Episode Seventy One
Part One
Weeks rushed by, leaving Gwen feeling like the term had ended before it had really begun. Malfoy was unusually sullen in DADA lessons and she prayed it would be awhile before he tried a new stunt. She was certain it wouldn't be during class. Harry on the other hand improved a great deal and was back to his usual self.
The snow fell just before Christmas break. It was enchanting the way it clung to Hagrid's cabin and made it look like a giant gingerbread house, settled on the edge of the vast lawns. It was her first break since she had begun teaching. She would of course remain at Hogwarts for the holidays and help to watch over the students that decided to stay. She was just straightening up her classroom after a rough practice of a holiday sketch she was putting together for the Christmas feast.
She missed theatre so and some of the students were actually enthusiastic about putting something together. She almost laughed at the idea of a drama club at Hogwarts, but the idea was so intriguing it couldn't fail. She was bent over, picking up a piece of parchment when she heard a long and low whistle.
She turned and found herself looking at Graves. He was thinner than she ever thought possible seeing as how he was already emaciated looking. His tall frame thinned him out quite a bit and he never looked like he had enough to eat. His eyes were pale, their deep, dark blue shade subdued. His skin was sallow, almost jaundiced. His long hair was disheveled looking, which worried her immediately. It wasn't like Graves not to groom. He had been to hell and back.
She didn't know what to say to him. The words were failing her for perhaps the first time in her life.
"Hi." He said softly.
She wrapped him in a hug, still speechless.
"You look good." He said, stroking her short hair with his bandaged hands. He kissed the top of her head and gave her his best smile.
"What happened to you?" She finally managed to splutter, pulling away from him.
He jerked his bruised face into a lop-sided grin. "Nothing I can't handle."
"You look like hell." She said all the humor drained from her voice. He couldn't laugh this off, she wouldn't let him. "Your hands?"
"Just a burn. It's nothing. It doesn't even hurt anymore."
"Where have you been?"
"I've been doing work for Dumbledore."
"It wouldn't happen to involve dragons would it?"
"I can't say, top secret." He said, smiling again.
"Graves." She started.
"Don't." He said plainly. "I know what you're going to say and nothing's going to change my mind. My work is very important to the Order."
"The Order of the Phoenix?"
He nodded. She didn't know he had joined.
"You're going to put yourself in harm's way again, aren't you?" She asked.
"Don't I always?" He laughed. He usually only put himself in danger for her benefit. "How about you?"
"Just teaching, although Dumbledore says that it's as important as what everyone else is doing."
"It is. You're preparing the next generation of wizards and witches to pick up the banner if we should fail. And from what I hear, you're doing an excellent job."
She looked down. There was a glint in her eye that he didn't like. "You're not going to rush off and do something stupid?" He asked.
"You don't have to worry about me. I've learned a lot about responsibility and consequence these past few years. I won't be making any hasty decisions anytime soon."
"You want to run off to battle though, don't you?"
She looked at him levelly. How much should she tell him? "I just feel restless." She sighed.
"Gwen, this is no time to get restless. You're needed here and whether or not you feel important doesn't matter. You don't have to always be the hero. You can just be a part of the larger movement trying to end the war."
She huffed. "Don't treat me like a five year old Corwin."
"Then don't act like one. Be the responsible adult you pretend to be." He gave her a severe look that reminded her vaguely of Minerva. She looked away from him and when she returned her gaze to where he was standing he was gone.
"Damnit." She said, pounding her fist on the desk nearest her.
Part Two
The welcome back dinner had been delicious, prepared by some of the finest and most obedient house elves. The after dinner entertainment had been less so, watching his father move his stockpile of illegal goods from one hiding spot in the house to another. Lucius always got wind of Ministry raids well in advance. He was usually prepared with a plethora of new places to hide his dirty little secrets.
Sitting in one of his father's giant, black leather bound chairs Draco looked moderately sullen.
His father continued his pile moving and Draco huffed. He couldn't get his attention, couldn't pay him enough to really talk to him instead of barking out orders and making him look like a poorly groomed lap dog.
He grit his teeth. His mother, Narcissa stood thin-lipped at the arch to the hallway. Her arms were folded across her slight chest and she looked as if she smelt sour milk. Home for the holidays, he thought numbly. What I wouldn't do to be back at Hogwarts.
Part Three
The rest of the break was strange for Gwen. In between alternating thoughts of everything Graves had said and her own desire to do something she felt worthwhile, she had finished her lesson plans for teaching Ouranian Barbaric.
Professor Trelawney was not so anxious to help, but Gwen buttered her up with flattery. If it worked for Olympe it might work for Sibyll. She was correct in her assumption. Soon Trelawney was working on methods to scry for new words and they would present their proposal to Dumbledore on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
She felt certain that Dumbledore would agree to the project because it could be used as a secret code language for the Order. But there was a slight problem with that. Some of her students were sure to have death eaters in the family and if they knew what the project was really for they might just let something slip to their parents. Maybe she could make it an extra credit project on the side for students that Dumbledore, Trelawney and herself approved ahead of time.
She hummed softly to herself while gathering her notes. As she stood she bumped her elbow on the wall and stumbled back dazed into her desk. Her office was small and she was getting a bit clumsy with everything she had on her mind.
There was a knock on her door. There was Graves again, standing in the door frame. She thought he had left after their last visit.
"Corwin?" She said, unable to disguise the surprise in her voice.
He smiled at her. "I couldn't leave angry." He explained, taking a seat before her desk.
She sat back down and looked over at him.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"Me too." She said, her voice thin. She had been thinking a lot and maybe what he had said was true. Maybe teaching was more important than being out in the field. "I just feel so useless here. I know, I know." She said quickly at the imperious look he shot her. "Teaching is important. I just don't feel like my skills are being used."
"They are." Graves said incredulously. How could she not see it? "Dumbledore told me about your Ouranian Barbaric project."
"He told you?" She asked. The project hadn't even been approved yet.
"Dumbledore trusts me." He said bracingly.
"I don't doubt that Corwin, but…"
"But nothing." Corwin interrupted. "I shouldn't even show you." He said, rolling up the sleeve of his robe. He turned over his arm and Gwen gasped in shock to see the Dark Mark resting there in deep red ink.
"Why?" She said.
"Because they know Snape's working both sides. They don't know that about me, not yet."
"You'll have that for the rest of your life." She said quietly.
"It's worth it, knowing that my work might allow you and everyone else here to live a little longer."
"Graves…"
"Gwen we've had this discussion before and it ended badly. I don't want to leave here angry at you in case…" He trailed off. He hadn't really thought of the possibility of death before now. "In case I don't see you again." He finished firmly.
She breathed deep. She wanted so badly to explain to him everything going through her head at that very moment, but she couldn't. Words were once again failing her and it was because of his presence.
He sighed, stood and opened his arms, waiting for her. She stepped into them eagerly. He was sacrificing so much for her safety, for the cause. He kissed her forehead softly, grazed them down to her cheek and then pressed his lips to hers. Instead of protesting like she wanted to, she melted into him.
He pulled back slowly. "Even if I never get to have you Gwen." He said knowingly, "I'll have had this kiss." He stepped out of the office and out of her life, braving the terrifying world outside of Hogwarts once again.
