Daniel sat on his bed, cross legged and hunched over, elbows resting on his knees as he stared down at the mess he was making. Maybe not mess, but clutter. He grasped for flimsy metaphorical straws that flooded his brain.

Fingers ran over a picture here, tapped another there, pushed things around in a slow circle, before finally ending back at the first one. Finally he picked it up and stared at it, as if by doing so he could force things back in time. His own mind-time-turner. Daniel felt so... slow. So drained.

So sad.

It was a picture of his mum playing peek-a-boo with him, prior to Edward’s entrance. They were times he didn’t remember (who could remember that far back anyway?). Setting it aside, the next one was picked up. That was his dad holding both Dan and Ed, grinning at the camera and bouncing his knees. Fingers let one picture filter after the other, slipping through the small box of memories he felt as if he should remember better.

Staring down at adolescent Dan in his robes and Prefect badge, a free hand found its way to his neck, rubbing at it nervously. The lines etched into his present face wouldn’t have known where to find themselves back then. Danny Pratt--he used to be a happy, sarcastic, enthusiastic kid. No chips on his shoulder, a pesky little brother who knew how to get in all sorts of trouble, and a promising future.

“I was going to be an Auror.” A sad, half smile slipped on his lips before falling. Another picture was picked up, and he absentmindedly pulled at the hair on the back of his neck. “Or... No, I was an Auror.” It was his dad, looking mighty proud, clapping him on the shoulder while Dan stood straight in his crimson robes.

Frustration seeped into him, soaked into his skin, settled over him like an uncomfortable but well-worn coat. Pushing the photos away hurriedly, Daniel scrambled off his bed. Broken memories, like shards of glass, started to cut through. Increased security, fading to black... Someone stopping him with an upraised wand. Suspicion of stealing a wand?! What did they take him for?

Things went fuzzy, and next he knew, he was being wrestled away. One of them was familiar, a fellow mate, someone he had trusted. Wand sparks and spells fired off, and it faded again.

Daniel, in present time, was pushing away unseen haunting victims. He spun in place, paced a few steps, jogged to his wall, and leaned there. He didn’t want to remember anymore. An upraised fist met the wall with a thud. He was breathing too fast, head feeling light headed as bright dark spots flooded his peripherals.

Spell after spell had been used on him. A sob escaped him at the memory, and suddenly he was on his knees, head in his hands. Fingers dug through hair to hold the back of his head. He had trusted her. She was supposed to care about him. They were talking about marriage and-

Daniel slumped forward on the cold ground, body going limp as he passed out from holding his breath for too long.