A Life Altered

Chapter 1

The Muggle club was well reputed to be one of the nicest nightclubs in all of London. Some fancy rich man from America had moved out here and opened it up as an extension of the same clubs he owned back in the states.

Years had passed after the end of the war. Draco had changed sides in the end. He was now a very Muggle friendly wizard. His father had agreed with him that their immature folly had come to its end when the Dark Lord had made them all so miserable.

However, he still felt awkward coming to a non magical club. It wasn’t that he had a problem with being in such a place. It was an issue of not really knowing how he should act. He was not very good at conversing with Muggles, even if he no longer wished them any harm.

Snape had called him and bid him to come here. He knew not why. He only knew that if Severus had seen fit to call him, it was important.

Moving to stand at the edge of the bar, he ordered a whiskey. He was given his drink promptly and had just brought it to his mouth for a drink when the lowlights shone on the stage.

Turning his attention to it, he swallowed convulsively as the singer moved to the center of the stage. She was a vision, dressed in a long, flowing black evening dress. Her hair fell in long luxurious curls down her back.

The music began and Draco could not stop himself from shaking his head in barely concealed shock. There was no way. It couldn’t be. How was it possible?

Then, she opened her mouth and began to sing. It was a stroke of luck that a barstool was right behind him, because he fell heavily upon it, unable to keep his feet. Her voice was that of an angel, and her beauty shone brightly through to him.

Tears glistened in his eyes. He had never admitted to himself, let alone anyone else that Hermione was anyone that he had any affection for. But the truth had always been that he was hopelessly enamored of her. She had always made him feel as if he was unworthy of the one thing he had ever truly wanted. Her.

As she sang, Draco found himself lost in her words. His breathing quickened and he felt as if his heart was going to break through his chest. He had never known she could sing. Why hadn’t he known she could sing?

A soft voice drew his attention away from her for only a moment. “Amazing, isn’t it? I saw her last night and I knew you had to see.” Severus sat down beside him and ordered a drink.

Draco’s eyes stayed on her. He shook her head. “After all these years, she doesn’t look any different. Except, maybe more beautiful than ever before.” Turning back to Severus, he asked, “Have you spoken to her yet? Has she told you why she left?”

Severus looked up at the stage and his own, vampire eyes grew sad. “She doesn’t remember.” At Draco’s loud cough of shock, he looked back at him. “Anything. It’s as if her memory was wiped completely and a different memory was buried in its place.”

Draco’s jaw dropped. “But who would do that? She wasn’t near any who would do that to her.”

Severus sighed. “Your guess is as good as mine, Draco. I have not spoken to her. I only performed a faint legilimens and discovered her memories have been replaced. As far as she knows. . .” he paused, taking a drink of the harsh whiskey before finishing, “She was raised in America with her father.” He gestured grandly, “The owner of this bar.”

His eyes returned to the bar. “She doesn’t even know that she’s a witch.”

Draco turned back to stare at her. “But. . . Is it possible it isn’t her?”

Severus shrugged. “I suppose it is possible. Perhaps she is only natures natural twin.”

As Severus finished speaking, her song ended and she took a deep bow, before turning and making her way off of the stage. Unable to stop himself, Draco rose and chased after her. Severus moved to stop him, but was not fast enough. “Wait! I have to tell you!”

As he neared her, he spoke, “Excuse me!”

Turning, she looked for the speaker, and flashed him a radiant smile. “Yes?”

Her accent was much different. It sounded more like an American accent and he had to blink to remind himself that he could not call her by the name he knew to be hers. Her smile was so warm and accepting.

He was suddenly hit by the fact that this woman had no bad memories of what a prat he had once been. She had no idea that he had been evil. For several seconds he simply stared at her before he caught himself and offered a soft smile. “You have a lovely voice.”

Her smile deepened. “Thank you.” Then she held out her hand. “My name is Helena. Helena Riddle.”

Draco held his breath as he grasped her hand. Swallowing hard to keep his reaction hidden, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.

Closing his eyes, he cursed a million times in his head before raising up and giving his name. “I’m Draco Malfoy.” He fought with himself momentarily before adding, “and I would love to see you again, if you would allow me?”

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, biting her bottom lip. “I’m here every night except for Sundays. If you are enough of a night owl, you can maybe take me for an early breakfast sometime after the bar closes. That is if you stay as charming as you are right now, Draco.”

Drawing a card out of her the garter of her exposed thigh, she handed it to him. “Give me a call sometime, handsome.” When she turned and walked away from him, he had to fight the urge to just slip to the floor.

Was it a plan the Dark Lord had concealed from everyone? How had he done it? How could he have taken not only her memories but all of her magic as well? How was it even possible?

Severus moved to stand beside him. For several moments he looked from the card in Draco’s hand, to his face. Finally he drew breath. “She is happy, Draco. Whoever did this did not do it with malice.” He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Perhaps we should leave well enough alone.”

Draco spun and stared openmouthed at his godfather. “We can’t! It isn’t right! She deserves the truth! And whoever did this to her deserves the hounds of hell to come chasing after them!”

Turning his back on Severus, he stalked from the club, leaving three sets of eyes watching after him. The first was the wizard who felt true sympathy and worry for him. The second was the beautiful Helena, who had no idea why he was suddenly upset when he had been so friendly a moment earlier. The last watched from the balcony, wondering if he’d made a mistake after all.
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A/N: Please Review. . . The lyrics to the song Helena was singing is below.

Tonight and the Rest of My Life
By Nina Gordon
Down to the earth I fell
With dripping wings,
Heavy things won't fly
And the sky might catch on fire
And burn the axis of the world
That's why
I prefer a sunless sky
To the glittering and stinging in my eye

Feel so light
This is all I wanna feel tonight
Feel so light
Tonight and the rest of my life

Gleaming in the darksea
I'm as light as air
Floating there breathlessly
When the dream dissolves I open up my eyes
I realize that
Everything is shoreless sea
Weightlessness is passing over me

Feel so light
This is all I wanna feel tonight
Feel so light
Tonight and the rest of my life

Everthing is waves and stars
The universe is resting in my arms

I feel so alive
This is all I wanna feel tonight
I feel so light
Tonight and the rest of my life