The Burden of Memory

Authors Note: Thanks to my beta's Alexandra and Shannon.

Chapter 7 Malfoy Favors

“Henry, we talked about this,” Draco said. “You know I want to start over. I could care less if I ever recover my memories.”

“That was all well and good when we didn’t have the faintest clue as to who you were, but now we do. Your parents will be here later tonight, and you’ll be leaving with them,” Dr. Evans said. His tone made it clear that Draco was not supposed to argue, but he left the tone unheeded.

“I don’t want to leave with them. What about Lara, and you and Har- everyone else,” he asked. The rug was being pulled out from under him and he was grasping for a handhold. He had talked to Henry about everything after he asked Lara to marry him.

The doctor had been reluctant at best, but Draco managed to convince him of his intentions with his daughter, and he even admitted to having never seen his daughter happier. Now he was taking back his word, his blessing. It wasn’t fair.

“Draco, you have a family, people who love you and care about you. You should be with them. It would also be best if you were to give Lara some room,” he added, his eyes narrowing. “This has all been very hard for her, and it would be better if she could gain some closure as soon as possible.”

Draco sighed. It appeared nothing he said would change the doctor’s mind. Now he was forced to give up the only family he could remember.

Harry and Hermione had gone back to Harry’s flat, along with Lara’s brother Vane, whom Draco was finally introduced to once the commotion had settled. He and Hermione seemed to be hitting things off right away, and there was mention of calling someone else over, a Ron, perhaps.

Much weight had been put into the rock Draco had been carrying, and the three were odd to research. Draco got the impression this was something the Hermione girl did often, and he also assumed Harry disliked it based on his grumbling.

Draco didn’t understand the importance of the stone, nor did he recall where he had retrieved it, though according to Harry, it would have been impossible. The wizard money he had given back to Draco, and he was twisting it between his fingers like some sort of good luck trinket.

Not that it was bringing him any.

--

A knock on the door made Harry jump and he turned, startled to answer it. Before he could reach the door however, Lara walked through and came to where he was standing. She looked nervous and jittery.

“Draco doesn’t want his parents to come here,” she whispered.

Harry rolled his eyes. “No, he wouldn’t would he? I’m sure they would spoil all his plans.”

Lara gave him an impatient look. “I’m serious, Harry. He came to me and he’s honestly afraid. He doesn’t even know why, but his fear is genuine. You have to help him, Harry. Keep him here, don’t let them get to him.”

“They’ll be using my fireplace to floo over. He’ll be no safer here, plus I’m certain that Lucius and Narcissa pose no threat to Malfoy. He’s their only son, he’s the only person I have ever seen them show a lick of compassion for,” he added. Again he ignored the fact that Narcissa had once showed the same compassion to him.

“Are they cruel people?” Lara asked, even more on edge than before.

Harry sighed and shrugged. “They always seemed so to me, they’re Death Eaters after all. But they are not cruel to Draco, not that I could ever tell.”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. “But you don’t know for sure do you? They could beat him or use magic on him…”

“They wouldn’t,” Harry interrupted. He didn’t know for sure, and Lara was right, he couldn’t. How was he to know what went on in the Malfoy household? But it changed nothing, Draco belonged to them, and Harry wanted Malfoy out of his hair as soon as possible.

“If we discover differently?” she asked, her eyes hopeful.

Harry raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. “There is nothing I could do, Lara. The Malfoy’s have every right to take their son back with them. The most I could do is contact the Ministry and let them know about my suspicions. Though I doubt that will do any good, it would be quite the opposite of what I testified to only a few months ago.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“They were spared from Azkaban – wizard prison – by my testimony. Lucius, Narcissa and Draco were all on trial for their activity during and leading up to the war. I testified to what happened and what I witnessed personally, and they were released,” he grumbled.

It had been the outcome he was hoping for, but it still irked him. His name carried so much weight after the war that he could have denounced McGonagall and had her thrown in prison on his word alone. It was disgusting.

He had fled the wizarding world shortly after that, and only Hermione suspected the reason he had run.

“But- how can you say you hate Draco so much if you gave your word in court to save him?” she asked. Her face showed confusion, and it was mirrored by Harry’s own feelings.

He hadn’t wanted Draco to go to prison, and certainly not his mother. Lucius he wanted to see rot inside a cold dark cell, but he couldn’t very well prosecute Lucius and not the rest of his family, especially Draco.

Plus, part of him, a part he didn’t understand or even knew existed before the war, had stayed him. He didn’t want Draco to have to part with his father, and he didn’t want him to suffer. Narcissa had saved him, they were even, but it was more than that.

He wanted to protect Draco from harm.

He had wanted it since the day of the war when he saved him from the fire in the Room of Requirement. Something in him wanted to keep Draco safe and warm.

Though it was much easier to think those fuzzy soft feelings when the prat wasn’t in the next room pretending to have memory loss.

“Things with Draco and I are… complicated. I don’t want to see him suffer, but that doesn’t mean I want him anywhere near me while he’s doing all that not-suffering,” Harry huffed.

Lara smiled up at him and the smile worried Harry. “You’ll do the right thing,” she said and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

Harry groaned and shoved her away playfully. “That’s right, always the hero,” he muttered. “Even to my own detriment,” he added for his own behalf.

Lara just smiled and let him go back to Hermione and Vane, who had scarcely even noticed he was missing.

--

The floo burst into green flames at nine sharp and Lucius stepped out, followed by his wife.

Lucius was wearing a black and gray suit, accented with ice blue, which looked to be from the wrong century. It was partially covered by billowy black robes baring the Malfoy family crest. Narcissa was dressed in a floor length velvet gown in the same light blue color with black and silver lacings on the sleeves and bodice.

Both Malfoys perfectly platinum coifs flowed around them like a silvery halo and Lara and Vane both gasped at their appearance.

Lucius sneered at the muggles but quickly rearranged his features when he spotted Harry. He bowed low and Narcissa fell into a deep curtsy. “The testimony you gave to our family was unexpected Mr. Potter, but no less appreciated,” Lucius said.

“I was never given the opportunity to thank you properly,” he added. “On behalf of my family I extend my sincerest gratitude and if there is ever any favor I can perform for you, consider it done.”

Lucius’s voice was proud yet yielding and Harry knew the man was being genuine. It was an odd feeling to have a Malfoy indebted to him, and he wasn’t sure he liked it. He nodded back. “I only want the war to be over and the healing to begin, sir.”

“Still, it was a kind and generous act you performed on our behalf, Harry,” Narcissa cooed. It sounded odd to hear her speak his name as she would her own son. “You are a welcome ally to our family,” she added.

“And on top of this great gift of freedom you return our son to us. We have been worried over him for weeks and you have found him, Harry, we will never be able to repay your kindness but we shall try,” she said, and it seemed she was on the verge of tears.

Lucius did not seem to share her every sentiment, but didn’t say anything to refute it. No doubt he saw little use for a half blood as an ally, even if he was the great war hero, Harry Potter.

“I’m not the one who found him, Mrs. Malfoy. That honor goes to someone unnamed, but my uncle and my cousin treated him and took care of him. I only just discovered who he was earlier today,” Harry said. He hoped to spread around the gracious behavior of the Malfoy’s and have it extend to his muggle relatives before it ran out.

“This must be your cousin, but where might your uncle be?” Narcissa asked. “I wish to thank him as well.”

“He’s at my flat with Draco,” Lara answered.

Narcissa walked over and pulled Lara into a hug. “Thank you for taking care of my son,” she whispered.

Lara only blushed and nodded. “Draco and I… well he asked me… he asked me to marry him,” she stuttered.

Harry groaned and raked his fingers through his hair. He had hoped the tragic engagement wouldn’t be brought up and that Lara would let it go, but apparently he wasn’t going to be so lucky.

Lucius barked with laughter. “My son, marry a muggle? That’s preposterous. He’s a pureblood wizard, dear girl, he has training and breeding you could never hope to achieve, even if you are related to Potter,” he said. He didn’t sound angry, only that the whole idea must have been an elaborate joke that he had no intention of falling for.

Lara turned red and Harry cringed and went to his cousin, pulling her close. “Draco did ask, but of course we realize that he’s not of sound mind,” Harry said. “No one here expects the proposal to hold now,” he added.

She shot Harry a scathing look. “He still wants to marry me, and I have half a mind to agree,” she huffed.

Apparently foreseeing the upcoming conflict, Narcissa spoke. “Could we see our son now?” she asked.

Harry nodded. “I think that would be good. You should both take him home as soon as possible.”

--

Authors Note: yes, yet another cliffhanger. Go figure. lol.