Forsaken Memories

Chapter Two

“Hey, Harry, Stop that!” Jericho shouted as Harry took off down the beach with one of his dogs following on the leash behind him. Along with two of their friends, Jericho was helping Harry to give his dogs some exercise; on impulse, Jericho had brought her dogs along as well. The girls growled in irritation as they were reluctantly dragged behind seven dogs racing to catch up to Harry once more.

“Sorry Jer…I might warn you, it’s not me. This dog has a mind of his own. He knows he’s almost home.” He said grinning.

“I’m sure.” the girls answered together in unison. Smiling fondly at her cousin, Jericho couldn’t help but wonder if he would have been any different had he stayed in the wizarding world.

“Jer…come on, you’re gonna miss the turn!” Serena said laughing.

“I’m coming. Don’t worry.” She said staring off into space again.

“Weirdo.” Chyenne muttered.

“Hey Jer, is there supposed to be a black Jeep in front of your house?” Harry asked.

“Oh shit! Brye’s early!” she said. Letting go of the leashes, Jericho whistled to her dogs and sprinted down the street leaving three confused bodies and four hyper dogs behind.

“Who’s Brye?” Serena asked.

“Oh that’s right!” Harry exclaimed. “Her dad had a sister. Brye is her oldest cousin.” Harry said explaining his outburst sheepishly to his two best friends.

“That explains a lot.” Chyenne said.

“So, she’s the middle cousin and the only girl then?” Serena asked.

“No, come on inside. I’ll explain everything over tea while we wait for Jer and Brye yeah?” Harry asked.
The girls nodded and followed Harry and his dogs into the house.

*~*
“Bout time Jer.” Brye said when she made it to her front lawn. Having already taken her dogs for a run earlier, Jericho only flipped her cousin off and fell onto the cool grass with her dogs sitting beside her panting.

“Hey Jer, you alright?” Lakona asked as the four stepped out of the car.

Jericho only pointed to the hose in response. Lakona smirked. As she walked towards the garden hose, Brye took the opportunity to tell Blaise and Draco to get into the Jeep and roll the windows up before following them into the car himself. He grinned when Lakona visibly pouted and waited until Jericho was thoroughly soaked and the hose was turned off and returned before he got out of the Jeep.

“So why’d you get hosed down Jer?” Brye asked.

“You try jogging with dogs that have endless amounts of energy then come sprinting up my street and tell me if you don’t get hot too.” she commented dryly taking her house key out of her pocket.

“Point taken.” Brye said laughing.

“Hey Jer…I hate to asked, but when is the party?” Lakona said from behind her.

“Oh, Brye didn’t tell you anything about it?” Jericho asked her while glaring at Brye. Turning back to Lakona she smirked. “You remember Amy right?” She asked.

“Yeah who wouldn’t? She was only like the best friend you, me, Chyenne or Serena could ask for. Why?” She asked.

“She’s back in town. She moved into last week. We’re throwing her a surprise birthday party.” Jericho replied happily. She laughed when Lakona squealed. “And before you ask, yes, he’s coming.” She said.

“You’re not kidding me this time?!” She asked.

“Come on, I have to change, then we’re going for a walk.” She said to the boys as she grabbed Lakona’s hand and dragged her into the house.

Blaise and Draco looked at Brye who shrugged and followed the girls inside before veering into the living room to wait. With shrugs of their own, Draco and Blaise followed Brye into the living room only to be bombarded by three very hyper active dogs.

“Girls, get down.” Jericho scolded.

Brye laughed. “Don’t worry Jer. We have five dogs at home, remember?” He asked. “Blaise and Draco will be fine. They’re big boys.” He added.

“Whatever. I’m gonna change. Lakona, you wanna look through my clothes for something to wear tonight? After the party we’re coming back here to get ready and taking Amy clubbing.” Jericho said.

“Why not?” Lakona asked following the tall brunette into her bedroom before the door closed.

Fifteen minutes later found the two girls walking out of Jericho’s bedroom with matching bikini tops -though they were different colors- and black baggy jean shorts. Looking into the living room when she heard a deep baritone voice followed by a tenor laugh, Jericho swooned momentarily over the blonde relaxing on the couch.

“So when are we going to see your darling cousin?” Lakona asked.

“We can walked to his house now. Chyenne and Serena are over there too. At least they should still be.” Jericho answered.

“And you didn’t tell me?! Let’s go.” Lakona’s voice trailed off as the front door closed behind her.

“Come on guys. Lakona’s gonna piss my cousin off if we’re not there with her when he opens the door. It’s no secret she likes to annoy the hell out of him.” Jericho said grabbing the dogs’ leashes again.

“Yeah, she tends to piss everyone off at some point.” Blaise agreed as they walked out into the front yard.

Two minutes later, Jericho was opening the front door of her cousin’s house. She laughed when she heard the dogs barking and a loud voice yelling at them to shut up. It was an amusing thing to hear.

“Draconis, enough!” A baritone voice boomed.

“But I didn’t say anything.” Draco said in confusion.

“No, my cousin named one of his dogs Draconis. He said the dogs temper rivals that of a dragon’s. Not to mention, the size of the dogs teeth.” Jericho said. “Now here’s the fun part.” She added before whistling loudly. Loud barking and an angry voice were heard seconds later.
“JERICHO! I thought I told you-” Harry stopped short, eyes wide, mouth gaping at the sight before him. With a head shake, he moved to the side and allowed everyone enterance.

“Malfoy, Zambini it’s good to see you. Please come in.” Harry said politely.

“Potter.” Blaise muttered looking to the growling dog at Harry‘s side.

“Don’t worry Zambini, Mad Eye doesn’t bite. He’s well trained.” Harry said.

Jericho let out an un-lady like snort. “Yeah about as well trained as any Spanish bull dog. That damn thing attacks anything it remotely thinks is trying to do you harm.”

“Nice dog Potter.” Draco said when the dog started to growl.

“Thanks. Mad Eye, that’s enough. Go on now.” Harry said shooing the dog into the living room.

“Speaking of which, Brye did you bring your dogs?” Jericho asked.

“No, I left them inside at your house.” He answered timidly.

“Harry, I’ll be back. Watch my brats will ya?” Jericho said. “Chaos, come on girl.” She called.

Harry was, along with his other guests, sitting in the living room sipping on a beer relaxing. He was still slightly shocked that his past found him so quickly, but he was still playing the perfect host. He never once let on that his thoughts were taking turns for the worst. His mind was telling him that he would have to move again and that Draco would sell him out now that he knew where he lived.

“Hey Harry, the girls and I wanna know if we can go swimming while we wait for Amy.” Brye said.

“Go ahead Brye. You can borrow a pair of my swimming shorts. Take the dogs will ya?” He asked.

“Sure. Come on guys. Outside.” He said. He turned to Mad Eye and Disorder. “Come on you two.” He tried to coax of the dog. He looked at Lucifer curled up with her head resting on Draco’s upper thigh and laughed. “I’m not going to even try it.” He said.

“Come on Mad Eye, Disorder. Let’s go.” He said trying again.

Brye never noticed Jericho walking up behind him. “Forget it Brye. Disorder loves Harry and Mad Eye won’t leave his side for a second unless Harry tells him too.” She said causing him to jump and whirl around.

Harry looked down and smiled at the nearly full grown Alaskan malamute in his lap and the full grown Alano at his feet. He almost forgot Draco was in the room; at least until Mad Eye started to growl when Draco shifted on the couch.

“Mad Eye, hush. It’s alright.” He said gently. He smiled when the dog obeyed. He chuckled when Disorder hopped down off his lap to curl up next to Mad Eye near his feet. “Sorry ‘bout that. Mad Eye is very protective of me.” He said to Draco.

“It’s alright. Lucifer is the same way.” He answered.

An easy silence fell over them for a couple minutes. It was then that Draco tried to break that silence. He wanted Harry to understand that he regretted that night still. He wanted to make him see that he had changed somewhat.

“Harry…about that night…-”

“Look Draco, you did what you had to do. You were under the Imperius curse. I have forgiven and forgotten. Please just don’t stir up the past for me…please…it’s…” Harry didn’t finish but Draco understood. Draco knew how painful the past could be. He still had dreams of his past and more nightmares of the night he almost killed the only person he trusted beside his godfather, Severus Snape.