Everything Remains

Chapter 4- Fresh Start

Harry was rustled from sleep by the sounds of Seamus and Dean cackling loudly over a pair of boxers left on the dorm room floor. 
"Glad to know your immaturity is still in tact guys." Harry chuckled, rolling onto his side to lift himself up off the bed. 
"Hey now. Who does this on our 8th year, on the first day no less? THAT is immature." Seamus huffed out, amused but annoyed. 
Ron was still passed out soundly, snoring peacefully on his bed. Nothing but a giant 8-legged beast would ever wake him up. 
"Ron... Ron.... RONALD. WAKE UP." Perpetually on wake-up duty, Harry shook him by the shoulders roughly to rouse him. "RON. WE HAVE CLASS. COME ON BEFORE I GET HERMIONE." 
"Bloody hell! I'm up, I'm up!" Ron flinched upwards, peering out of slotted eyes. "I don't remember you caring that much about class before. Blimey."
"Ron, we've got a packed day. And unless you want to go without your 17 morning sausages, I suggest you hurry it up."
Neville emerged from the bathroom with his newest plant, Persephone. Having an asphodel as a plant/pet is unusual, but hey, it's Neville. 
"Hiya, Harry! Want to pet Persephone? She is growing right on pace." 
"Urm, sure Neville. Is it safe to?"
"Uh. I think so. Maybe? Is it normal that I feel sleepy every time I do?"
"On second thought, no thanks Neville."

As the boys, well, men continued to get ready for the day, Harry took some extra time to look around at them. There was once a time where he never knew if he would see any of them again. Never knew if he would be adding them to the list of people who had lost their lives in sacrifice. It was a hugely bittersweet feeling to be with them and feel the weight of what that carries. 
The 7th, technically 8th year boys were all on the same schedule, same as the girls. Since there wasn't as many of them, it was the most logical solution to keep them all together. 

"Oi, have you seen Malfoy? He looks like he's been to the underworld and back." Dean commented, making a braced face. 
"It's what the git deserves after last year! I'm fine with him suffering like that." Seamus retorted, scoffing off the observation. 
"Guys, let's just.. back off. We've been through enough, haven't we? ALL of us?" Harry piped in, keeping his thoughts on the matter tight. "Let's just be students and get through the year."
"Gone soft, have ya Potter? Gotta say, didn't expect it from you." Seamus peered at him through suspicious eyes. 
"Guys, let's just go. Advanced Charms is first and I really don't want to piss off Professor Flitwick."

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The group arrived at Charms class with just minutes to spare. They filed in, finding the lasting open spots to sit in. Hermione, of course, already being there for several minutes, reserved seats for Ron and Harry, scoffing at their lateness. 
"How nice of you to join us, boys. I see that tardiness hasn't worn off through the years." Professor Flitwick chuckled to himself, proud of his "joke". 
"Class, today we are going to learn the Gouging Spell. The incantation is 'Defodio'. I will show you the wand movements in a moment, but we shall learn more about it and it's purposes first. Defodio is a useful spell, which helps us to carve through stone, ground, and other resources. It can get you out of a tricky situation if you found yourself trapped somewhere. It could also be your lifeline to surviving the elements. Now, who can tell me a practical use for the spell that I haven't mentioned? Hmm?"

Hermione's hand flew up into the air. "Ms. Granger, of course. What example do you have for us?"
"Professor, I have used this spell many times. I once used it to cut through a stone ceiling to be able to escape a... tricky situation. It is also useful for creating shelter or gathering supplies in the forest, for various reasons."
"Thank you, Ms. Granger. 5 points to Gryffindor. Now, we will practice the wand movements without the incantation first."
Professor Flitwick showed the wand movement, making a swishing and splicing movement with his wand. 
The class tried it a few times before Professor Flitwick summoned small boulders to their desks to practice with. 
"Everyone, carefully use your boulder to practice on. You can practice making holes, carving something into the stone, or chipping away small pieces. I recommend trying a little of each. Being in control, with concentrated hand movements is the most important part. You don't want to slip and hurt someone! Commence practice."

Harry, having done this spell several times (Hermione is a great teacher), made quick work of his stone practice. He used this technique to carve Dobby's headstone, that day on the beach...
Harry's mind began to wander, thrust into memories of his friend. Harry absentmindedly roamed the room with his eyes, stopping on Draco. He didn't even remember that he was there, as he was being unusually quiet. Harry noticed the green tinge to Draco's skin, his eyes dark and open wide, as if he was shocked. Suddenly, Draco sprinted out of the classroom, into the hallway. 
"Merlin's beard, what was that about? Hmm, Harry? Can you check on our friend Draco please?" Professor assigned the task with a flick of his wrist. 
"Oh, urm, okay.." Harry walked out of the classroom, looking for signs of Draco. Harry cast a quick revelio, seeing his footsteps on the stone floors. Harry followed them down the hall, into the following corridor, and into the boy's bathroom. 

Before he opened up the door, he heard panicked breathing and crying, along with some smashing sounds. Harry hurriedly opened the door, seeing Draco pacing between the sinks and bathroom stalls. 
Draco was the one crying and hyperventilating, kicking things out of his way as he paced around. He didn't even seem to notice that Harry was there. 
"Um.. Draco?? Are you... alright?? What's going on?" Harry questioned, staying a few paces away, as to not startle him too much. 
"POt.. Harry!. I'm.. I'm fine. Leave. Now." Draco continued to pace, swearing under his breath. The green tinge to his skin still there. 
"Draco, I'm not going to leave. You seem to be having some trouble. What's going on?"

"I don't NEED help. PLEASE just lea-" Draco violently wracked upwards, throwing up in the sink in front of him. He began to cry harder, whimpering as if he was hurt before slowly sinking to the ground, defeated. 
Harry rushed over to where Draco was, sitting on the floor next to him. Harry silently accioed a wet washcloth and began to pat Draco's forehead with it. 
"Bloody hell Draco, you aren't fine. Just focus on breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth."
Draco just stared at him with his mouth agape. 
"Just do it. I know what I'm talking about."
Draco focused on the warmth of the washcloth and began taking ragged breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth like he was told. They sat there for several minutes; Harry keeping a tempo for Draco's breathing and Draco attempting to calm down. 

After a few minutes, Draco's breathing had become close to normal, with tears still silently dripping down his face. 
"Are you feeling a little bit better? What happened back there?"
"I, um. I just felt.. sick. I'm fine. Nothing more."
"Draco, people don't panic like that if they're just feeling physically sick. What is really going on? Look. I know that you and I have our history and being in a bathroom with me is probably not a great memory either, but I want to help."
Draco took a deep, ragged breath in. "Fine. I just can't bare to hear that spell. Or to use it."
Draco ran his hands through his hair, gripping it tightly at the ends, as if he was going to rip it out. 
"... Why? Did.. did something happen?" Harry asked cautiously, prepared for another meltdown. 
Draco said nothing, but lifted the hem of his shirt. On his stomach in purplish scars was the phrase "BLOOD TRAITOR". 

"Holy FUCK, Draco... who? Who did this to you??"
"My amazing aunt Bella, of course. After I refused to identify you last year and she found out...." Draco trailed off, more tears sliding down his cheeks and onto his robes. Draco shuddered, holding his face in his hands. 
Harry cautiously wrapped his arm around Draco's shoulders and patted his arm with his other hand. They sat in silence for awhile, just cooling down from the panic. 

"How do you do it?"
"Do.. what exactly?"
"How do you deal with the pain? With the memories? With everything that has happened to you in your life? You seem to deal with it easily, like nothing gets you down. How?"
"Draco, it isn't easy. It's the most horrendous and earth-shattering feeling to have to keep going through life like this. Without any family, a whole group of my friends dead, the physical suffering, even losing my pet. None of this is easy. I just... keep going. Because if I don't, all that pain will be for nothing. All those magnificent people dead, for nothing. I don't have a choice." Harry looked down to the ground, his eyes welling up with tears at his admission. 
"Right. I'm.. I'm sorry." 
"Nothing we can do about it now but keep moving forward, right? Do you feel okay enough to return to class? It's almost over." 
"I suppose so." Draco slowly stood up and walked over to the sinks, splashing his face with some cold water and gurgling some water to freshen up. 
"Please.. don't tell anyone about this. Alright?"
"Of course not. There's nothing to tell." 
Harry led the way for them back down the corridor and through the hallway, back to the Charms room. 

Everyone else had left the room already, leaving Professor Flitwick on his podium. 
"What happened, Mr. Malfoy?" 
"Um, I uh..." 
"He just got sick professor. I think he ate some bad eggs this morning." Harry quipped. Giving excuses for things like this was one of his specialties. 
"Oh, well, alright. Get to the Hospital Wing if you need, Mr. Malfoy. You better get a move on to your next class!"
"Right, see you Professor!"
Harry turned quickly and exited back through the doors, Draco in pursuit. 

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