My Heart Remembers Differently

PAST MY BOUNDARIES

For once when I opened my eyes, I am not in the hospital.  Nothing feels bruised as if I fell hard against the stone floor.  I was lying on the couch.  Madame Pomfrey was standing by the fireplace reading what looked like an ancient potions manual.  I waited for the blinding headache that usually greeted me when I awoke from one of my spells, but found none. 

Madame Pomfrey looked up from the book in her hand and I saw her concerned eyes.

"How are you feeling?"  She asked.  I swung my legs off of the couch and reached for my wand that had been laid on the large ottoman that held an array of witch weekly and the latest issues of The Daily Prophet. 

"I am fine."  I assured her surprised that I could tell her the truth.

"Have you taken your potion today?"  She asked me. 

"Oh, no.  I was waiting until I ate breakfast.  I haven't ate anything this morning."  I confessed.  She let out a breath that she must have been holding. 

"So, you didn't remember anything?"  She asked.  I frowned and then I did remember.  It was flash but not painful.  I pulled back the sleeve on my left arm and looked at the scar that adorned the pale skin of my inner arm.  M.U.D.B.L.O.O.D.

I felt sick to my stomach.  I could remember Bellatrix LeStrange's hot, sour breath on my neck and the excruciating pain as she carved those letters into my arm.  I had not watched.  My eyes were held by a pair of horrified silver ones.  Draco Malfoy. 

He had moved towards me.  To save me?  Surely not.  His father, Lucius had grasped his upper arm as if to restrain him from interfering.  Then Bellatrix had started to scream at me and threaten me if I didn't tell her who had broken into her vault at Gringotts. 

"I did."  I looked up at Madame Pomfrey with a shocked face.  "I didn't try to remember.  It flooded in to my mind without any help from me.  Do you think my memory is returning?"  I asked her.  The Hogwarts' healer frowned as if considering. 

"Perhaps if you do not try to force them, then some of your memories will return automatically.  I will confer with a colleague of mine.  I think you fainted from shock and the lack of nourishment.  Please, Hermione, remember to take the potion I gave you."  She warned as she placed the book she had been reading back on the shelf beside of the fireplace.  "I will have someone make sure you get some breakfast in a few minutes."  She patted my shoulder and I watched her leave the common room. 

"Are you ill?"  He asked from the top of the stairs that lead to our perspective bedchambers.  Where was the arrogance that I was use to seeing in Malfoy's stature.  I am surprised he, along with his parents and deranged aunt are not in Azkaban being tormented by Dementors. 

"No."  I said clutching my wand in my hand as he ascended the stairs.  I watched him warily as he came near me and took the one of the armchairs.  His hair was longer than he normally wore it.  The white blonde was a bit shaggy.  Despise him, though I may, I have always considered Draco a handsome ferret.  Now, he was more so.  I was not attracted to him.  I had hated him for too long and he had caused me more grief than anyone in Hogwarts.  Still, this softer more approachable Draco was a little appealing to my female senses.

"You fainted."  He stated more than asked.  I sat down on the couch and two trays of breakfast foods appeared on the ottoman.  I reached for the jug of pumpkin juice, poured some in the cup beside of it and drank it greedily.  I instantly felt the lightheaded feeling dissipate.  I poured another and set down the jug, grabbed a rasher of bacon and sat back on the couch as I nibbled on it my eyes back on my long-standing enemy.