A.N. I am complete and utter idiot. I accidentally deleted the story when I tried to replace the prologue with
an edited version so I had to post the story over again. Sorry to those who took time to review, but fortunately
I read them before I did anything to the story. I don’t really want to give away the plot of what I had in mind
cause then it might be easier to predict future chapters. Sorry, I want some suspense in this. The rating will get
raised in future chapters though. Again, sorry for the inconvenience with the whole update thing. Remember
I’m still looking for beta-readers

Sleep Above The Clouds

by serendipity
 
 

Chapter 1
cassés rêves
 
 

"I have become death, shatterer of worlds."
- Robert J. Oppenheimer (1904-1967)
 

“So how have been, Draco?”

How have you been? That’s all you have to say to me? No ‘I heard you got out of the institute
for the psychologically deranged Draco’. No ‘I heard you finally decided to return to reality Draco’.
No ‘I heard you finally accepted Hermione’s death after 5 years Draco’. How do you think I’ve
been Potter?! Life has become a never-ending pit of melancholic memories that wants nothing but
to devour and destroy my sanity within in it’s dark and ominous void of nothingness and you ask
me how I am.

Raising my chin, I stared into pools of forest green. “I’m fine Harry.” Friendship was the only thing
that restrained me from bashing him on the head with my Nimbus 2000. Potter sure was dense at
times. I often wonder and fear how he will manage within the walls the Hogwarts castle without me
there to guide him every step of the way.

Man, therapy has turned me into a stuck-up egotistical prat. Maybe it was all those self-esteem
lessons mum forced me to take at St. Mungos.

I see Harry’s mouth moving but I can’t seem to grasp what he’s trying to tell me. Something about
Hogwarts I think. Better make nice with the polite conversations. Wouldn’t want him to think that
I’m zoning out now would I.

“So what house do you want to be in Harry? You’d make a fine Gryffindor just like your old man
but I can see you winning the House Cup for the Slytherin Quidditch team.” Personally, I couldn’t
picture myself as a Gryffindor. The loyal, nobility, teamwork crap isn’t something that I would
normally prefer but Harry would suit it perfectly. It’s not like I’m trying to trash his reputation or
the house of the golden lion but I really can’t see myself smiling all the time at the professors or at
classmates. How Harry does it I have no idea but I bet it hurts his face. ‘An admirable feat for an
admirable person’ that’s what I say. Anyway, father would have a heart attack if I were not in
Slytherin. After all, I am expected to follow in his footsteps as usual, so it’s green, silver, and
black for me.

“Dad would be proud of me wouldn’t he Draco. Maybe he’ll even buy me a Nimbus 2000 like
yours as a ‘good luck in school present’.”

“Don’t you mean a ‘create mayhem and flaunt your highly superior Potter flying skills’ present.
Seriously, your dad was the best prankster that school had ever seen whom ironically was at the
time Head Boy. You have some big shoes to fill, Potter, but I know you’ll be able to do it.”
James Potter was the type of person everyone couldn’t help but like. Funny, smart, devious,
valiant, and not to mention the myriad of trophies displayed in the so called ‘Potter Hall of Fame’
room. Quite impressive indeed were his achievements that they had left a permanent mark in
Hogwarts School of Magic.

Silence ensued, throughout the remainder of the trip until Harry broke the enchantment of the
peace that surrounded us with a startling question.

“Draco, what happened to Hermione?”

I can’t blame him for his curiosity. Hermione was his friend too but must he be so blunt with his
questions. The subject was still too sensitive to discuss openly so we rarely touched upon the
matter. This was the first time someone had brought up the topic since my forced epiphany at
St. Mungos.

“She died Harry. I thought everyone knew that. The Grangers were killed in a car accident in
which there were no survivors from the crash. Didn’t your father explain this to you?”

Again, there was no sound and I felt the atmosphere thicken with tension.

“You were there Draco. You saw what happened? How did it occur? Did they find their bodies?
Was there even anything left that the fire hadn’t consumed?”

By now, I was on the verge of tears. The pent up anger and resentment I had tried desperately
to conceal came rushing forth like the opening of an emotional floodgate. “Do you want to send
me back to St. Mungos Harry? It’s a horrid place I tell you. A horrible place in which I never
want to return to again. I’ve learned to forget the past. Why can’t you do the same?”

Tears started to form in Harry’s eyes as well. Am I being selfish on not sharing my knowledge
with him? After all, she was like a little sister to him. Leaning back into the cushioned seats of the
Hogwarts Express, I began to recall my most tragic memory and narrate that day back to Harry.

“It was raining on that summer evening. The muggle weather announcer had said that a lightening
storm was likely to strike around the area in which the Malfoy Manner is located. Mum had
asked the Grangers to come and visit her the day before. She had wanted to see the ‘car’ they
had bought. Apparently, my mum had never ridden in one before and had wanted to test it out
for herself.”

“After the warning, my parents had owled a letter to the Grangers to delay the gathering but they
had adamantly refused saying that a little rain would not dampen their day. They were wrong. Ten
inches had gathered already in some parts the storm had already passed and it was only increasing
in precipitation.”

“I remember seeing bight lights heading towards me. Father had decided to greet them at the
town gates. The highway exit was magically concealed and properly hidden to prevent an
accidental muggle intrusion. They were only a few miles away when a gigantic truck came hurdling
towards them. The next thing I knew, a conflagration of dancing orange and yellow sparks blazed
upon the muggle contraption. I can still hear them screaming in my head right now. Their cry for
help echoing in the deep recesses of my mind. By the time father had stopped the fire, everything
had already burned to ashes.”

We didn’t talk anymore after that for the duration of the train ride. Perhaps that was the first
indication of a future drift between our relationship and families.
 
 
 

A.N. I don’t like this chapter that much actually. A bit dark but that’s what it’s actually suppose
to be. I think. ‘sigh’ Oh well. I wanted to write a little more and end the chapter after the sorting
festival but I’m leaving it to the next chapter. I will say that this fic does have a happy ending and
by next chapter you might know what’s going to happen. Maybe not though. This fic is suppose
to take place mainly in the 7th year of Hogwarts so I have 1 or 2 more chapters to write before
I have a large chronological leap in time. Tell me if you don’t want me to though. Don’t forget to
review. Whether good or bad comments, I’ll appreciate them. I’m writing this fic to improve my
writing skills, so bashing is also appreciated. ^^;;
 

Back to Prologue
Chapter 2