56 Rebirth

"That was refreshing." Said Arth while stretching his arms.

Hermione wore a worried look on her face.

"Do you think it's going to really work? I mean if he regains his memory, then all of us might be expelled."

"It's ok, even if he does remember, he'll be to afraid to tell a teacher. I mean if I went through that... I would be scared for life." Ron stopped and turned to face Arth. "I'm starting to think that us erasing his memory was doing him a favor."

Harry couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Honestly though, I thought Arth would be the worst and scariest, but it turns out it was Hermione instead."

The three of them shivered.

"Bloody nightmare."

"It was pretty frightening."

"I never want to get on her bad side... especially in a bathroom."

Hermione flushed red with embarrassment.

"It was an accident! I already told you guys."

"That makes it scarier." Said Arth with a wry smile. "What you did to malfoy... made me want to give him a turkey leg and cheer him up."

"...was it that bad?"

"You basically humiliated him, broke him, and killed off his will with one swoop." said Arth. "It was an overkill."

It was a heartbreaking sight.

The four of them were trying to inflict physical trauma onto Draco, Hermione slipped over a puddle and grabbed the nearest thing she could find... Draco's hair.

Draco started to scream painfully as his head was dragged onto the floor along with Hermione.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry-"

The toilet that Draco was sitting on suddenly decided to throw up its contents all over the place. Draco, seeing this, gave a pleading look towards Arth, his eyes resembled that of a wounded soldier with a burning desire to live.

However, it was too late. The filthy contents washed over Malfoy like an unstoppable wave, covering him head to toe with brownish yellow... things.

Still defiant, Malfoy desperately tried to hold his breath, but inevitably, he had to breath. Upon smelling the rancid smell, he instinctively gagged, causing some of the... things to go in his mouth.

Malfoy let out the sound of a dying whale as he slumped to the puddle of... things with a defeated look. His eyes no longer held any will to live.

Arth had to wait for the broken toilet to stop spewing out... things before he went over to Malfoy, cleaning the filth on the floor along the way.

When he saw the sight of the near dead Malfoy, he let out a sigh.

With a wave of his hand, he cleaned up all of the filth from his body and clothes and gave Malfoy a big warm hug, one filled with pity and sympathy.

"I'm sorry man. It wasn't what I wanted."

Malfoy gave a slight tremble.

"I... All I can say is I'm sorry."

By this time, the potion that Arth created had worn off, and Malfoy was definitely able to see once more... yet Malfoy continues to stare into the vast emptiness with glassy eyes, as if he had never known what sight was in the first place.

"That... as a fellow human... what you went through...."

Malfoy began to contract over and over again as if he was holding back his sons.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry."

Malfoy closed his glassy eyes and pulled his head back towards the heavens. A sparkling tear slowly seeped out from the corner of his closed eyes.

Harry and Ron also decided to join with solemn faces.

"I... I."

"Shh, child. I understand. Don't speak. It's ok."

"I... don't feel... so good."

"...it's ok... it's alright.... I promise, everything is going to be alright."

"I... I...don't think I can do it...."

"..."

"I don't want... to continue on."

Harry fell down to his knees and placed his wand on his chest. Ron followed his lead.

"I... want to.... I want to forget."

Malfoy finally turned around towards Arth and stared at him with an indescribable face filled with pain.

"Please... please make me forget."

"..."

"Arth.... please.... I beg you..."

"As... as a fellow human... I beg of you..."

"..."

Arth raised his trembling hands towards the head of Malfoy.

Seeing this. Malfoy closed his eyes and gave a pained smile. His hair was clean, his clothes were clean, his soul and digestive system were not.

He wished for purification, for cleansing. He wished to forget and start anew, like a snake shedding his skin.

Arth placed his hand on the forehead of Malfoy and whispered in a tiny voice that was almost inaudible.

"Obliviate."

Malfoy gave a slight shudder as his face slowly morphed from a pained face to a refreshed smile. As if he had been reborn.

Arth gently picked him up and carried him out of the bathroom, and placed Draco in an empty classroom.

Mystical light came from who knows where and fell upon Malfoy, as if pitying his past and celebrating his new life.

Arth, Harry and Ron, turned around and placed their wands over their hearts and knelt, giving Malfoy the ceremonial wizard salute given to those who had fallen honorably in battle, before leaving the boy to sleep peacefully in the classroom.

At that moment, Arth, Harry, and Ron couldn't help but admit that Malfoy looked like a sleeping prince in a fairytale, his platinum hair shining like a beacon of hope.

Arth gave one final glance back at Malfoy.

"Our enmity truly was a hinderance to what could have been a true friendship. However, I see now what a man, what a great person you are. I mourn for your suffering and celebrate your rebirth... I swear, the next time we meet. I shall show you warmth and kindness."

It was Harry's turn.

"Malfoy..." Harry said with a complicated look. "I hated you, however, what you experienced was something no man should've suffered."

Then Ron.

"I'm sorry... I hope you have a bloody good life this time."

And finally Hermione.

"... Arth, can I have my wand back?"