Chapter 9: They begin
Hermione woke with a start, to find Ginny leaning over her, almost nose to nose. "Mione!"
"Ginny! Gods you scared me! What's wrong?"
"Are you awake?"
"I swear, Ginny Weasley, that one day I will murder you. Did I look like I was awake?!" Hermione sat up slowly, blinking into the sun, which was streaming through the open curtains. Her head felt dense and heavy, hung-over with too much sleep.
"Oh good," Ginny jumped in next to Hermione. "Move over. Tell me everything!" Her eyes were sparkling.
"What? Every what thing? What's the time anyway? Isn't this the part where you inflict me with the sordid details of your night with Blaise?" She sighed and moved over obediently to make space for her infuriating friend. This was a ritual they had observed for a long time.
"Oh, for sure I will. But first tell me about your evening with the Ferret." She sat next to Hermione, helped herself to a pillow, plumped it and wedged it behind her back, pulled the covers up over her lap and turned to her friend expectantly.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "There's nothing to tell, Gin. What are you on about?"
Ginny pouted. "No, Mione, that's not fair. I always tell you everything. Now spill!" She grinned delightedly. "Were the rumours true?"
"Ginny, I honestly have nothing to tell. Nothing happened." She paused. "Hardly anything happened."
Ginny seized on her slight slip up. "Hardly? Hardly is not nothing. If nothing happened, then please explain why Malfoy is walking around with a huge ridiculous smirk all over his face!"
"He is?" Hermione couldn't help herself. She grinned.
"Yes, he is! It's very much like that one all over your face, Miss! It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Now. Talk."
"Seriously, Gin. I promise. Nothing happened. But I can confirm that there's a chance that maybe you were right. Possibly."
Ginny snorted. "Obviously I'm right. What about? Did he rock your world?"
Hermione couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Actually he did, but not in the way you think. Sorry to disappoint you. Now. Blaise. Start!"
Ginny sighed and leaned back against the pillow. "Oh my god, Mione! He is seriously perfect. He lived up to every single daydream I ever had about him. I think the rumours about the Ferret were wrong. The Slytherin Sex God is not Draco Malfoy. It's for sure Blaise Zabini." She closed her eyes, remembering. "That man has skills I thought only existed in books." She opened her eyes and turned to her friend. "How much detail do you want?"
"None. What time is it?"
"It's about 10. You've missed breakfast. Draco and Blaise have gone flying, and I guess Harry too, but he was already out when the others left. The Black Serpent of Doom hasn't shown her face again today, so it's a lovely day so far."
Hermione jumped out of the bed and went to the door.
"Hoi! Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Ginny got up and followed.
Hermione hurried to Harry's room and walked in. It was empty.
"Wait a minute... What's going on here? Where is Harry?" Ginny sounded alarmed. She followed Hermione back to the girls' rooms but slowed when she realised where they were headed. "Ooh I wouldn't just barge in there..."
Hermione stuck her head into the room. Empty. Malfoy was right. They were gone. She walked slowly into the common room. "I need tea," she said. "A large cup of tea."
"I'll get it, you sit. And you'd better have something to tell me when I get back," Ginny's tone would have scared a troll, but Hermione was too preoccupied to care.
A minute later Ginny came back with two cups of tea. She sat next to Hermione. "What's going on, Mione?" Her voice subdued.
"Malfoy said Pansy and Harry have left to work somewhere else. Because something terrible happened between them and she can't even be in the same place as him. No, I don't know what happened. I asked him but he won't talk about it. Not to me anyway."
Ginny stared into her cup thoughtfully. Hermione got up and walked to the window and looked out. Most of the guests had already left, but a few late sleepers were making their way slowly across the grounds towards the large gates. "I'm sure we'll get an owl from Harry soon," she said. "Don't worry, Gin."
"I'm not worried, just surprised. Harry is always disappearing off without warning. I'm used to it." She regarded her friend over the top of her coffee mug. "So.. what did you mean when you said that the Ferret rocked your world? Did he make his move yet?"
Hermione continued looking out of the window distractedly. "Kind of," she replied. Then she sighed. "Actually I'm not sure again. We were drinking last night. Maybe it was just the booze."
Ginny went over and joined her friend at the window. "No, Mione, trust me. We all see how he looks at you. Try watching out for it yourself if you don't believe me."
And that's how Draco and Blaise found them a little while later. Hermione and Ginny taking in the view from the common room window, still in their night clothes - Ginny in a baby-doll style mid-thigh length nightie, and Hermione in a loose t-shirt that was almost the same length as the boy shorts that exposed her long and slender legs.
"Fuck it, Red! Are you trying to kill me, standing there looking like that?" Blaise teased as they walked through the portrait hole and into the room. "And you, Princess? Seriously? My friend will have a heart attack and I don't know CPR. Go and put some clothes on, for Merlin's sake."
Ginny grinned to herself as she took in the intense expression on Malfoy's face as his eyes swept up the length of Hermione's legs and to her face. She loved being right.
Blaise chuckled as Hermione flushed and dashed from the room while Ginny followed at a sedate pace, grinning at him suggestively. "By the way," he continued, "we met McGonagall on the way back. We need to make sure we aren't seen moving around. They've almost all gone but we don't want anyone still here to realise we aren't leaving. Also, Parkinson and Potter have gone to find a more… suitable.. place to work," he called out after her.
Ginny looked back and nodded. "Yeah. That's what Mione reckoned had happened."
Blaise glanced at Draco, who was still staring after the two young women. "Spectacular rack, don't you think, Drake? Do you agree that I'm the luckiest wizard in the world?" Then he sighed. "Never mind. I can see you didn't even notice. And you reckon nothing even happened? You, my friend, are in denial."
Draco appeared to have gone deaf. Blaise snapped his fingers in front of Draco's face. "Draco! Get your shit together, man, we have work to do."
Draco blinked suddenly. Damn! He'd been staring at her like he'd never seen a witch before. He looked quickly at Blaise, who was watching him curiously. "You're right. We need to get started. Where will you be working?"
"Outside would have been great, but the Room of Requirement will do until the guests have all left, unless you had plans to go there?"
"No, it's fine. I can take her up to the Library. She will be comfortable there. It'll be like taking her home. You sure you'll still be able to work with Red now?" Draco asked. Blaise nodded confidently.
"OK, then. We can get started as soon as they are dressed and ready. I'd better get something into Granger's stomach first, though. She missed breakfast and she is going to need all the energy she can get."
Draco went into the kitchen to throw together a plate of fruit from the large bowl on the counter top. He heard voices from the common room and then Blaise called out "We're off, Drake. See you guys at dinner!"
"OK, see you later." Draco picked up the now loaded plate and walked through to find Granger.
She had changed into cropped skinny jeans and a scoop necked t-shirt, her hair in a high ponytail.
She turned to him as he walked to her and held out the plate. "Thanks," she said, dimpling at him.
"Good morning, Princess," he greeted her smoothly. Was she laughing at him? Just because he'd been caught gaping like a fish out of water? We'll see about that. "I hope you slept well. I trust we aren't going to be awkward now, just because I've seen you in your - very small - pyjamas?" He smirked with satisfaction as he noticed the almost imperceptible blush spreading across her cheeks and neck. "I suppose that makes us almost even. You know - after you shamelessly eyed me up last night."
The blush deepened and spread along her collar bones, but she took the teasing, smiling good-naturedly, and helped herself to some strawberries. "Where are we going?" she asked, popping one into her mouth. She offered him one with a teasing smile. "Strawberry?"
His eyes narrowed. Really? He thought. She is teasing me now? Ok, then. Two can play that game. Let's see how far the Princess is willing to pursue what she starts.
"Library," he replied, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the back of the couch. "Yes, thanks, I think I will." She held it out to him. He didn't move. She wiggled it. He raised one eyebrow but didn't move. The silence dragged out and then realisation dawned in her eyes and she took a slow step towards him. He waited.
The little red flag waved half-heartedly and once again he ignored it.
She took another step and after a moment's hesitation, she lifted the ripe, red fruit to his lips. He looked into her eyes as he opened his mouth and she placed the strawberry onto his tongue. He suddenly closed his lips around her index finger and she gasped softly as he sucked the tip of the finger into his mouth, holding it gently with his teeth and caressing it with his tongue as he sucked, before letting it go. Then he chewed and swallowed the fruit, his eyes never leaving her face, watching her staring at his mouth.
As he slowly licked his lips she suddenly drew in a huge shuddering gasp of air and realised that she had been holding her breath. She blushed hotly.
Then he spoke, his voice deep and husky. "Now we are even."
She stared at him in wide-eyed shock. That had been possibly the most innocently erotic moment of her life. Her wet fingertip tingled. Flashes of images of him causing that tingling on other parts of her body raced through her mind for a split second before she managed to clamp down firmly on the rebellion in her head. She suddenly realised that she had placed her hand over her heart and she quickly dropped it self-consciously to her side.
"So," he continued casually, as though he hadn't just tilted her world off its axis. "Are you ready to do some work or shall we share some more fruit?"
She finally managed to utter a strangled "work", to which he cheerfully nodded, and they made their way to the Library, Draco striding ahead and Hermione doing her best to keep up.
As they stepped into the library, Hermione's confusion at the thoughts and feelings that had raced through her as they walked the hallways was calmed as her mind was flooded with memories. She had spent so many hours here. She loved it: the shelves, the smell, the almost limitless possibilities contained in books.
"I loved this place," she heard Draco say wistfully, "I even loved the smell of the parchment. And the comfort that whatever I ever wanted to know I would be able to find here."
She turned to him. "How did you do that, Malfoy?"
He looked confused.
"You said exactly what I was thinking. And that wasn't the first time. Have you used Legilimency on me?"
"No, Granger I haven't. I wouldn't intrude on your thoughts without your permission. Anyway, I couldn't even if I wanted to. You'd feel it, wouldn't you?"
She shrugged. "No idea," she replied.
He paused, surprised. "Really? Never?"
She shook her head. "Not to my knowledge, but - like I said - I have no idea."
"Would you like me to show you?"
"Would you?" her eyes lit up.
He nodded and indicated for her to take a seat close to the window where the sun was pouring in. He pulled up a chair for himself and sat down opposite her.
"Would you be able to see everything in there?" she suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable.
"No, I wouldn't be there long enough. Are you sure you're ok with this? We don't have to, you know."
She nodded, as he knew she would. She was a seeker of knowledge. She couldn't resist.
"Alright. Close your eyes, you'll feel it better."
She did. She heard him slow his breathing down, taking slow deep breaths. Then she felt it. A gentle sensation right in the middle of her forehead. As if someone had placed a warm fingertip between her eyebrows and pushed. And then suddenly her forehead felt oddly… full… as if there was something extra in her head. After about ten seconds she opened her eyes and stared at him.
The sensation stopped as he withdrew. He looked at her, his mind racing at what he had seen.
"I felt it!" she exclaimed. "Was that you? In my head?" she was beaming at him. "I never thought it would feel like that! I could actually feel something in my head!"
He smiled at her, enjoying her excitement. "Letting me in is easy, Granger, keeping me out is the hard part."
"Teach me, Malfoy! Teach me!"
He laughed out loud. She was like a child in a toy store.
"That's the reason we are here, Granger. But I need to teach you to protect yourself. So I'm going to teach you occlumency first, OK? It's the first step towards learning the projection technique."
She grinned, her eyes dancing.
"You need to calm down before we begin." His voice took on a business-like tone. "The secret to Occlumency is the ability to empty your mind of all thoughts and images. Finding a way to switch off any internal dialogue you have going on. You're going to find it very difficult."
She frowned. "Why would I find it more difficult than anyone else?" she asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
"Because you have more going on in there than most," he tapped her temple. "That's why. I'm not telling you that to discourage you, so relax. I'm telling you to make you aware that you will need to exercise some patience with yourself. So are you ready?"
She nodded.
"Alright then. Sit quietly and slow your breathing down."
She followed his instructions, for once doing exactly as he directed.
"Now just listen to my voice and do what I tell you to do, ok?"
She nodded. He began to speak to her in a low, slow voice.
"Put your hands on your lap, palms up. Look at a spot in the middle of my chest, and let your eyes relax and lose focus. If you'd prefer to let your eyes close, that's also alright. Pay attention to your breath, nothing else. You need to clear your mind of all thoughts. One hundred percent of your attention focused on not thinking of anything." He watched her concentrate.
"Now become aware of your own heartbeat. Good. Every time you feel a thought pop into your head, go back to your breathing, clear your mind and start again." Moments passed. Her eyes had closed and he could hear her breathing had slowed down to almost imperceptible.
She frowned. He realized she had lost concentration. That head of hers is battling to stay empty, he smiled to himself. He was interested to see how long it would take for frustration to set in. If he knew anything about her, it would be quite soon.
"You've lost focus. Start again."
She opened her eyes, and groaned. "I can't seem to keep random thoughts out of my head," she complained.
He nodded. "I know. It's hard at first. But you're doing fine, Granger. You just need to practice. This is your first time. You didn't expect to get it in the first hour, did you?"
"I suppose not. But.."
"But nothing. Try again. You won't get it the first time, or the second or even the third. But eventually you will. You know you will. You can't go on to the next step until you've got this. Now try again. Whenever you feel yourself lose focus, you must return to your breathing and clear your mind, until you build up that mental discipline. When your head is full, it's easy for a Legilimens to get in and browse around. Each thought will lead to the next. You'll be an open book. Now try again."
She spent the next few hours trying over and over, becoming more and more frustrated. Draco guided her patiently every time. Keeping his voice soothing and calm.
Eventually she stood up abruptly and began to pace, hands on her hips, scowling. She was so frustrated she could scream. Failure was not a familiar feeling for her.
Draco leaned back in his seat and watched her quietly. The way that a student dealt with the frustration at this stage of the process seemed to be a reliable predictor of success or failure. He had a fair idea of how she would proceed, but it was interesting to watch anyway.
"Let's stop for today, Granger," he suggested. "We've been at it for hours."
"No," she said, as he knew she would. "We can't stop. I need to make some actual progress before I stop."
"Granger, you're tired. You won't get it now anyway. You need to rest."
"No, I don't stop when I'm tired; I stop when I get it right! I know I can improve.." She was practically stamping her foot in frustration.
He frowned and went to stand in front of her. "Granger, listen to me," he said firmly. "This is the first time you're trying something that will lead to what is probably the most difficult magic you'll ever learn. It's going to take patience and practice. Now stop behaving like a child."
For a moment he thought she was going to yell at him. Then she slumped back into her chair. "Oh alright. Gods you're as bossy as Ginny." She scowled at him. "How long did it take you to learn?"
"I learned Occlumency from Snape when I was 15. It took weeks of hard work before I could stay focused enough to keep him out of my head even for a half minute. When I started to learn kinesis it took me a couple of months to shift my magic to any part of my body at will. Another couple before I could do it easily. The really hard part is getting it to move beyond your body to where you want it to go."
"My head hurts." She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. I've hardly started and it will take months, she thought. Months of frustration and failure. She heard him move behind her quietly and then she felt his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened.
"Relax. I'm just going to help you release some tension in your neck. Your head will feel better." He loosened her ponytail and swept her hair forward over her left shoulder. Then he began to knead the muscles of her shoulders, running his thumbs up the back of her neck. She groaned. "Lean your head forward and relax your neck, Granger." She did and he slowly eased the tension out of her muscles.
A few minutes later he stopped and went to sit in front of her again. She looked up, feeling slightly spacey. "Wow that was great, Malfoy. I think we just discovered your superpower."
He smirked, relieved that her mood seemed to have lifted. "My superpower is far more awesome than a back rub, Granger. How about we call it a day and have something to eat?"
"Actually I'm pretty tired. I think I will just turn in early. It's been a hard day." And your hands on my shoulders have set off another train of thought that can only end badly.
"Yes, but it will get easier. You'll see. You battle and battle and then suddenly you get it." He stood. "Let's go then. Zabini and Red should be done too."
He led the way back to the dorm.
They were about half way back, Draco striding ahead as usual, before Hermione sped up to walk next to him and cleared her throat. "Malfoy?" she began.
He glanced over at her. "Hm?"
"Why did you say to Blaise that it's not a good idea for us work together?"
He looked straight ahead, his face unreadable. "No big reason. We have a routine when we start with a new group. Didn't think we should mess with it, that's all."
She didn't seem convinced, but didn't question him further. Which he was relieved about. He had managed to persuade Blaise to work with Granger before they'd come here, but it had been tough. The Italian had been adamant that he wanted to work with the little Weasley and didn't try to hide his reason. Draco had insisted, though, and Zabini had relented finally. And then Granger turned out to have a latent ability for a rare magical skill and ruined his plan. Now he had no way of keeping his distance from her. Even if he wanted to. And he wasn't sure about that any more.
As he had predicted, Blaise and Ginny had just returned from the Room of Requirement. Blaise greeted them and, with one raised eyebrow, jerked his head in the direction of Ginny, who was making her way from the little kitchen, a glass of water in her hand. One look at her face told them how it had gone. She scowled at them, then went in to her room, closing the door firmly.
"Red having problems?" Draco asked quietly.
"Yes," Blaise confirmed. "She has obviously mastered the skill of wandless and non-verbal spells. But she is having a problem summoning the kind of energy she will need to cast the dark ones. And she doesn't enjoy failure." He looked at Hermione's expression as she crossed the room. "Looks like the Princess hasn't had a very good day either?" he asked Draco softly.
Draco looked over to Hermione. She had gone to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. She nodded at them politely as she passed, but said nothing. Then she headed towards her room and, like Ginny, closed the door firmly.
"Well, Zabini, it looks like it's just you and me for dinner." Draco sighed.