FADE TO BLACK
NB: I own nothing but the plot and a few spells. Rated R for swearing, violence, sexual stuff etc ****************************************************************
Chapter Three: Revelation One
"Can I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Pomfrey asked, hands on her plump hips as she scrutinized the pale youth who had just entered the Hospital Wing. Draco stuck his hands in his pockets, giving himself the look of a young vandal. He would have probably peered up at her too had he not been nearly a head taller than the ageing Medi-Witch.
"Is Parkinson still in here?" Madam Pomfrey frowned at his lack of manners.
"Yes, *Miss* Parkinson is still here, Mr. Malfoy. Are you here to pay a visit to your friend?" Draco snorted.
"That bitch is *not* my friend. I'm here because of an agreement between Dumbledore, Professor Snape and my Father. I'm expected to escort her back to the Slytherin common room today." Madam Pomfrey's frown increased.
"Mr. Malfoy, I would thank you not to use that kind of language in my Hospital Wing unless you want me to hex you out of here so fast that your backside will catch fire!" Draco let out a short, sharp laugh.
"Whatever you say, Madam Pomfrey. But first things first. Where's Parkinson?"
"Second screen on your left. She may be sleeping, but I'm unsure about that for now."
"Thanks."
Whether or not Pansy was asleep, Draco couldn't tell. Her eyes were covered with large square patches of gauze - most definitely due to the curse he had cast - and she was lying down. Her breathing was slow and steady. Draco sat down next to her bed.
"Parkinson?" Apart from a slight twitch in her facial features, she gave Draco no sign that she was listening to him or even awake.
"Parkinson!" Draco hissed, slightly louder this time. "Are you awake, or just ignoring me?" All he received was silence. Then, Pansy's head turned towards him.
"What? Is that you, Malfoy?"
"Well who else would it be?" Draco sneered. "Merlin?" Pansy sat up slowly, keeping her head turned towards him.
"You know, Malfoy, you should consider yourself very lucky that I can't see you right now, but the moment these bandages come off and I can see again, the first thing I'm going to do is come after you." Draco sniggered at this and Pansy frowned. "What? You think that's funny?"
"Well.yes. I do, actually." Draco replied, still smirking.
"Well if it's so funny, explain it to me." Pansy demanded. Draco smirked, not feeling even the slightest trace of guilt, but a twisted parody of amusement.
"Let me put it this way, Parkinson." He chose his words carefully. "Regardless of whether or not those bandages come off, it won't make a spot of difference to you." Everything was silent as Pansy tried to de-code his choice of words. It didn't take her very long.
"Are you saying that I'm blind.permanently?" She asked in a frightened whisper.
"Duh!" Was the only reply Draco gave. Then Pansy flew at him, and barely missed his face, choosing instead to beat his chest and arms.
"BASTARD! BASTARD!!!" She screamed, hitting him over and over. "I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, MALFOY, I KNOW IT IS!!! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!!!" In a moment of blind panic, Draco backhanded her across the face to silence her screaming, and the slap seemed to echo through the hospital wing.
"Shut up, Parkinson!!!" He hissed, grabbing her by the shoulders. But it was a bit too late. Madam Pomfrey had appeared in time to see Pansy nursing her sore cheek and Draco grabbing her by the shoulders.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson! *What* is going on here?" She demanded, hands on her plump hips.
"She got upset over something I said. I didn't mean for this to happen." Draco interjected quickly before Pansy had a chance to have a say.
"I heard somebody hit someone else." Madam Pomfrey pressed on, a serious expression on her face.
"Draco hit me because I yelled at him, Madam Pomfrey." Pansy spoke up, moving her hand away from her cheek, which was now bright pink. "Please, make him go away."
"I can't." Draco said quickly. "I was sent here by Dumbledore and Snape to escort you back to the common room." Pansy frowned.
"Get them to send someone else then."
"I can't. This is part of the agreement."
"Madam Pomfrey, what's he talking about?" Pansy demanded, turning her head to where she thought the Medi-Witch was standing.
"I'm sorry, Miss Parkinson, but I'm not really sure what he's talking about either." She answered calmly.
"My Father, Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore had a meeting today because I wasn't qualified to use the curse that I cast on you." Draco explained in a bored tone. "Dumbledore apparently wanted to expel me but my Father and Snape worked him down to an agreement that I would be your 'eyes' or something stupid like that. In more basic terms, I'm supposed to be your private servant until graduation." A smirk slowly curved on Pansy's full lips.
"*You* are my private servant?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"Yes. That's just what I said." Pansy's smirk widened.
"Well, it may be a very poor compensation for my blindness, but I guess I shall have to take full advantage of this situation."
"As you would." Draco muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, getting back to the point, I'm supposed to escort you back to the common room for tonight, if Madam Pomfrey says you can leave."
"Can I?" Pansy asked her. The Medi-Witch nodded, then, remembering her patient's lack of sight, answered properly.
"Yes, dear. You may leave the hospital wing. But, first, I have to remove your bandages and you have to change back into your uniform."
"Okay then." Pansy sat a bit further back on her bed and pushed off her covers, ready to get up once her bandages were removed. Draco raised his eyebrows slightly at her pyjamas.well, not that one could really call them that. Pansy's pyjamas consisted of a form-fitting lacy black camisole with a skimpy pair of matching pants. The black of her pyjamas perfectly matched the colour of her hair and contrasted sharply with her skin that was as pale as Draco's.
Madam Pomfrey peeled off the first piece of square gauze from Pansy's face. Draco moved in a little closer, curious as to whether or not the appearance of Pansy's eyes would be altered as well. He couldn't tell for now because Pansy's visible eye was currently shut. The second piece of gauze was gently removed, and Madam Pomfrey gently swabbed Pansy's shut eyes with a damp piece of linen, removing any sleep and loose eyelashes. Finally, Pansy opened her eyes.
"What do my eyes look like?" She asked almost immediately. Draco and Madam Pomfrey didn't answer straight away, choosing instead to look at Pansy's now-useless eyes. They had not *appeared* to have suffered any sort of alteration at all. Pansy's eyes were still that brilliant, unusual shade of violet, and there was only one difference that Draco or Madam Pomfrey could make out. Her eyes now carried that blank, slightly dazed expression that one could only find in the eyes of a blind person.
"Well? What do my eyes look like?" Pansy demanded a touch impatiently. Her eyes never lost that blank, slightly dazed look.
"They appear to be completely intact, Miss Parkinson." Madam Pomfrey answered at last. "Your eyes, apart from their obvious lack of sight, are exactly the same as they were before any of this happened." Pansy sighed in relief.
"Can I get dressed now?" She asked. "Where's my uniform?" Madam Pomfrey handed it to her from its place on the hanger next to the bed. Pansy stood up, and then did nothing.
"Is there a problem dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Pansy nodded, biting her lip.
"I may be blind, but that doesn't make me any less uncomfortable with a boy watching me change." Her voice trailed off, and Madam Pomfrey stared directly at Draco and pointed away from Pansy. Shrugging, Draco decided to obey and leave so Pansy could change back into her uniform.
"It's not like I'd want to see her naked." He muttered to himself, waiting impatiently for Pansy to be ready. Fortunately, that didn't take her very long.
"Malfoy? Where are you?" She demanded, poking her head out from her makeshift cubicle. Draco reluctantly answered her call and walked back into the area, observing silently that Pansy had managed to dress herself neatly and she looked much better now that her hair was combed and braided back neatly with a silver ribbon. Madam Pomfrey's doing, Draco thought, Pansy never braids her hair.
"Let's go." Pansy ordered, grabbing the air blindly in an attempt to grab Draco by the arm. On the fourth try, she was successful and linked her arm through his so she wouldn't lose him. "Let's go back to the common room, and if you try anything stupid on the way, Malfoy, I'll make you sorry you were ever born."
"I already am." Draco muttered to himself as he rolled his eyes.
It took them longer to get back to the common room than either one of them would have liked. Pansy either bumped into or fell over things on the way, which would delay them enough for Pansy to stop and recover, and enough time for them to argue over whose fault it was and trade a few insults before continuing on their way in an unfriendly silence. Draco gave no directions on the way there, so Pansy found she had to work entirely by instinct if she didn't want to keep tripping over or hurting herself, and was finding the whole experience very tiring.
At last they arrived. The room was full of Slytherins who were talking, playing games such as chess, completing homework or (In the cases of couples) cuddling up to each other and whispering in each other's ears.
"Hey, Pansy's back!" Millicent Bulstrode exclaimed, spotting her friend from across the room. She instantly dropped the essay she had been working on and ran over to the petite brunette, grabbing her in a fierce hug. Pansy hugged her back, then was bombarded by hugs from even more of her friends.
Draco simply stepped away from her, watching the whole scene with a disinterested expression on his face as Pansy seemed to disappear into her group of friends. She probably wouldn't be needing him until dinnertime at least.
NB: I own nothing but the plot and a few spells. Rated R for swearing, violence, sexual stuff etc ****************************************************************
Chapter Three: Revelation One
"Can I help you, Mr. Malfoy?" Madam Pomfrey asked, hands on her plump hips as she scrutinized the pale youth who had just entered the Hospital Wing. Draco stuck his hands in his pockets, giving himself the look of a young vandal. He would have probably peered up at her too had he not been nearly a head taller than the ageing Medi-Witch.
"Is Parkinson still in here?" Madam Pomfrey frowned at his lack of manners.
"Yes, *Miss* Parkinson is still here, Mr. Malfoy. Are you here to pay a visit to your friend?" Draco snorted.
"That bitch is *not* my friend. I'm here because of an agreement between Dumbledore, Professor Snape and my Father. I'm expected to escort her back to the Slytherin common room today." Madam Pomfrey's frown increased.
"Mr. Malfoy, I would thank you not to use that kind of language in my Hospital Wing unless you want me to hex you out of here so fast that your backside will catch fire!" Draco let out a short, sharp laugh.
"Whatever you say, Madam Pomfrey. But first things first. Where's Parkinson?"
"Second screen on your left. She may be sleeping, but I'm unsure about that for now."
"Thanks."
Whether or not Pansy was asleep, Draco couldn't tell. Her eyes were covered with large square patches of gauze - most definitely due to the curse he had cast - and she was lying down. Her breathing was slow and steady. Draco sat down next to her bed.
"Parkinson?" Apart from a slight twitch in her facial features, she gave Draco no sign that she was listening to him or even awake.
"Parkinson!" Draco hissed, slightly louder this time. "Are you awake, or just ignoring me?" All he received was silence. Then, Pansy's head turned towards him.
"What? Is that you, Malfoy?"
"Well who else would it be?" Draco sneered. "Merlin?" Pansy sat up slowly, keeping her head turned towards him.
"You know, Malfoy, you should consider yourself very lucky that I can't see you right now, but the moment these bandages come off and I can see again, the first thing I'm going to do is come after you." Draco sniggered at this and Pansy frowned. "What? You think that's funny?"
"Well.yes. I do, actually." Draco replied, still smirking.
"Well if it's so funny, explain it to me." Pansy demanded. Draco smirked, not feeling even the slightest trace of guilt, but a twisted parody of amusement.
"Let me put it this way, Parkinson." He chose his words carefully. "Regardless of whether or not those bandages come off, it won't make a spot of difference to you." Everything was silent as Pansy tried to de-code his choice of words. It didn't take her very long.
"Are you saying that I'm blind.permanently?" She asked in a frightened whisper.
"Duh!" Was the only reply Draco gave. Then Pansy flew at him, and barely missed his face, choosing instead to beat his chest and arms.
"BASTARD! BASTARD!!!" She screamed, hitting him over and over. "I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU, MALFOY, I KNOW IT IS!!! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!!!" In a moment of blind panic, Draco backhanded her across the face to silence her screaming, and the slap seemed to echo through the hospital wing.
"Shut up, Parkinson!!!" He hissed, grabbing her by the shoulders. But it was a bit too late. Madam Pomfrey had appeared in time to see Pansy nursing her sore cheek and Draco grabbing her by the shoulders.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Parkinson! *What* is going on here?" She demanded, hands on her plump hips.
"She got upset over something I said. I didn't mean for this to happen." Draco interjected quickly before Pansy had a chance to have a say.
"I heard somebody hit someone else." Madam Pomfrey pressed on, a serious expression on her face.
"Draco hit me because I yelled at him, Madam Pomfrey." Pansy spoke up, moving her hand away from her cheek, which was now bright pink. "Please, make him go away."
"I can't." Draco said quickly. "I was sent here by Dumbledore and Snape to escort you back to the common room." Pansy frowned.
"Get them to send someone else then."
"I can't. This is part of the agreement."
"Madam Pomfrey, what's he talking about?" Pansy demanded, turning her head to where she thought the Medi-Witch was standing.
"I'm sorry, Miss Parkinson, but I'm not really sure what he's talking about either." She answered calmly.
"My Father, Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore had a meeting today because I wasn't qualified to use the curse that I cast on you." Draco explained in a bored tone. "Dumbledore apparently wanted to expel me but my Father and Snape worked him down to an agreement that I would be your 'eyes' or something stupid like that. In more basic terms, I'm supposed to be your private servant until graduation." A smirk slowly curved on Pansy's full lips.
"*You* are my private servant?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"Yes. That's just what I said." Pansy's smirk widened.
"Well, it may be a very poor compensation for my blindness, but I guess I shall have to take full advantage of this situation."
"As you would." Draco muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, getting back to the point, I'm supposed to escort you back to the common room for tonight, if Madam Pomfrey says you can leave."
"Can I?" Pansy asked her. The Medi-Witch nodded, then, remembering her patient's lack of sight, answered properly.
"Yes, dear. You may leave the hospital wing. But, first, I have to remove your bandages and you have to change back into your uniform."
"Okay then." Pansy sat a bit further back on her bed and pushed off her covers, ready to get up once her bandages were removed. Draco raised his eyebrows slightly at her pyjamas.well, not that one could really call them that. Pansy's pyjamas consisted of a form-fitting lacy black camisole with a skimpy pair of matching pants. The black of her pyjamas perfectly matched the colour of her hair and contrasted sharply with her skin that was as pale as Draco's.
Madam Pomfrey peeled off the first piece of square gauze from Pansy's face. Draco moved in a little closer, curious as to whether or not the appearance of Pansy's eyes would be altered as well. He couldn't tell for now because Pansy's visible eye was currently shut. The second piece of gauze was gently removed, and Madam Pomfrey gently swabbed Pansy's shut eyes with a damp piece of linen, removing any sleep and loose eyelashes. Finally, Pansy opened her eyes.
"What do my eyes look like?" She asked almost immediately. Draco and Madam Pomfrey didn't answer straight away, choosing instead to look at Pansy's now-useless eyes. They had not *appeared* to have suffered any sort of alteration at all. Pansy's eyes were still that brilliant, unusual shade of violet, and there was only one difference that Draco or Madam Pomfrey could make out. Her eyes now carried that blank, slightly dazed expression that one could only find in the eyes of a blind person.
"Well? What do my eyes look like?" Pansy demanded a touch impatiently. Her eyes never lost that blank, slightly dazed look.
"They appear to be completely intact, Miss Parkinson." Madam Pomfrey answered at last. "Your eyes, apart from their obvious lack of sight, are exactly the same as they were before any of this happened." Pansy sighed in relief.
"Can I get dressed now?" She asked. "Where's my uniform?" Madam Pomfrey handed it to her from its place on the hanger next to the bed. Pansy stood up, and then did nothing.
"Is there a problem dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Pansy nodded, biting her lip.
"I may be blind, but that doesn't make me any less uncomfortable with a boy watching me change." Her voice trailed off, and Madam Pomfrey stared directly at Draco and pointed away from Pansy. Shrugging, Draco decided to obey and leave so Pansy could change back into her uniform.
"It's not like I'd want to see her naked." He muttered to himself, waiting impatiently for Pansy to be ready. Fortunately, that didn't take her very long.
"Malfoy? Where are you?" She demanded, poking her head out from her makeshift cubicle. Draco reluctantly answered her call and walked back into the area, observing silently that Pansy had managed to dress herself neatly and she looked much better now that her hair was combed and braided back neatly with a silver ribbon. Madam Pomfrey's doing, Draco thought, Pansy never braids her hair.
"Let's go." Pansy ordered, grabbing the air blindly in an attempt to grab Draco by the arm. On the fourth try, she was successful and linked her arm through his so she wouldn't lose him. "Let's go back to the common room, and if you try anything stupid on the way, Malfoy, I'll make you sorry you were ever born."
"I already am." Draco muttered to himself as he rolled his eyes.
It took them longer to get back to the common room than either one of them would have liked. Pansy either bumped into or fell over things on the way, which would delay them enough for Pansy to stop and recover, and enough time for them to argue over whose fault it was and trade a few insults before continuing on their way in an unfriendly silence. Draco gave no directions on the way there, so Pansy found she had to work entirely by instinct if she didn't want to keep tripping over or hurting herself, and was finding the whole experience very tiring.
At last they arrived. The room was full of Slytherins who were talking, playing games such as chess, completing homework or (In the cases of couples) cuddling up to each other and whispering in each other's ears.
"Hey, Pansy's back!" Millicent Bulstrode exclaimed, spotting her friend from across the room. She instantly dropped the essay she had been working on and ran over to the petite brunette, grabbing her in a fierce hug. Pansy hugged her back, then was bombarded by hugs from even more of her friends.
Draco simply stepped away from her, watching the whole scene with a disinterested expression on his face as Pansy seemed to disappear into her group of friends. She probably wouldn't be needing him until dinnertime at least.