Forsaken Memories

Chapter Three

“How can you trust me after all this time Harry?” Draco asked quietly. “How can you invite me into your home and trust me not to turn on you like I did that night?” He asked.

Harry sighed. “Good question.” He said. “All I know is, time changes people, and there are times that said people deserve second chances. I’m willing to give you a second chance. Voldemort is dead…he can’t control you anymore.” He answered.

“I see. Damn, ever the Gryffindor aren’t you?” Draco asked lightly.

“You know, that almost wasn’t the case Draco.” Harry admitted.

“What the blazes are you talking about?” Draco asked.

“I was almost sorted into Slytherin. I just didn’t want to be in a house with a damn ferret like you.” Harry teased.

“Well, I can see that one now…St. Potter…a Slytherin.” Draco retorted.

A calm silence fell over the two. It was only when Harry noticed that Draco was getting restless that he decided to break said silence. He didn’t like seeing Draco shifting about trying not to talk to him. It only irritated the brunette to no end.

“Draco, you have been shifting in that seat for the past minute, if you want to ask me something, ask it, don’t avoid the question.” Harry said.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the Golden Trio of Hogwarts? You three were always so close.” Draco said lowering his eyes.

Harry laughed. In no less than two minutes, he had the living room concealed, warded and silenced. He didn’t want his cousin or the other guests to hear him. He took a deep breath to calm his memories and looked at Draco.

“That night, if you remember, 250 witches and wizards died. I won the war, yes, but I lost my innocence Draco. Damn, we were only kids! I was only 17.” Harry laughed again, the bitterness taking the joy out of his voice.

“Dumbledore, the man I trusted, tried to use me again. He said that every Death Eater who had escaped should pay for their crimes. Care to guess how?” He asked.

“He wanted to make you kill again?!” Draco asked incredulously.

“Yes. Every single man and woman who served the enemy. The funny thing was, I agreed, until I saw your father. I’ll never forget the look of pleading in his eyes as Ron nearly beat the life out of him.” Harry paused and stood. He forced his body over to the fire place to stare into the flames.

“When I sent the ass to help the injured and started to heal your father, Ron called me a traitor. He said that by helping a Malfoy, a Death Eater, I became the enemy.” Harry said with a painful undertone in his voice.

Draco listened patiently. He remembered hearing about what Ron had done from his father. He silently wished his father peace while again cursing Ron. He had always known that Ron could never be trusted.

“Hermione, the supposed best friend, she agreed with him. Damn wench, she chose to believe her boyfriend over me…the one person who had saved everyone in the wizarding world!” Harry spat. Draco smirked subtly. ‘Maybe he is a Slytherin at heart’ He thought.

“Did you know, because of my parents that I’m a first generation pureblooded wizard?” Harry asked looking once more to Draco.

“No, it’s news to me.” Draco answered calmly.

“It was news to me too. That damn geezer told me AFTER I killed 206 other purebloods, some of which were distant relatives. That damned fool made me kill my family…and he never flinched when he told me that…not once.” Harry inhaled and exhaled twice to calm down and looked away.

“At any rate, I walked away from everything after that. I found out that my father had a sister living here. Her husband is an American wizard, so I still have pureblood status, even here. And honestly, I never want to go back to London.” Harry looked at Draco with an arched eyebrow. “Does that answer your question then?” He asked.

Draco opened his mouth to comment but he only closed his lips and nodded. He too remembered that night -the night he had seen Harry defend the enemy, the night before he disappeared.

“I know there’s more questions.” Harry said knowingly.

“No more questions, just a little confused.” He admitted.

“Over what?” He asked

“You let go of the past yeah?” Draco demanded.

“Not completely…if you haven’t already heard.” Harry retorted.

“The dogs?” He asked.

Harry nodded. “The dogs.” He agreed.

“Why?” Draco asked, he wanted to know.

“I wanted to remember happiness.” Harry said turning to look Draco in the eyes once again.

Green and Silver met for what felt like the first time in forever and Draco smiled softly. ‘Time really does change people.’ He thought as he stared into the endless pools of emerald and came to a realization. Harry Potter was no longer a boy. Harry Potter wasn’t just a hero…and Harry Potter had grown up.

“How can you be happy with a killer?” Draco asked bitterly.

“I told you, I forgave and forgot…I know Snape did too.” Harry said sadly.

“You really miss him huh?” Draco asked.

“Seventh year made me look at that man in a different light.” He admitted.

“Don’t worry, I miss him too.” Draco said.

“You wanna go surfing?” Harry asked suddenly.

“Sure.” He answered.

“Um, do you need to borrow a suit?” He asked.

Draco grinned and unbuttoned his shirt slowly, almost teasingly. He never noticed Harry’s breath hitch when his wet suit clad chest was revealed. “Already wearing one. Brye said you would probably take the guys surfing. I came prepared.” He said smirking.

Harry nodded dumbly before shaking his head. “Cool, need a bored? I know you wouldn’t want to waste energy going yours off of Brye’s car.” He teased.

“Sure. And you’re right. I would waste too much energy.” Draco said.

Harry laughed. “You know Draco, it’s taken us twelve years, but we are actually being civil to one another.” He said.

“Yeah, you’re right. I wonder how long it will last though.” Draco mused.

Harry shook his head and laughed again. “Let me change, grab a couple boards and write Jer a note and we’ll go.”

“You’re gonna leave a note for them?” Draco asked.

“Jer’ll flip otherwise…my cousin screaming isn’t something I want to deal with this early in the morning. Let me change and write the note and we’ll grab some boards and go.” Harry said.

“Sure thing.” Draco agreed.

Ten minutes later found Mad Eye, Disorder, Lucifer, Draco and Harry near the ocean. The two men found an empty beach when the stepped bare footed onto the sand. It surprised Draco so much he had to ask why. Harry only laughed.

“The beach is mine. I’m terribly rich. I have a small stretch that runs as big as the community.” Harry explained.

“How big is the stretch?” Draco asked.

“Bout 4 ½ miles.” He answered laughing at Draco‘s expression. “Come on ferret. Let’s go surfing.” He said running to the water with Draco following.

The two paddled out into the waves to catch the perfect one. It was a sight to see, what used to be the two biggest rivals sharing something so grand and daring as an ocean wave. Draco smirked at the irony in his life. It seemed his father was still watching over and protecting his interests.