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.

Warnings: Part two of the second exchange. The animal's explanations were derived from the meaning of totem animals. The Guardian is tested!

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-

Severus snarled, nerves friend and patience shot. Potter was still smiling at Draco's unconscious form as they traveled to the Hospital Wing. He knew that it wasn't over yet. The exchange was half complete. Draco would soon be in far more agony. It all depended on the guardian chosen. Scieran Malfoy was very specific when he met out requirements for guardians. He only hoped Lucius had chosen true. If Potter failed...

He let the brat carry his precious godchild. Those odd creatures that had followed them were still staring at him and he knew that lion was moments away from attacking him.

-X-

Draco inhaled deeply, breathing in some rich earthy smell. It settled his senses and made him relax so he laid there in complete compliance, feeling too calm and sedate to even bother moving. He could sense people moving about him, the sensations feeling like a vortex surrounding him. Around him, that earthy smell was stationary, what he imagined the eye of the storm to be.

“Sleep. I'll protect you.” It whispered at him. He felt his lips twitch into a smile and obeyed without a thought of defiance. It felt so good to finally be able to let go, to forget his pain and trouble for the briefest of moments. He felt his hand enveloped in something warm and curled his fingers about it, threading them together. It was like solving a wizard's puzzle; everything just suddenly...fit.

He felt something brush his hair, ruffle his clothes, but he ignored it. He was at peace here and as long as that voice whispered promises of protection, he was willing to trust it. Something like white light enveloped his thoughts again and Draco lost himself in the sudden tide.

-X-

“What can we expect next?” Harry asked as he looked up at Snape. The man was barely holding back the acidic diatribe that threatened to spill from his lips and Harry knew it was only because he was afraid of disturbing Draco. “Professor?”

“This is the first half of the second exchange. It won't be something Draco will remember. Suffice it to say that it presented Draco a choice, either to give the magic back thus killing everyone connected or ripping it away immediately killing his father.”

“Then...Is Lucius..?” Harry asked, gripping Draco's hand tightly.

“No. From what I can piece together, Draco tried to give it back but Lucius reached out and pushed him back, contacting the guardian to protect Draco from himself.” Snape said, thin fingers covering Draco's other hand. It was the most affectionate gesture Harry had seen him use in his entire life. The ferret looked up from where it was resting in the crook of Draco's arm.

“That's a fairly adept way of describing it.” The ferret said, moving carefully toward the mistrusting professor. Harry rolled his eyes.

“These two are creatures from the Mirror of Truth. Supposedly, they are soul representatives of myself and Draco. I didn't think they could leave the room, though.”

“There is much you don't know.” The ferret said pointedly. Snape hissed out a chuckle.

“Draco's soul? This mangy little rodent?” The ferret chattered angrily.

“Ferrets are opportunistic, intelligent, crafty, extremely focused, observatory, intuitive, know hidden meanings, playful with a deep need for a secure home life alongside a place for meditation and relaxation. They are fast and agile with avoiding danger and are powerful allies if you need to understand yourself. Are you saying Draco is none of these things?” The lion asked. Harry quickly turned away before Snape could say anything about his smile and verbally rip him to shreds.

“Thank you.” The ferret said haughtily, nose twitching in the air. “Whereas lions are recklessly fearless, lazy, extremely jealous and protective, terrifyingly aggressive, but can be good leaders if they aren't blinded by their emotions, and must learn patience and cooperation if they are ever to do well.”

The lion growled irritably.

“But they are excellent parents, avoid unnecessary confrontation, graceful and efficient. Not to mention powerful. I believe that describes Harry well.” The ferret tossed its head decisively and sighed as it curled up on Draco's chest. “Aside from all of that, we are out of the room because the healing has not been completed.”

“Your souls are struggling to separate but stay together. The curse is trying to weaken you both.” The lion said as it carefully rested beside Harry's chair.

“That would be the second half of the exchange. It will try to separate the bond between the guardian and the cursed. Draco's ancestor was very definite when he created this curse. It cannot be preformed by merely anyone nor can it be broken. If the requirements aren't met, then it will claim the lives of those trapped in the curse's web, which would be yourself, Draco and Lucius.”

“What will it try to do?” Harry asked, meeting Snape's eyes with grim determination. He had felt so helpless before. He wouldn't experience it again, wouldn't allow Draco to experience it again.

“It will question your suitability. Scieran chose his son's best friend as his guardian and it worked out rather well, though the exact circumstances of the test are not known. His son's friend never spoke of it after Scieran died but could always been seen in paintings at Ezio's right shoulder, never too far away.” Snape said, a grudging respect burning lightly in his eyes.

“I already know that there is a strong bond between myself and Draco. It isn't clear what that bond was in the beginning, but it was already there before Lucius increased it. For all I know, we could have been soul mates.” Harry ignored Snape's growl of disgust and temper. “I'm not going to let anything happen to him. It isn't exactly...love...or...duty...but it's...something.”

Harry's brows furrowed in his exasperation. He couldn't describe exactly what was between himself and Draco, but it was there. Powerful, insistent and beautiful.

“Something happened when Lucius reached out through Draco. I can see this light about him. He looks like he swallowed a star. It doesn't disappear at all.” He confessed, moving his other hand to hold Draco's in both of them.

“That's...” Snape couldn't find any words either but tightened his grip on his godson's hand. Harry absently wondered if he was jealous that Lucius chose him instead of Draco's godfather.

“Draco brought this out of the Malfoy Library. He used one of the mirrors in the room to get it.” Harry said after a while of silence. He grabbed the book from where it had fallen into his lap and handed it over to Snape. The man's long fingers hesitatingly uncurled from around Draco's to take the book and flip through it. He settled into a chair on the opposite side and began to read with intense focus. Harry tried to remain as quiet and respectful as possible.

-X-

“That is good news, Minerva.” Dumbledore said, voice heavy and mind filled with the secrets he had learned. Severus had left memories he had apprehended from Lucius and Narcissa in his Pensieve and the Headmaster had taken advantage of the fact that the device was un-warded to spy through it. It was upsetting what he had learned.

“What would you like to do now?” She asked. He looked up and met her eyes. She was just as upset with the situation as Severus.

“Wait. That's all we were ever meant to. Everything that matters is...up to Harry and Draco.” He replied, defeated and exhausted. There wasn't anything he could do. Draco's support was needed if they were to take this public. Harry's position put him right between Draco and himself. He would have no luck coaxing Draco into his plans and Harry knew to be watchful of them.

“They're just boys, Albus.” She said with despair.

“Not any longer.” He said with finality. Minerva nodded and descended the staircase. Dumbledore stood and moved to the window, feeling Fawkes settle on his shoulder. He took comfort from his companion's soft music and warm presence.

-X-

Scrimgeour sat at his desk, head in his hands. He had a verifiable disaster on his hands. Great tress sprouting from nowhere, a plague of wyverns spreading across London. Not even the Ministry was safe. A great tree had disturbed the lower levels but was constrained below thanks to the quick thinking of the Unspeakables. This was unheard of destruction. Exposing the wizarding world to scrutiny. Everything was threatening to fall apart around him.

“Minister?”

He looked up to meet the next round of question he wouldn't have answers to, more crises he would have to resolve.

“Yes? What is the news?”

“We're getting reports from the Alley. The wyverns...they're just starting to die. We haven't identified the cause yet. The protection spell around the tree has been dissolved as well. Aurors are working to bring it down.”

“That's excellent.” He sighed and rubbed his temples. “What about St. Mungo's or the lower floors?”

“Still over-run. We're working on it as best we're able.”

“Understood.” He turned to the next person and steadily began to answer their questions. This was a virtual disaster. How would the repairs be taken care of? Who would feel safe in the world now? He steeled his resolve for the Malfoy monies. He needed it. Now.

-X-

Harry couldn't describe what happened. One minute he was speaking softly with the lion and the next he couldn't breathe. His vision was going faint, the light around Draco dimming. He slumped forward, feeling weak and helpless, feeling his fingers slip away from Draco's. He tried to throw it off, tighten his grip, but he couldn't even twitch his fingers.

“Dra-” He gasped out, voice soft, slow and quiet. He felt his eyesight dim and the glow around Draco was growing thinner. He bared his teeth and turned his attention inward, hoping that his magic would summon the force of will he could not physically.

It responded just as weakly as his body had; instead of rising like a dragon, it rose like a decrepit owl with a broken wing. But as weak as it was, he couldn't do nothing. He forced his eyes open and stared at Draco's loose and starlit fingers. He just needed to start small. He channeled his magic down his arm and concentrated on making it rise. If he could get his arm up, he could get it over Draco's hand.

Just as his arm twitched, the magic in it suddenly left. Surprised, he tried to call more magic, more power, more will. Nothing. It was like a dried reservoir. He grit his teeth, determined to still reach Draco. He survived eleven years without knowing his magic, without casually waving a wand to summon water or light. He could move his own damn body five inches!

He could hear Snape yelling at him, but it was like earlier. Realization shot through him. The second half! It was trying to separate him from Draco! No!

He struggled to raise his hand, lean his head, move in anyway. There! His ring finger gave the barest of twitches and he latched onto that. If he could just get his fingers to Draco's hand...His fingers crept those tiniest inches, his ragged fingernail barely touching Draco's pale fingers. The glow suddenly increased.

“Draco!” He croaked out, voice barely making it out of his throat. He let momentum carry his fingers forward as his body slumped over the edge of the bed. He couldn't see much of Draco's face now but he didn't care. He could see Draco's illuminated hand and his own that covered it. He wasn't going to let this stupid spell try to take Draco away from him!

-X-

“Let him go! He isn't worthy! Peasant! Filth! Unclean! Tainted! Release him! Let him suffer!” Voices whispered in Draco's ear, ugly and angry. He tried to force them away, seeking that comfort of earlier. “Let him die! He's deserves it!”

“Who?!” He demanded, reaching out with his magic. He couldn't see or feel anyone! “Who are you talking about?!”

“Let the freak die! Kill him! Let him go!”

“Shut up! Go away! Get out of my head!”

Draco felt overwhelmed. He was trapped here! Something foreign and cold surrounded him, so different from that embrace earlier. What had changed?!

“Let him die!”

Draco ran. He let his magic scatter around him, trying to block those nasty voices and just ran.

-X-

“It's trying to make you weak enough to succumb to death! You mustn't let it! Try to reach Draco! He's trapped within the curse's magic. Fight it, Potter!” Snape urged, seeing this happen. Potter was struggling to reach Draco physically, and he was sure that Draco was struggling to reach out to anyone mentally.

Make it through this, he prayed though he was unsure who he was praying to. Make it through this. He was restrained as a spectator in this, unable to interfere for fear of trapping Draco inside himself or dying. He began to chant, alphabetically reciting the common potion ingredients and their uses. It gave him something else to concentrate on. He could barely stand to see this happen.

-X-

Harry laced his fingers through Draco's, using his other hand to force his upper body back up. He leaned on his elbow, careful not to press on Draco's hand with his weight as he brought his free hand up and rested it against Draco's face, two fingers touching his temple. He couldn't sense Draco at all as he sent magic carefully and sparingly through his fingertips. Instead of the familiar warm red magic, it felt cold and alien. Nothing could exactly describe the sensation that pushed him back, as it tried to keep him away.

Harry wasn't going to let it happen. He summoned whatever magic he had left, and funneled it through his fingers, trying to penetrate the foreign magic. The glow around Draco gave him hope. He just knew that Draco wasn't lost to him yet. He wouldn't be lost. He wouldn't let him go!

“Draco!” He shouted, forcing it out through a tight throat.

-X-

He felt that warm presence, fleetingly. It appeared and then disappeared. Those cruel voices kept shrieking at him, repeating horrible and terrible things.

“Let him die! He isn't strong enough! Weak! Let him go! He should die! Tainted and unclean! Let him die!”

“Shut up!” He shouted, frantic with panic and confusion. “I don't know who you're talking about!”

“Yes you do.” They suddenly turned to one, genderless voice. “He has always been there. To hurt you, taunt you, humiliate you! He is unfit! You deserve better! He's worthless!”

His memories were turned against him. Every sneer, scowl and taunt he had ever exchanged with Harry Potter was suddenly flashing through his mind. Every insult they had traded. Every time Harry Potter had dismissed him. Ignored him. Made him feel worthless. He sunk to his knees, the voices still taunting their cruel messages.

“Draco.” He looked up, eyes widening further as Harry Potter appeared in front of him, holding out his hand. “Take my hand.”

“Potter?” He asked hesitatingly. The boy smiled, lips twisting as he he hesitated. The soft look in those green eyes vanished as Draco just stared at him.

“Take my hand, Malfoy! Now!” He ordered, voice dark and threatening. Draco shook his head, scooting back and trying to rise up to his feet to flee. “Listen to your betters, you disgusting freak!”

That wasn't Potter! Draco snarled and ran. Potter didn't have it in him to be cruel to anyone, retaliatory yes but not outrightly cruel.

“You thought you could get away?”

Draco drew up in a halt. How did he get in front of him?! He looked around and there was a wall of Harry Potters surrounding him. Each had that grimace of disgust and anger as they looked at him. The one in front extended a hand.

“Take my hand, Draco. Take it. I told you that I'd protect you. Don't you trust me?” He said, voice as softly cruel as his eyes were hard and ugly.

“You're not Potter.” He said defiantly, spreading his magic around himself. The lookalikes backed away from it, looking slightly fearful. He smiled viciously.

“Please, Draco. I can get you out of here. You just need to trust me.”

“You're not Potter. I don't need to do anything!” He shouted. The lookalikes seemed to overcome their initial aversion to his magic and were pressing in around him.

“You need me. You can't control your magic. You can't even protect yourself.” The leader said with a sneer as it pressed a hand to his shield. It wavered around him, starting to thin and shake. “You're just the unwanted freakish son of a bastard pureblood. You're not even missed. No one cares about what happens to you. A disgusting freak who should have died in the War.”

“No.” He shook his head, clamping his hands over his ears.”Shut up. He wouldn't say that.”

“Just take my hand. I'm the only one who cares about you. You want that don't you? I'll always protect you, Draco.” The leader simpered. Draco hated this. How dare he patronize him! He wasn't some weak little wizard! He wasn't disgusting! He wasn't a freak!

“Just shut up! You don't know anything! I'm proud of everything I am!” He shouted, throwing an arm before him like he was casting with a wand. “You're nothing!”

He screamed with rage, stripping the shield from around himself and forcing it through his arm and into a pure blast of magic. He met the lookalike's shocked green eyes, so much like Harry Potter's that he had to turn away. Silence fell around him, except for his own panting. He sealed his eyes shut, hoping that as long as they were closed he couldn't be hurt again.

“Draco?” Potter's voice. Again. He groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Draco? We need to get you out of here. That magic's trying to separate us.”

He dropped his hands and looked up at this Potter suspiciously. It seemed like something Potter would say...He didn't have a mean glint in his eyes or a cruel twist to his lips. His eyes narrowed as he tried to decide what new torment he would be experiencing.

“Draco? Take my hand.” Potter held out his hand and Draco's eyes dropped to it. First Year flashed through his mind. This whole thing felt just like it had then.

“How...” He swallowed and then took a quick glance between Potter's extended hand and his emerald green eyes. “How do I know I can trust you? How are you different from the others?”

“Others? Draco, I don't understand.”

“The others from earlier.” He accused. He looked down at Potter's hand and bit his lip. He wanted to take the hand but...He didn't want to be hurt...

“I don't know anything about that.” Potter said pitifully.

“Prove that I can trust you.” Draco demanded suddenly.

“How?” Potter's eyebrows went down in frustration.

-X-

Harry couldn't believe this. Draco was hesitating. What happened to him when he was trapped here? Yet another thing that he couldn't protect Draco from. Draco bit his lip and Harry dropped his hand. Draco's eyes suddenly brightened and he gave him a cool look.

“You said you'd protect me. So...protect me.” Harry frowned at the words and opened his mouth to question him when the world around them shook.

“Draco! What's going on?!”

Draco was silent and just stood there, eyes as wide as Harry's when the space around them shook. Harry moved closer to Draco and a frightful cry rent the air, making them cover their ears and wince. Harry's mouth dropped open when he saw a monster descend on them.

It was built like a dragon, but it was all rotting flesh and bones. Instead of a reptilian face, a bird's skull screamed at them, the ungainly shape moving agilely in the air. Harry grabbed Draco hand and they began to run.

“What is that thing?!” Draco screamed. This was his mind! What was a creature like that doing here?!

“You said to protect you! That must be the test!” Harry shouted back, tugging Draco to the ground as the creature swooped over them. Harry rolled on top of him, protecting him as the tail brushed inches over him.

“What?!”

“This is the second half of the exchange! It wants me to prove my worth as your guardian!” Harry pulled Draco back up and they began to run.

“Where are we going?! It's my mind!”

“I got in here somehow! I'm trying to find the bridge between my mind and the hole I made in this curse magic!”

“Down!” Draco tugged him down and they huddled as the creature made another pass. Harry grit his teeth as his shoulder was clipped by the spiny tail. He wished he had a broom. It would be far easier than this slow running.

“I don't know where I came in; it all looks the same here!” Harry said as they started running again. “What are we going to do?!”

“Use your magic! Surely you can find it that way!” Draco said with panic as he kept his eyes on the large ugly creature.

“I am using my magic! I'm barely here regardless!” Harry admitted as they dove to the left. He grabbed Draco's hand and tugged them both in the opposite direction, running towards the creature. It screamed as Harry tugged them down, the creature flying over them and they were running.

“Worthless, Potter!” Draco said casting his hand out in front of him. His magic responded weakly. “I used up so much earlier! Damn it!”

“I'll protect you! Worry about getting us out!” Harry promised and lifted Draco up, carrying him like he had on their mad dash to the Hospital Wing.

“Put me down, Potter! I'm not an invalid!” Draco squirmed and Harry tightened his grip.

“Look, just concentrate on finding the hole I made earlier! I'll worry about the running and the monster!” Harry felt Draco's body still and the blond wrapped a grudging arm around his neck.

“This doesn't mean anything, Potter.” Draco said with irritation. He held out a hand in front of them, closing his eyes. His magic stirred around his hand and it only encountered cold, alien magic. “This isn't working.”

“Try something else.” Harry said, voice a little breathless. “I trust you to get us out of here, Draco. It's your mind after all.”

Draco suddenly inhaled sharply and Harry wanted to reassure him, but the creature was making another pass and he had to get them out of the way.

-X-

This was his mind...The notion churned around a few times but he couldn't quite make himself believe it. Potter was right. This was his mind. He told Potter back in the Mirror Room that he wasn't going to be afraid of his own mind. This was his mind, his space, his!

“This is my mind. Mine.” He said to himself. The curse was trying to make him afraid of his mind. It was trying to trap him here. He wouldn't allow it!

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, striving for calm. Potter was still running and avoiding the creature.

“Potter. I know what to do now. Put me down.” He said and looked up at Potter's disbelieving eyes. “You know I'm not that brave, Potter. So it must mean I've got a really good plan.”

Potter just gave him a flat stare.

“I've experienced a few of your plans before.”

“Just trust me, okay?” He said, tightening his grip on Potter's neck. Potter stood there, panting a bit and staring at him. “Please?” He whispered.

“Of course, Draco.” He said finally. He set Draco back on his feet and Draco stared at the large nasty creature. “Whatever you're planning make it quick.”

“Just trust me. I know what I'm doing.” He said with the same sure drawl he used to hold court in Slytherin. At least, he hoped he knew what he was doing. He took a deep breath and held out a hand. With his other, he grabbed Potter's and twined their fingers together. Potter squeezed his hand tightly and only fidgeted slightly as the creature flew straight at them.

“Draco.” He heard Potter mutter worriedly. He ignored him and forced himself to stand firm and not wince as the rotting smell of the creature filled his senses. Draco stared hard, using his hand to center his magic around them. The red magic swelled over him and Potter and they stood there as the creature crashed into it, making it explode in a blaze of golden light.

-X-

Harry groaned as he tried to sit up. He was lying on the ground and something heavy was cutting off the circulation in his arm. The silver-white hair covered Draco's face but Harry brushed it away. Draco groaned, moving closer until his head was resting on Harry's chest. Harry gave him a pain-filled lopsided smile and shook his shoulder.

“Draco. Wake up.” He shook him a bit harder and Draco began to sit up with angry mutters. Harry sat up, using his arms to support him as he looked around in wonder at the space around them. It looked like a meadow collided with a medieval fairy castle, tossed into a beach and thrown into the stars. A single sun lit the sky, with pinpoints of stars each with little lines connecting him and Harry realized he was staring at constellations. Draco the Dragon was slithering around the bright sun. Harry looked around in amazement.

“What is this?” He whispered. Draco lifted his head and looked around in wonder with him.

“I made this place up. When I was bored at those society dinners, I imagined I was in some other place. I made up a bunch of adventures here.” Draco said as he stood up and looked around in wonder. His entire face lit up. “I forgot about this.”

“It's beautiful.” He said as the purple and black and sky blue sky rippled over them. Draco ran forward stopping at the top of a rise and began to point around excitedly.

“There's a lake back there! There were pirates and mermaids, real beautiful ones like in the Prefects' Bath! And over there was this great dragon! It spoke French! And there! There's unicorns there!” Draco turned back and smiled, looking so, so beautiful. “I can't believe this survived!”

“Yeah.” Harry said as he came up beside Draco. As amazing as this place was... “But we really need to get back, Draco. Snape's probably worried out of his mind.”

Draco's smile had dimmed a bit but he nodded good-naturedly.

“I wonder if I'll be able to remember this when we wake back up.” He said as they began to walk.

“Hopefully.” Harry answered and he began to glance around. “How do you think we'll know where it is?”

A silvery ladder descended straight from the sun as he said this and stopped before them.

“I guess that's how. Come on, Potter.” Draco said as he grabbed a rung and began to steadily climb to the small opening in the sun. Harry started as the constellation Draco huffed smoke out of its nostrils at him. He hoped Draco would remember this place...It was truly a testament to his creativity, even as a small child, to create such a weird and wonderful place.

-X-

Draco groaned as his eyes fluttered open. He felt so tired still. All he wanted to do was sleep, but his whole body and mind ached. He heard an answering groan close by and looked down to see Potter almost lying on top of him.

“Get off, Potter. You're too heavy to be lying on me.” He groused, shoving at Potter's broad shoulders with his free hand.

“So tired.” Potter complained, rolling onto the empty space beside him. He curled up close and their twined hands ended up draped over Draco's waist. Potter's fingers fell away from his temple as he slid it under his waist and hummed contently.

“Potter.” Draco whined, but he couldn't force him away. He was too tired to do much more than whine and shove half-heartedly.

“Draco?” He looked up and met his godfather's worried eyes. He flinched upon contact and lowered his eyes self-consciously.

“Sev?” He whispered. “I'm okay now. I'm just really tired. I don't think I have the energy to explain anything right now.”

“That's alright. I'm just glad you're fine. I'll be waiting once you feel up to it.” Severus promised softly. His voice was very gentle and very calm.

“Thank you.” Draco whispered back, pretending interest in Potter's prone form. He heard the man get up and leave and exhaled the breath he wasn't aware of holding. He ran his free hand down, brushing at Potter's wild hair. It was softer than he expected, but it wouldn't stay in place no matter what way he brushed it back.

“Thank you, Harry.” He said once he was sure that Potter was deep enough asleep. It wouldn't do for Hero Boy to actually hear him being grateful. Potter snored loudly and Draco scowled, swatting him on the shoulder. “Of course, you just can't ever be quiet.”