What's in a memory?

Chapter Four

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 "Harry breathe!"

"Harry, the mantra. Calm, Safe, remember?"

"I need a mediwitch in here!"

"Harry, stay with us okay?"

"Draco" Ron whined, "Draco, do something!"

 
"Safe. Calm. You're safe. You're safe."

 
"Draco, don't just stand there"
 

"I- I'm- Nurse! Nurse!"

"Draco!"

"I- Okay. Okay. Harry, I'm... I'm going to give you a sedative okay? Harry, can you hear me? I- oh fuck.Okay. Harry hold on."

"Harry, we're here. We have you. You're safe."

"Malfoy!"

"Sedatus"

 
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 Eight years. Eight Years. Eight Fucking Years.

When Harry came to, he could hear hushed whispers.

"Eight years, that would make him, what? twenty?"

"Ron, he won't remember Rosy or-" Hermione stopped abruptly, he heard a chair scrape and shuffle. "How are you feeling Harry?"

"Merlin Harry, don't bloody do that again."

"Wasn't planning on it the first time."

Then Harry noticed two shapes by the window; healers. Well, a healer and Malfoy. They were talking animatedly, in hissed voices. Harry couldn't help but overhear.

"You know the rules, when you're in here you're not a healer. No treating family or friends Draco."

"With all due respect I called for assistance"

"You didn't need assistance, you needed a healer! In this room you observe nothing more, understood?"

Harry couldn't bear witness anymore."Well, Malfoy did ask permission and shit beforehand." They stared at him.

"Like, I mean, respectfully sir, he did call for help or whatever. But, I mean it's not like he had a choice, right? I was..." He tried to leave it hanging, but everyone just stood there staring, "I mean, I was hyperventilating and I couldn't see anymore, and he just helped a patient out, you know? Like, there's history between us, but he didn't like cross a line or anything."

"I see" The dark haired healer seemingly unaffected by his words, just directed his glare to Draco, raising an eyebrow.

"Sir, it should be noted that Harry is experiening some memory issues. We've currently determined about eight lost years of memories. So he was not aware of -"

The healer interrupted before Harry could figure out what Malfoy was rambling on about.

"Oh and did you forget?!" Then his voice suddenly switched, softer now. "Draco, I sympathise, but as long as the emotional connection remains on your end..." Harry missed the next part, as The healer spoke gentler still "I understand... but abuse of power....patient/healer relationship...ethical violation..."

Something echoed inside of Harry, sure Malfoy was a git to him at school but he shouldn't be reprimanded for helping.

For healing.

It bubbled inside of Harry's insides, stirring something within him and Harry -never one to back down- spoke up again.

"Are you going to remove him from my case? Or am I allowed a say here?"

"Mr... er, Harry, You've misunderstood he was never... It... I can't..." He flailed about. "Draco, is not allowed to interact in the manner that he did."

"Wait, like all patients or just me, in particular, because of our history? or is this about the...?" He gestured to his arm vaguely, as if to demonstrate the dark mark. "Because he's been cleared of all charges and I assure you that-"

"Harry, this isn't about that." Ron interrupted trying to stop Harry bringing up old news.
"No one is discriminating against Draco because of the war Harry." Hermione stood up and grabbed Harry's good hand with a reassuring squeeze.

The dark haired healer started back pedalling. "Oh, no. I didn't mean-"

"It's because of the time lost." Draco finally spoke his words hitting Harry sqaure in the chest. "We have become... close"

"Close?" Harry wanted to look to Hermione or Ron for some confirmation but he couldn't look away from the steely grey eyes that were grounding him in this surreal conversation.

"Yes, close. And it's hospital policy that I not..." he tried to find the words, "heal you due to our...our-"

Harry was confused where he was going with all this. Were he and Malfoy somehow friends?

Ron chose this moment to interrupt. "Yeah, but you had to do something Draco, you couldn't just..."

"Wait Ron, you just called him.... you said.." Harry was baffled, it was one thing to be told he'd buried the quaffel with Draco Malfoy.

But Ron?

He hated Malfoy. Their rivalry was legendary. It goes against his Weasley Heritage to befriend a Malfoy.

"Yes well, Weasley and I are close acquaintances too now, some may even say brothers." Malfoy smirked, a cheeky grin that Harry hadn't seen before.

Harry was sure this must be some kind of joke.

Ron's lips tugged a little in appreciation at this. Like it was some private joke that they shared? Ron and Malfoy!?

Brothers?

"Well, if that's settled. I'll be off, Draco report to Imara before the end of your shift, and please come find me if there are any more" he glanced unsubtly over at Harry "developments."

"Of course, thank you Idir, I will." and with a quick nod Idir left.

But his absence was hardly noted, Harry was too focused on the other revelations.

"What do you mean 'Brothers'?" He jumped straight in.

"Harry." Malfoy sighed out, running a hand down his face with a gentle shake of his head.

"Well.. you see-" Ron began.

"Ron. Don't" Hermione glared at him.

"Well, he's gonna find out, isn't he?"

"Find out what?" Harry gritted his teeth. He thought, for the umpteenth time, what the hell is going on?

"I think I should tell him don't you?" Malfoy pulled the conversation back to him.

"Tell me what?" Harry was becoming really irritated now. He was fed up by all the little things withheld from him. It made him feel fifteen again.

"I really think it needs to be said gently." Hermione -ever the voice of reason- said, further prolonging whoever was going to tell whatever to Harry.

The blond piped up again, addressing the red head "And you have the tact of a hippogriff when it comes to-"

"He won't believe you. I'm his best friend."

"Yes well I'm his-"

"And I think that we should step out for a second, Ronald."

"Will one of you just say whatever it is already!?"

"Will you please give us a moment?"

"Look, just say it. He's gonna freak out whether we're here or not"

"Ron."

"Harry, you're married"

"Ronald!"

"I'm- I'm married?"

"Yes." Simply stated as if any of this was simple.

"You're joking!"

"He's not." Mione and Malfoy said in unison.

"Wait, so I like have a wife?"

 
Suddenly, the three got uncharacteristically quiet.

"..."

Harry opened his mouth to repeat the question, when a mediwitch arrived. Barely knocking, she came bustling in the room with a cart of supplies.

"Ohh, full room. Don't mind me, I'll just take some blood and be out of your hair. Opp"
She parked up on Harry's bedside. Unaware of the atmosphere she just interrupted.

Blissfully carrying on her bustling before: "Excuse me, can I have your arm?"

Harry stared dazedly at her.

 
"Mr Malfoy-Potter, may I have your arm?"

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