(Riley POV)
Something shifted beneath me.
I opened my eyes…at least I thought I did. It was pitch black.
The thing shifted again and I moved my hand up and felt soft hair.
"Draco?" I mumbled.
He sat straight up beneath me. "Riley!" He hugged me tightly. "Thank God! We all thought that you-that you were dead! Thank God, thank God, thank God!"
"Glad to see that I was missed, Draco, but why is it so dark?"
"Dark? It's the middle of the day! What do you mean, dark?"
"I can't see anything! I'm frightened, Draco…"
Draco held me to him.
I heard people walk in.
"Ah, Miss Thompson. Glad to see you're awake. How do you feel?"
"A bit confused. I can't see a thing!"
Someone gasped. "Riley! What do you mean?" I heard Mum ask.
"That's what I said!"
"Shut up, Draco! Mum, I meant what I said. I can't see. It's pitch black!"
"Healer West, what's wrong with her!" my father asked in a panic.
"I believe that it is a side effect of the eye restoration we had to do. Her eyes were cut and destroyed by the glass. We had to reconstruct the centers. The blindness might last a day or a week…or…"
"Or what?" Draco asked.
"Or it could be a permanent side effect…"
"Permanent!" Father and Mother yelled in unison.
I leaned on Draco more. He held me tighter.
I cried lightly as Draco stroked my hair and whispered calming words into my ear.
"Shhhhh…Riley, it'll be okay…You'll get your vision back."
Mum and Dad followed the Healer from the room, bombarding him with questions.
"Draco," I quietly sobbed into his chest, "I don't want to be blind…I want to see. I want to see the gardens and the house…I don't want to live in darkness!"
"Riley, it will be fine. You'll see in a few days and then I'll take you to the gardens and we'll go to the dance clubs like our parents did last year. I promise."
But it didn't.
For a little less than two weeks I was at St. Mungo's, waiting for my sight to return.
Draco was there every day, playing around and just talking to me, taking care of me.
"It's not going to come back is it? I'll be blind forever. I'll never get to see Hogwarts, will I?" I asked out of nowhere the one day.
"Sure you will! Come September, you'll see the castle and the grounds. You'll love Hogwarts. It's very beautiful, especially around Christmas!"
I turned my head towards his voice. I felt him take my hand and squeeze it.
"Riley, I promise that you'll get your sight back."
"The Healer said that they reconstructed my eyes…do they look any different?"
"They're a brighter green than they were. But they're still gorgeous. Even if you can't see them, I'll look at them for you."
Although I couldn't see him, I knew he was smirking.
"Wipe it off, Draco. This isn't funny!"
"How did you know that I was smirking!"
"I heard it in your voice. We've known each other far too long for me not to know when you're smirking."
"Okay, you got me there."
"Riley? It's Mummy…" Mother said, loudly and slowly.
"Mum, I can't see, I'm not deaf."
"Right. Dear, we're taking you back to the Malfoy Manor. You can rest up there. The house elves will answer to your every call. Sound good?" She sat on my bedside and hugged me.
"Sounds brilliant."
"And I'll help," Draco whispered in my ear.
Fifteen minutes later, I was laying in my bed in Malfoy Manor. Mother had helped me get dressed. (I was wearing tight jeans and a pink-and-black mid-riff sweater with the peasant sleeves.) She also put my hair back in chopsticks.
"If you want anything, just call for Cookie or one of the other house elves."
Mum left the room.
"Draco?" I said.
"Yeah?" he answered, taking my hand. "I'm here."
"I'm really hungry."
"What do you want? I'll get a house elf to send it up…"
"No, I'm hungry in a different way. One in which you can't-"
Draco leaned over and kissed me. Not on the cheek, but on the mouth.
I pulled away from him.
"Draco! What the hll are you doing!""
"I-I thought-"
"Shut up! Just get the hll out! NOW!"
I felt him get up and I heard the door close. I rubbed my lips. They still tingled with…with pleasure…
That was a preposterous thought! Draco and I…we were enemies…well, okay, we were now on the verge of friendship, but we couldn't love each other! It was ridiculous! You can't go from hatred to love in a matter of days…or even weeks!
Then, the summer that Draco and I turned six flashed into my mind.
FLASHBACK
"Happy Birthday, Draco and Riley!" our family and friends yelled.
"Wow!" Draco gasped beside me.
"Thank you so much!" I breathed.
We played for hours with our friends. Then, Draco took my hand and pulled me to the side.
"Come on, Ri. I have something to show you."
He pulled me into the garden and to the small pond at the far end.
His blonde hair shown brightly in the sun as he sat on the bank. I can still remember thinking that he looked cute.
"What did you want to show me, Drake?"
"I have something to give you for your birthday, Riley. Here," he said shyly, handing me a small red box with a ribbon tied on the top.
I gasped. "What is it?"
"Open it!" he said eagerly.
I pulled the pretty ribbon off and opened the box. Inside was a silver locket on a thin silver chain.
"Oh my God…Draco! Thank you!" I flung myself on him and hugged him.
I pulled away, but kept my arms around his neck and his arms remained around my waist. He smirked at me.
"I'm really glad you like it. Happy Birthday, Ri. Here, let me put it on you."
I turned around and he fastened the necklace around my neck.
"You'll never be alone. Open it."
The chain was long, so I pulled it away from my neck and opened it. I gasped again.
There was a picture of Draco and me playing and hugging each other a few weeks before.
On the other side, there was a grinning picture of six-year-old Draco Malfoy.
"The picture-the one of me-it will change each year as I get older. The other one will stay the same."
I had my arms around his neck again.
"Thank you, Drake."
"I -uh- I have one more thing to give you, Ri. You swear you won't get mad and slap me? 'Cos I've had too many experiences with your-uh-strength."
I smiled. "I promise, Draco. I promise."
"Good, now, close your eyes."
I did as he told me and shut my eyes. Then, I felt Draco's lips on mine. They were soft and I felt him nibble at my lip. I opened and he explored my small mouth.
We kissed for a few minutes, then I pulled away, smiling up at him.
"That was way better than a locket…" I whispered.
"Happy Birthday, Riley. I love you."
"I-I love you, too, Drake."
We both leaned in and kissed again.
"Draco! Riley! Where are you two!" Mrs. Malfoy called.
Draco pulled away and smiled down at me before turning his head towards his mother's voice.
"Coming, Mum! C'mon, Riley. We better go…"
We took each other's hands and walked back to our party.
END FLASHBACK
Tears welled in my eyes.
Someone wrapped me into a hug. I put my arms around the neck, weaving my hands into their hair. It was soft…
"Dra-Draco?" I whispered.
"I'm here, Riley." He took my hand.
"I'm so sorry I yelled at you for kissing me…I shouldn't have…" I said quietly.
"It's fine, Ri… but why are you crying?" He wiped my tears and tilted my head towards him.
I wished that I could see his face…
I hugged him with all of my might.
"I just want everything to be the way it was, Draco! I miss everything!" I broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Shhhhh…Riley, it's okay…"
"No! No, it's not okay, Draco!" I sobbed. "I am living in a world of darkness!"
"Of course it's not okay…Riley, I'm sorry…"
I said nothing. I just cried in Draco's arms. He stroked my hair.
"Happy Birthday, Riley…"
"Birthday? W-what do you mean?"
"Seventeen years ago today, June 19th, you and I were born."
"Today's the 19th?"
"Yeah. Happy Birthday, Ri."
"Happy Birthday, Drake." I hugged him. "Can you…Drake, can you take me to the gardens? Please?"
"Why? It's not like…oh. Sorry, Riley. I'll take you. Where at in the garden?"
"The pond."
"Ah, yes. The pond…"
Draco took my hand and helped me out of bed. We walked down the steps and I heard Draco open the door. I felt the breeze on my face.
We walked around for a bit, Draco holding my hand in his, leading me.
"Here we are, the Malfoy Manor pond."
I heard him sit on the ground. He pulled me on top of him.
"If I give you something, you promise you won't slap me?"
My heart jumped. He said the same thing to me eleven years ago, same time, same place…
"I promise." I smiled at him.
"Close your eyes."
I knew that it made no difference, but I closed my eyes.
I felt Draco's warm breath on my cheek.
Draco's soft lips were against mine in a sweet kiss. This time, I didn't pull away. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed back. Then, I felt him lick and nibble at my lower lip. I hesitated, then opened my mouth. He got a little more aggressive as he explored my mouth hungrily. I let out a soft moan. He ran his hands up and down my sides. Then he held my lower back closer to his body. As his hand touched my bear skin, it sent chills through my body.
He was laying me down on the grass and laying on top of me. I moaned louder.
He chuckled as he pulled away.
I kept my eyes closed, but I knew I was smiling.
"I love you, Ri," he said breathlessly.
"You said the same thing eleven years ago, Draco."
"Eleven years ago, love meant 'I'll see you next summer' or 'I love you like a sister'. At seventeen, love means so much more, Riley. And I mean it. I've finally realized that I like you as more than just a friend. When I thought I lost you, Riley, I cried!"
"You-you cried?" I said, eyes still shut.
"Every night. I realized what you meant to me. And, you know that I hate feeling like a sissy, but, Riley! You had me scared to death! I thought that I'd never see your eyes again. Or hear your voice or laughter…"
My eyes fluttered open to see Draco hovering over me…wait…see!
"Draco!" I screamed.
"What? What is it?" he said worriedly.
"I-I got my sight back! I can see! Draco! I can see again!"
I pulled him on top of me and kissed him.
He pulled away, smiling at me. "That makes me happy, Riley. I love you."
"I-I love you too, Draco…I love you, too…"
We laid on the grass for three hours. Draco wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. I rested my hand and head on his chest.
"I love you Ri."
"I love you, too, Drake. This day couldn't get any better!"
"I can think of one way…" He was smirking again.
"No, Draco. No. Not yet. I'm not ready for that yet."
"Then I'll wait for you." He kissed the top of my head. "We'd better get going. It'll be dark soon."
I stood up and helped Draco up. He kissed me lightly before taking my hand and leading me back to the house.
"Draco! Riley! We have been searching for you everywhere! Where have you been! Riley, why were you outside!" Mother screeched.
"Mum, Dad," I addressed to them (Dad had just walked to Mum's side), "I got my sight back!"
"Riley, that's wonderful!" Mum said, both her and Dad hugging me.
"Come on, come on! In here!" Dad dragged Draco and me into the Dining Hall and flipped on the lights.
