love you.” The ferret said with certainty. “It is in all his actions.”

“Poor way of showing it.” The lion remarked.

“A poor acting job.” The ferret clarified.

“He doesn't look like he's acting.” Draco said quietly, watching as the curse began to spill from his lips. It burned in his memory. The exact intonation, emphasis and wand movements imprinted into his mind.

“That would be the point.” The ferret said with exasperation.

“How are my memories going to help me?” Draco said, changing the subject.

“The Mirrors decide what helps you.” The ferret answered. “There must be something in your memories that you must remember.”

“What I need is a book about the Icarus Curse. There must be something in one of them. I bet there's even one in the Malfoy Manor. Father probably read about the Curse from one of the Dark Arts books in the Library. If I can read what it said, I can use it to figure out how to get out of it. I'm not going to believe that this stupid thing is eternal. It can't be.”

Both of the stone creatures were silent, obviously contemplating what to say to that. Draco sighed and looked around the room. He saw Potter on his knees in front of the pool under the willow. He raised his brow at the other boy's odd behavior. If Potter wanted to watch his reflection, he wasn't about to interrupt. He definitely didn't need Potter sticking his nose into all of his problems. It was bad enough that he was so deeply involved anyway.

He could still remember Potter's arms embracing him and attempting to soothe him. This Curse tied them together somehow. He wouldn't go around flinging himself into every Gryffindor's arms otherwise. This was stupid and he hated it. Stupid Potter holding him and telling him everything would be okay. What did he know about it? He stared hard at Potter and bit his lip. He wanted out of this curse somehow and if it got him away from Potter, no matter how nice it felt to be able to trust the arms around him would actually protect him, it would be all the better.

“You could use the Mirror to Travel. It will open a small portal and it will allow one person to pass through. It's a very limited window however. If you aren't back before it closes, you'll be trapped there. You can't bring anyone back through and if you want to bring something back, you have to exchange it with something of equal size and weight.”

He looked at the ferret and nodded.

“That's what I'll do then. I'll just transfigure something into a book, carry it through and bring the other book back.”

“Very well. If that is what you chose to do, then we will instruct you on how to operate the Mirror of Rednaw.”

“Thank you.” Draco got up and went to where he left the pillow and blanket. Potter wouldn't miss either of these. Now, he had to control his wayward magic into transforming one of these things into a book.