The Mists of Memory

Chapter 2: I'm Not a Death Eater!

Hearing these words inflamed Draco's face, which up until now was as white as a sheet.

'Don't you dare say that again, Granger.' Baring his left arm, he waved it forcefully in front of her eyes, while her words burnt him even more inside. 'D'you believe me now? I don't have the Mark, I'm not a Death Eater!'

Hermione didn't seem surprised. She observed his arm sceptically and then glared at him again. 'That means nothing. You could be a spy for Voldemort even without the Mark,' she snapped.

Draco knew that it was true and he couldn't blame her. However, he wasn't going to lose an argument with her. And above all, he didn't accept to be confused for one of those. One such as his father.

'Now, Granger, please don't offend the intelligence of us both. My father has received a Dementor's Kiss.' His sight was clouding. Damn, his headache had got worse and he was aching everywhere. He staggered while aiming a finger at Hermione, but her glare didn't seem to soften. If possible, it hardened.

'The parents of many Death Eaters are in Azkaban. Why should you be an exception? Your father receive the Kiss because he murdered someone, a girl, if I'm not mistaken. Why should we believe you? Even if Harry saved you, you're still a Malfoy.' The girl hissed that name as if it were an insult. Draco's sight blurred at her words and Marion's face flashed in his head. He had to blink twice before speaking his mind.

'I don't care if you can or cannot accept it, Granger, but I urge you to get this truth into your damned Mudblood head. I'm a Malfoy. I won't betray a Life's debt.'

"Mr Malfoy, good evening! Look, Mr Malfoy, it's snowing!"

Draco staggered again and blinked, trying to remove that memory from his head. He began to feel colder, ice invading his spirit. Oh...he knew that feeling well. He paled and opened his eyes wide.

'What's going on, Malfoy? You look like a ghost,' Hermione said. Despite the sour words, her tone showed anxiety and a thin line wrinkled her forehead while she approached him, her gaze scrutinising him worriedly.

'A Dementor...nearby,' groaned Harry, who also blinked, grabbing hold of a piece of furniture to prevent himself from staggering. He too grew pale, but succeeded in resuming control. Luckily, this captured the attention of Hermione and Ron, leaving Draco to deal with his ghosts unnoticed.

"Mr Malfoy, look how much snow! Mr Malfoy?"

Draco shook his head, cursing the pain such a small movement inflicted to him. He didn't want to see Marion again; he didn't want to feel sick. Not there, not now. Not in front of them.

He had to leave.

He turned and moved to get out, but staggered unsteadily. He cursed under his breath—he didn't want them to see his weakness; not the Mudblood and Weasley. It was bad enough that Potter had seen him at his worst and had saved his life.

"Mr Malfoy! Look, it is snowing!" Marion's smile flashed in his mind's eye, followed by his father's glare. His heart tightened in pain.

"Don't you understand that she's lying?"

"I'm not lying!"

"She's lying!"

"Mr Malfoy, do you know what becomes of snow, when it melts?"

"She's a whore who wants to tarnish the name of the Malfoy!"

"That's not true!"

"She's a whore..."

Draco didn't even realise that he brought his hands to the sides of his head. The memories emerged and dissolved in his brain like painful flashes, making him dizzy. Harry wasn't feeling well either—his hands on the sides of his head exactly like Draco. Ron and Hermione came close to their friend asking him worriedly how he was feeling.

"I'm not lying Mr Malfoy!"

"Draco, please...tell me you'll never leave me."

"She's lying. She only wants your money!"

"She'll tarnish the name of the Malfoy!"

"Tell me that you won't ever betray me. I wouldn't bear it."

"She's lying..."

'ENOUGH!!' he screamed without even noticing, smothering a cry while embracing his clothes, which were still wet and cold. His head was heavy and his thoughts confused.

'Malfoy? What's going on?' Not only Granger, but now even Weasley looked at him with concern. Damn...he couldn't keep his composure anymore. Hermione's face blended with Marion's; the questions of the woman in front of him faded into the howls of pain of the one he'd loved.

"I won't allow you to harm her!"

"Draco, look! Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the rainbow?"

"Remove yourself!"

"I love you, Draco!"

"NO!"

"It's true! It's true, I tricked you, Draco. I've taken you for a ride!"

"I'll torture you!"

"I'm not lying, Mr Malfoy!"

"I'm not lying!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

'NOO!'

He fell to his knees. He didn't want to think of it anymore. Once again that image of the woman he loved, lying on that stone pavement, flashed across his mind. Those eyes, empty pools of pale brown, were blaming him in his conscience and were dragging him to hell. He felt as if his heart had been torn out of his body and crushed into a million pieces. Then he felt someone approach him and try to move him with little success. He felt an icy cold hand on his forehead.

'He has a very high temperature!' Someone smothered an outcry.

'What?' said another.

Draco felt them muttering amongst themselves, then he felt his body being seized under the armpits. They made him get up, guiding him somewhere. He didn't have the strength to complain or to resist in any way. The soft touch of a pillow behind his neck was the last thing that his mind recorded, before his consciousness slipped into darkness.

To be Continued...

Author's Note:

Hello there! Here's chapter 2 of this story, hope you're enjoying it. I would like to remind you that this story was written pre-HBP.

I would like to thank so much the lovely people who wrote a review for this story, and those who blessed it with a kudos, or put it in their favourites or follows. It's so disheartening to upload a story and see no engagement whatsoever, especially because in my other fandom I always get good feedback, and this story's very dear to my heart (hence why I have literally cried when i found again the plot in those CDs and why I'm putting such a big effort in editing the English of it and posting it again).

Good news is that I have edited the story up to chapter 17. I hope you're ready for the ride, because it's going to be full of bumps, but very rewarding.

I shall see you in a couple of weeks for chapter 3.