Chapter 38- My Eye Is On You
Hermione woke on the day before she was to leave for the Burrow. She stretched under the covers, sighing, and slid out of bed. *I'm going to stay in my pajamas all day. I'll just stay in the dorm.*
Over the past few days, she and Draco had grown even closer. They never left each other's side, and they spent as much time snogging as talking. Hermione sighed at the memories.
As she sauntered to the bathroom to brush her teeth, she sang quietly. "Come what may…"
"Oh, dear, you're bleeding again," the mirror tutted.
Hermione's head shot up. Forgetting her teeth, she ran out to the common room. "Draco!" she called in panic.
He emerged faster than she had thought possible, his worried expression turning even more worried when he saw the bleeding wound over her eye. "I'll take you to Madame Pomfrey," he said, putting his arm firmly around her shoulders to guide her.
"No, Draco, wait. I don't want to go there."
He stopped walking. "Well, what am I supposed to do?"
"You can heal it. Here." She told him the spell. He guided her to a chair, then left to retrieve his wand. She waited patiently, with a hand cupped over her eye.
"Look up, Hermione." She saw the wand pointed at her eye, then felt the pain recede as he uttered the counter curse. He sat near her, letting his breath out in a huff.
They sat in silence for a while, relieved that the crisis was past. They had their breakfast brought, and Hermione let the rich taste of the slave-prepared food distract her for a time.
When she could stand it no longer, she spoke. "Draco, why does this mean so much to you?" He looked up in surprise. "I can tell by the way you react, you know exactly what is happening. What is it?"
Draco stood. He began to pace. When finally he stopped, his back was to her. "I broke my promise, Hermione. I told myself I would not let you be hurt, but I broke it. I tried to push you away, but I cannot deny that I love you. I am too weak to do what must be done."
"What are you talking about? You don't have any control over this. Voldemort is just evil. No matter what you did, he would hate me, just because I'm Muggle-born."
"It's not Voldemort," Draco said, sighing heavily. "It's my father."
Hermione stared at him in shocked silence. This is the expression he saw when he finally turned and looked at her. "Your…father? But- why- how?"
"I've explained it to you, haven't I? The night I left the mansion, I told him about you- it just slipped. I was already outside when he threatened you. I almost turned back at that point, but I didn't. When this happened, the last time, I knew that he was reminding me of his threat- or promise. I don't know what it was, but I intend to see that he does not keep it. I promised myself, I would push you away no matter what it cost me, to keep you safe. I can't do that."
"And I will never let you," she said sternly. "Oh, Draco, why didn't you tell me?"
"I was trying to keep you safe, Hermione. You can ask less of me, but I cannot give it."
"What difference would it have made if I had known? Do you really think it would have changed anything?"
"Well, I was young and stupid then." He smiled slightly.
"As opposed to what?" she teased.
"Hey. That's…not all that funny." He laughed slightly, refuting his own argument.
"Listen," Hermione began. "I could die happy right now, just being with you."
"You'd die a virgin," he muttered.
"Not yet, Draco," she smiled. "Not yet. We have enough time."
"Maybe not. If you died, Hermione, *I* would not be happy. You can't just think about yourself in this."
"I don't. I was trying to tell you that you have made me the happiest I could ever be."
"Ahem. Well, I cannot protect you one way, but perhaps I can find another."
"What do you mean?"
"There must be some kind of ward, or shield, that can be used against this curse. We have all day, and the library will be all but empty."
"Oh, Draco, I was so looking forward to doing nothing with you all day! Can't we take care of it later?"
"Tell you what, sweetie," he said, taking a few steps toward her, bringing their bodies so close they brushed each other. "I won't let you out of my sight until we have taken care of this. I refuse to let you go off to the Weasleys' with this kind of danger hanging over your head."
She smiled broadly. "You really do care about me, don't you?"
He caressed her cheek. "Of course, my love."
Sighing with a mixture of contentment and reluctance, Hermione retreated into her room, slipping on jeans and a sweater in preparation for a day at the library.
Madame Pince barely flickered an eyelash at Hermione's entrance. She glanced twice at Draco, not used to seeing him, but afterward paid them no more attention. They sat in the far corner. The pile of books on the table slowly accumulated to impressive proportions.
Hermione closed another book, knitting her brow in frustration. "I can't find anything that we can use. How can they have no record of the curse?"
"They do, in here," Draco replied, tapping his finger on a short paragraph. "It mentions the curse, and that some people found a way to guard against it, but it does not say what that is. Great load of help, this book." He threw it on the pile.
"Here's something…no, it only says that it instilled fear and panic. How are we ever going to find *anything* if no one can write anything down?!"
"Hermione, this is a library!" Draco put a hand to his cheek, mock-scandalized.
She swatted at him with the book she was holding. He caught it in his hand, pulling her in for a kiss, and opened to a page late in the book. "Well, here's something…"
He read on silently. Hermione decided not to wait any longer. "What, where's something?"
"This. 'When Dumbledore's brother was threatened with the curse, he worked to find a way to prevent it from happening again. He created an effective shield, which he then taught to select wizards and witches.' …that's all. It doesn't say what it is."
"But it's Dumbledore!" Hermione exclaimed. "You know what that means, don't you?"
He shook his head slowly. "No, I don't know what it means. Should I?"
She rolled her eyes impatiently. "It means we can go ask him personally! Come on!" She grabbed his hand and speed-walked from the library, through the halls, right to the entrance to Dumbledore's study.
"Oh, no, I've forgotten the password. Do you remember, Draco?"
He did. He spoke, and the gargoyle sprang to life. They stepped onto the spinning staircase, and were brought up to the headmaster's quarters. Hermione knocked on the door to his office.
"Come in."
Hermione pushed the door open to find that Fawkes had just been reborn. "Something I can do for you, Miss Granger? Mister Malfoy?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione said. "You see, it happened again. With the 'My Eye Is On You' curse. Just this morning, very early. I had Draco say the counter curse for me, but we were trying to find a way to prevent it from happening again, and we found your name. It said you came up with a shield that worked against that curse. What is it?"
Dumbledore looked up gravely. "It happened again, and you did not inform me?"
Hermione cast her eyes down in embarrassment. "I didn't want to leave the common room," she admitted quietly. Chancing a glance up, she saw that the headmaster's eyes were twinkling with amusement.
"I can overlook it this once, but if it ever happens again, you must tell me."
"Well, you see, we were hoping that it would not happen again if we knew how to stop it." Hermione squeezed Draco's hand for reassurance, and he squeezed back.
"I see. Well, sit down. I will tell you what I found out."
Not letting go each other's hands, Hermione and Draco sat facing Dumbledore's desk. He did not sit, but walked slowly as he explained to them the procedure to create the shield. "I warn you now. Once you start, there is no turning back. It is a highly dangerous spell, and unless it is done exactly as I tell you, could result in some very serious consequences. The worst of these would be the deaths of two students, who happen to be sitting in my office at this moment. It is also rather long; it will take a total of three hours, probably. I will assist you, if you ask me to. If you do not, I will write the instructions, and you can do it on your own."
Hermione looked to Draco to answer for her. He placed his hand over hers, and read the answer in her eyes. "I think for this, headmaster, we need each other, and we need to do it alone."
************************************************************************
"Are you all right, Hermione?" Draco asked.
"Yes," she panted. "I think I can last long enough."
She was panting because the room they were in was incredibly hot. It was a steam room, Hermione deduced, somewhere in the dungeons. Beyond that, she had no idea where they were. As part of the ceremony for the conjuring of the shield, she had been led to the room blindfolded. A light mist was filling the room, such that her vision was impaired.
Draco sat her on the floor. She waited silently, trying to keep her mind focused, as he said the preparing words. When he had done this, she laid back, shutting her eyes. She did not want to watch what was coming next.
"This blood is offered as protection for this woman. Let it guard her against those who would use fear to rule her." Draco's comforting words were tainted with the feel of his blood dripping onto her forehead. She resisted the horrible urge to shudder at the knowledge that he had pierced his own skin for her. The liquid then blended into her skin, as if it were never there.
The spinning began. He said the sealing words, that would bind his blood to be her ward, until the threat was past. She felt like she was trying to fall asleep, but she was prevented somehow. As though a sheet of glass lay between her and oblivion, but her mind was clear as it is for the fraction of a second it is before you fall asleep. In that moment, she saw-
Hermione was startled into consciousness. Draco was there immediately, holding her in his arms. "It's all right. He can't scare us anymore."
"I saw- I saw…oh, Draco…"
"Shh, take a deep breath, Hermione. What was it?"
She followed his advice, then looked up into his eyes. "I don't know. I think it was Heaven."
*If I should die this very moment,
I wouldn't fear.
For I've never known completeness
Like being here,
Wrapped in the warmth of you,
Loving every breath of you…
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day*
Draco never asked her what Heaven looked like. Either he did not care, or he did not want her to relive those memories that had given her the vision. Whatever the reason, he did not bring up anything that had happened that night.
She barely slept at all that night. She was too distracted. Almost, she wished he *would* ask her, so she could get the thoughts off her chest. If he did not want to talk about it, though, then she would not bring it up. She knew, from his face, he had been afraid the whole time, though he masked it with steadfast determination. For both of these things, she loved him even more.
They had not yet decided to sleep in the common room, instead of their own separate corridors. To her surprise, Draco had not yet suggested it. She knew if she brought it up, he would tease her about wanting to sleep with him.
So she lay in her own bed, reviewing the happenings of the day. She came to one conclusion. Draco would do anything for her. He had proved that.
Anything except pushing her away.
For that, as well, she loved him to the point of bursting.
End Chapter 38
Yes, the next chapter is better. I *promise*. And it's longer too. And it's better. Because I don't like this chapter very much.
Review for invisible confetti.
Hermione woke on the day before she was to leave for the Burrow. She stretched under the covers, sighing, and slid out of bed. *I'm going to stay in my pajamas all day. I'll just stay in the dorm.*
Over the past few days, she and Draco had grown even closer. They never left each other's side, and they spent as much time snogging as talking. Hermione sighed at the memories.
As she sauntered to the bathroom to brush her teeth, she sang quietly. "Come what may…"
"Oh, dear, you're bleeding again," the mirror tutted.
Hermione's head shot up. Forgetting her teeth, she ran out to the common room. "Draco!" she called in panic.
He emerged faster than she had thought possible, his worried expression turning even more worried when he saw the bleeding wound over her eye. "I'll take you to Madame Pomfrey," he said, putting his arm firmly around her shoulders to guide her.
"No, Draco, wait. I don't want to go there."
He stopped walking. "Well, what am I supposed to do?"
"You can heal it. Here." She told him the spell. He guided her to a chair, then left to retrieve his wand. She waited patiently, with a hand cupped over her eye.
"Look up, Hermione." She saw the wand pointed at her eye, then felt the pain recede as he uttered the counter curse. He sat near her, letting his breath out in a huff.
They sat in silence for a while, relieved that the crisis was past. They had their breakfast brought, and Hermione let the rich taste of the slave-prepared food distract her for a time.
When she could stand it no longer, she spoke. "Draco, why does this mean so much to you?" He looked up in surprise. "I can tell by the way you react, you know exactly what is happening. What is it?"
Draco stood. He began to pace. When finally he stopped, his back was to her. "I broke my promise, Hermione. I told myself I would not let you be hurt, but I broke it. I tried to push you away, but I cannot deny that I love you. I am too weak to do what must be done."
"What are you talking about? You don't have any control over this. Voldemort is just evil. No matter what you did, he would hate me, just because I'm Muggle-born."
"It's not Voldemort," Draco said, sighing heavily. "It's my father."
Hermione stared at him in shocked silence. This is the expression he saw when he finally turned and looked at her. "Your…father? But- why- how?"
"I've explained it to you, haven't I? The night I left the mansion, I told him about you- it just slipped. I was already outside when he threatened you. I almost turned back at that point, but I didn't. When this happened, the last time, I knew that he was reminding me of his threat- or promise. I don't know what it was, but I intend to see that he does not keep it. I promised myself, I would push you away no matter what it cost me, to keep you safe. I can't do that."
"And I will never let you," she said sternly. "Oh, Draco, why didn't you tell me?"
"I was trying to keep you safe, Hermione. You can ask less of me, but I cannot give it."
"What difference would it have made if I had known? Do you really think it would have changed anything?"
"Well, I was young and stupid then." He smiled slightly.
"As opposed to what?" she teased.
"Hey. That's…not all that funny." He laughed slightly, refuting his own argument.
"Listen," Hermione began. "I could die happy right now, just being with you."
"You'd die a virgin," he muttered.
"Not yet, Draco," she smiled. "Not yet. We have enough time."
"Maybe not. If you died, Hermione, *I* would not be happy. You can't just think about yourself in this."
"I don't. I was trying to tell you that you have made me the happiest I could ever be."
"Ahem. Well, I cannot protect you one way, but perhaps I can find another."
"What do you mean?"
"There must be some kind of ward, or shield, that can be used against this curse. We have all day, and the library will be all but empty."
"Oh, Draco, I was so looking forward to doing nothing with you all day! Can't we take care of it later?"
"Tell you what, sweetie," he said, taking a few steps toward her, bringing their bodies so close they brushed each other. "I won't let you out of my sight until we have taken care of this. I refuse to let you go off to the Weasleys' with this kind of danger hanging over your head."
She smiled broadly. "You really do care about me, don't you?"
He caressed her cheek. "Of course, my love."
Sighing with a mixture of contentment and reluctance, Hermione retreated into her room, slipping on jeans and a sweater in preparation for a day at the library.
Madame Pince barely flickered an eyelash at Hermione's entrance. She glanced twice at Draco, not used to seeing him, but afterward paid them no more attention. They sat in the far corner. The pile of books on the table slowly accumulated to impressive proportions.
Hermione closed another book, knitting her brow in frustration. "I can't find anything that we can use. How can they have no record of the curse?"
"They do, in here," Draco replied, tapping his finger on a short paragraph. "It mentions the curse, and that some people found a way to guard against it, but it does not say what that is. Great load of help, this book." He threw it on the pile.
"Here's something…no, it only says that it instilled fear and panic. How are we ever going to find *anything* if no one can write anything down?!"
"Hermione, this is a library!" Draco put a hand to his cheek, mock-scandalized.
She swatted at him with the book she was holding. He caught it in his hand, pulling her in for a kiss, and opened to a page late in the book. "Well, here's something…"
He read on silently. Hermione decided not to wait any longer. "What, where's something?"
"This. 'When Dumbledore's brother was threatened with the curse, he worked to find a way to prevent it from happening again. He created an effective shield, which he then taught to select wizards and witches.' …that's all. It doesn't say what it is."
"But it's Dumbledore!" Hermione exclaimed. "You know what that means, don't you?"
He shook his head slowly. "No, I don't know what it means. Should I?"
She rolled her eyes impatiently. "It means we can go ask him personally! Come on!" She grabbed his hand and speed-walked from the library, through the halls, right to the entrance to Dumbledore's study.
"Oh, no, I've forgotten the password. Do you remember, Draco?"
He did. He spoke, and the gargoyle sprang to life. They stepped onto the spinning staircase, and were brought up to the headmaster's quarters. Hermione knocked on the door to his office.
"Come in."
Hermione pushed the door open to find that Fawkes had just been reborn. "Something I can do for you, Miss Granger? Mister Malfoy?"
"Yes, sir," Hermione said. "You see, it happened again. With the 'My Eye Is On You' curse. Just this morning, very early. I had Draco say the counter curse for me, but we were trying to find a way to prevent it from happening again, and we found your name. It said you came up with a shield that worked against that curse. What is it?"
Dumbledore looked up gravely. "It happened again, and you did not inform me?"
Hermione cast her eyes down in embarrassment. "I didn't want to leave the common room," she admitted quietly. Chancing a glance up, she saw that the headmaster's eyes were twinkling with amusement.
"I can overlook it this once, but if it ever happens again, you must tell me."
"Well, you see, we were hoping that it would not happen again if we knew how to stop it." Hermione squeezed Draco's hand for reassurance, and he squeezed back.
"I see. Well, sit down. I will tell you what I found out."
Not letting go each other's hands, Hermione and Draco sat facing Dumbledore's desk. He did not sit, but walked slowly as he explained to them the procedure to create the shield. "I warn you now. Once you start, there is no turning back. It is a highly dangerous spell, and unless it is done exactly as I tell you, could result in some very serious consequences. The worst of these would be the deaths of two students, who happen to be sitting in my office at this moment. It is also rather long; it will take a total of three hours, probably. I will assist you, if you ask me to. If you do not, I will write the instructions, and you can do it on your own."
Hermione looked to Draco to answer for her. He placed his hand over hers, and read the answer in her eyes. "I think for this, headmaster, we need each other, and we need to do it alone."
************************************************************************
"Are you all right, Hermione?" Draco asked.
"Yes," she panted. "I think I can last long enough."
She was panting because the room they were in was incredibly hot. It was a steam room, Hermione deduced, somewhere in the dungeons. Beyond that, she had no idea where they were. As part of the ceremony for the conjuring of the shield, she had been led to the room blindfolded. A light mist was filling the room, such that her vision was impaired.
Draco sat her on the floor. She waited silently, trying to keep her mind focused, as he said the preparing words. When he had done this, she laid back, shutting her eyes. She did not want to watch what was coming next.
"This blood is offered as protection for this woman. Let it guard her against those who would use fear to rule her." Draco's comforting words were tainted with the feel of his blood dripping onto her forehead. She resisted the horrible urge to shudder at the knowledge that he had pierced his own skin for her. The liquid then blended into her skin, as if it were never there.
The spinning began. He said the sealing words, that would bind his blood to be her ward, until the threat was past. She felt like she was trying to fall asleep, but she was prevented somehow. As though a sheet of glass lay between her and oblivion, but her mind was clear as it is for the fraction of a second it is before you fall asleep. In that moment, she saw-
Hermione was startled into consciousness. Draco was there immediately, holding her in his arms. "It's all right. He can't scare us anymore."
"I saw- I saw…oh, Draco…"
"Shh, take a deep breath, Hermione. What was it?"
She followed his advice, then looked up into his eyes. "I don't know. I think it was Heaven."
*If I should die this very moment,
I wouldn't fear.
For I've never known completeness
Like being here,
Wrapped in the warmth of you,
Loving every breath of you…
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day*
Draco never asked her what Heaven looked like. Either he did not care, or he did not want her to relive those memories that had given her the vision. Whatever the reason, he did not bring up anything that had happened that night.
She barely slept at all that night. She was too distracted. Almost, she wished he *would* ask her, so she could get the thoughts off her chest. If he did not want to talk about it, though, then she would not bring it up. She knew, from his face, he had been afraid the whole time, though he masked it with steadfast determination. For both of these things, she loved him even more.
They had not yet decided to sleep in the common room, instead of their own separate corridors. To her surprise, Draco had not yet suggested it. She knew if she brought it up, he would tease her about wanting to sleep with him.
So she lay in her own bed, reviewing the happenings of the day. She came to one conclusion. Draco would do anything for her. He had proved that.
Anything except pushing her away.
For that, as well, she loved him to the point of bursting.
End Chapter 38
Yes, the next chapter is better. I *promise*. And it's longer too. And it's better. Because I don't like this chapter very much.
Review for invisible confetti.