Chapter Seventeen Barriers

"Granger…" Draco wasn't entirely sure whether he was going to commit to the idea that had made him start the question.

They'd been looking for about half an hour, but the matter simply wouldn't stop nagging at him. He rather felt that stirring up the question of her reaction, or rather lack of reaction, to his using Legilimency on her before was like poking a nest of dragons all in the eye simultaneously, but he just couldn't let it go.

"Mmm?" Hermione didn't look up from the book she was flicking through. They had decided to compile a collection of likely books, which was currently nearing a dozen, and floating in a stack behind her.

"About before…"

"Mmm?"

"When I entered your mind."

"Uh-huh?"

Draco rubbed the back of his head, staring at the bookshelf in front of him. "You – er – didn't seem too bothered by it."

"Mmm."

"And it was very easy to get in."

"Yes."

"I was wondering why that was?"

Hermione glanced up, swivelling to gaze directly at him, her previous abstraction vanished, catching him off guard. "Why what was? How easy it was to get in, or the fact that I wasn't bothered by it?"

Draco frowned, shifting uneasily on the spot. "Well, er, both, I guess."

Hermione tilted her head to one side, letting out a thoughtful sigh as she closed the book in her hands, running one hand over the cover. "Well, to be honest, I wasn't employing any particular occlumency at the time beyond just having general barriers in place, so I'm not surprised that you got in," she replied composedly before her brow rumpled with thought, "but I am confused at how easy it was for you. I mean, I should have felt something. That bothers me more than the fact that you came in without asking – it's not like I was thinking anything particularly private at the time. But don't ever do that again."

"I won't, I promise," Draco hastened to placate her, and he meant it. But it was a relief that she wasn't angry about it. "Maybe because you'd been in my mind before it was easier for me to get in?" He quickly steered the conversation into less dangerous waters, knowing as he said it that it was impossible, his thoughts divided as he considered the startling knowledge that she hadn't been offended by his intrusion.

Hermione shook her head, turning back to slot the book back on the shelf. "It doesn't work like that." She tapped a finger against the spine of the next book, then turned back to him, a defiant kind of bravery in her expression. "Do it again."

Draco frowned, his thoughts momentarily derailed by her expression and an altogether different application of her words. "Pardon?"

"Use Legilimency on me. I'll try and resist."

Draco twisted his mouth slightly, but nodded, preparing to actually invade now he was expecting some kind of resistance. "Ready?"

Hermione nodded.

Draco closed his eyes, lowering his barriers enough to let his mind out, feeling towards Granger. He came up against a wall that he knew to be her mental barriers, and pressed lightly against it, gauging her strength. The thing was impenetrable.

He pushed a little more insistently, curious to see if she would waver, and then somehow seemed to fall through.

His mind did the equivalent of a stumble as he slid through her barrier, surprised at his sudden admittance to her mind, flooded with their combined astonishment as he mentally righted himself, his eyes flying open to meet hers. She was staring at him with an expression of blank shock.

Granger?

Yes?

…what just happened?

I…have no idea.

I'm in your head.

I'd noticed.

Draco narrowed his eyes at her at the sarcasm, and Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him.

You opened yourself up for that one.

Draco rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

Don't we have more important things to think about? Are you sure your barriers are up?

Hermione gave him a reproving look.

You felt them. They're still there now if you check.

Draco did so, pushing at Hermione's walls from the inside and finding them just as strong as before, but also just as easy to slip in and out of.

OK, this is seriously weird…

Hermione gave him an irritated look as he shifted back and forth through them, experimenting with the odd sensation as he dipped in and out of her mind, pausing halfway through before sliding back and forth once more.

Can you stop doing that? It might be weird to you, but do you know how weird it feels having someone slide in and out of your mind through your barriers?

Spoil sport.

It's my mind might I remind you?

OK, OK, I'll stop.

…so now what?

Draco shrugged.

Well don't you have any bright ideas about this given that I'm clearly stumped?

You know you really should have someone hanging around to record moments when you admit that.

Hermione frowned at his playful smirk.

Now who's being distracted by unimportant things?

You admitting you can't find a solution is an important thing. It's a landmark thing. It needs to go down in the annals of history.

Ha ha.

OK, fine. I don't know what's happening. …do you think it's the same in reverse?

We can try – if you want.

Draco slid out of her mind, returning to his own, and returned his concentration to his mental barriers.

Hermione gazed expectantly at him, and he nodded.

Helloo?

Yes, hello, Granger.

Wow…that really is weird!

She slipped in and out of his mind, testing his barriers as he had done hers.

Ugh, stop it – it's like a strange tickle. In my head.

Now you know how it felt for me.

OK, I know – now stop.

Fine. …it still doesn't tell us what just happened.

Yeah.

Draco's brow creased with concern.

Do you think it'll be the same for anyone?

You mean, are our minds now essentially defenceless?

Draco nodded.

Hermione considered a moment. She'd done a lot of research into occlumency and Legilimency before learning the skills, but she had never come across any description where individuals had developed an immunity to one another's barriers.

I don't think so… I mean, given that we still do have our barriers up it would make more sense to assume that we're still safe, but just not from each other.

Well that's mildly comforting.

I don't know why you're sounding so snarky. It's not like I haven't been in your mind before. I know what you're like, Draco. You don't need to be wary of me. Unlike others I don't just leap into other people's minds without permission.

Draco scoffed.

Yeah, but I'm at a disadvantage, aren't I. You've looked into my mind, but I haven't looked in yours.

You came in without my permission earlier.

It's not the same.

It's still rude.

Well if you'd protected yourself properly it wouldn't have happened.

That's manifestly untrue given the state of things now. And I saw that thought – I do not sound like I'm from a different decade.

Now who's the rude one?

I can hardly block out your thoughts when you go and broadcast them like that when I'm in your mind.

Draco rolled his eyes, folding his arms.

You can look in my mind if it'll make you feel better.

Draco stared at her, disbelief replacing his formerly sulky expression.

What?

I said –

I know what you said.

Well, then?

Do you promise I won't see anything mentally scarring involving Potter or Weasley?

Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

Really mature, Draco.

It's a serious question.

I don't know – maybe? Given your definition of 'mentally scarring' probably yes.

Ugh, ew, no thanks then.

Seriously?

What?

You just…don't seem to be behaving much like an opportunistic Slytherin is all. More like a teenager, really.

Well technically I'm not a Slytherin anymore – I'm an ex-Slytherin. And you can hardly blame me for not wanting to see horrendous images of you and the Ginger Wonder. Or you with Krum. I might be on friendly terms with Potter, but may I remind you that the last time Weasley and I had an encounter he tried to punch my lights out.

That's just semantics. And there aren't any hideous images of Ron and me. And Viktor and I aren't together, so you're not going to find anything hideous there either. I can't blame you for not exactly being enamoured of Ron though – I was there. In fact, I was one of the ones who helped hold him back.

A dart of faint satisfaction warmed Draco slightly.

I said horrendous, but hideous also works.

Hermione made an irritated tutting noise.

What is your problem really? It's not because I'm Muggle-born; I know that.

Does there have to be a reason?

When you're behaving out of character there does. If I'd offered this even a week ago, I'm certain you would have been jumping at the chance.

Why are you so nosey?

Says the man who came into my mind uninvited.

You're never going to forget that are you…

Nope.

Merlin. And you say I'm the devious Slytherin.

Hermione grinned.

Cunning is not a trait exclusive to Slytherins. You just tend to exhibit more.

Please spare me the lecture.

So…?

So what?

So are you going to come into my mind?

I already have.

You know what I mean.

Geez, Granger, anyone would think you'd want me to come in!

I just don't want you moaning about it being unfair me looking at your memories and you not having an opportunity to do so back.

I don't moan. …not like that anyway.

Draco smirked at her, but Hermione only rolled her eyes.

You do too. And please, we've had more than enough innuendo for the night.

Ugh, let's not do childish arguments. Also there's no such thing as too much innuendo for a night.

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

Fine with me. We'll agree to disagree on the latter.

So what about this then?

This?

This! This whole…barrier thing.

Well I'd need to have a read around…

Why am I not surprised?

Oh, shut up.

Rude. You come into my mind –

You were rude first.

Fine.

It's not the best time to start researching this though.

True.

I think the best we can do is get another Legilimens to try and get into our minds tomorrow at the Ministry. Then at least we'll know if it's just a thing we have or if we're completely unprotected.

Good with me. But we don't let on what's happened to us. I don't want this to become common knowledge, regardless of whether or not our minds are protected from everyone else except each other.

Agreed.

Hermione turned back to the bookshelf, examining the titles once more.

Granger, are you going to get out now?

Sorry! Forgot. Funny how easily you get used to it…

Hmm.

Draco stared at her bushy curls as the touch of her mind faded from his, still reeling a little from the experience. The whole thing was deeply unsettling. But, if there were to be one person he couldn't protect his mind from, he had to admit it would be Granger. He trusted her, oddly enough. Although that was probably just a side effect of his having already let her in.

He was glad she had been the one to mention how, well, natural it felt. Once the strangeness of being able to pass through one another's barriers had passed, it felt extremely right to slip into her mind and settle there for a chat, or for her to come into his for an argument. Which was peculiar and damning. She was the only person he had ever willingly let into his mind, she was the only person who had been able to come in without causing him discomfort, and now they had some sort of strange immunity to one another's barriers. And he didn't mind.

With a confused shake of his head, he turned back to the books.


Eventually they found the section they were looking for and Draco sent the chosen books to Hermione's home and his flat before escorting her back to the morning room.

They had to floo to Draco's in order to get to Hermione's due to the wards on the Manor, and as they stood on the hearth rug of his lounge Draco found himself wanting to follow Hermione into the flames that would take her to her own home.

A half-baked notion to invite her to stay do to some research flitted through his mind as he examined her features and the way the firelight played with them. The flicker of the flames brought a sultry sparkle to her eyes, limpid and very definitely beguiling, and her hair didn't look so plain, gold shimmers shifting through the curls, the proximity of the flames bringing a flush to her cheeks. He found with a slight pang of alarmed curiosity that he wanted to reach out and find out if her skin felt as soft as it looked. Mentally he shook himself, exceedingly glad she was no longer in his head. He had no idea how she would have reacted to discovering that particular thought.

He knew asking her to stay was futile, however; keen as she was to learn more, she would refuse. They'd both been pulling late nights all week.

Hermione turned on the threshold of the fire to give him a smile that was radiant despite her weariness. It was half past one. "Thank you, Draco. For letting me talk to your parents, and helping in the library. I'm sure it's going to make a big difference."

He nodded. "It was nothing." And it was, now he thought about it. He'd actually come to enjoy spending time with her. He wanted to spend more time with her – time when they weren't frantically trying to stop a murderer. Time when they might actually be able to talk about normal things and laugh. His gaze was intense despite the time and the fact that his entire body was calling for sleep.

She nodded again, clearly debating something as she bit down on her lower lip, hesitating on the spot. Draco felt the dangerous urge to slip back into her mind to find out what it was, but knew that that really would be crossing the line, so settled for watching her intently, trying to unravel her thoughtful expression. She seemed to dismiss the thought and instead gave him a faint smile.

The itch to know what she was thinking almost broke his resolve.

"Good night, Draco," she said softly.

"Good night, Hermione," he replied gravely, watching wistfully as she vanished into the green flames.


In her front lounge, Hermione paused a moment to consider what she'd almost done in Draco's apartment. She'd almost leant up to kiss him on the cheek. Almost.

Her cheeks flamed. The impulse had come over her, strong and wild as she met his dark gaze, and no matter how much she tried to justify it as a normal, innocent gesture between friends, she couldn't deny the fact that it had felt like more than a mere gesture of friendship and gratitude. The fact that they weren't friends, or just colleagues, but something that had settled in a strange limbo between categories refused to be ignored as well. It had felt like the overture of something more – an invitation to something that she wasn't sure about opening up. A potential Pandora's Box. She berated herself for thinking such thoughts, and then for not following through on the impulse, a vision of his raincloud eyes swimming before her, intent and filled with something that quickened her pulse.

She wasn't sure if it was because of the flickering firelight, but she thought she had seen something in his eyes, something that jolted a tingle in her belly and a flutter in her heart. She flapped her hands at her face, trying to diffuse the heat. This was silly.

She shook her head. Clearly she'd had one too many late nights. She knew Draco wouldn't appreciate such an intimate gesture. He was barely comfortable with distanced contact – a kiss on the cheek would probably petrify him faster that looking at a Basilisk's reflection. She frowned. The only time she could recall him actually being comfortable with physical contact was during their training sessions – and then that was different. It was necessary; they were in the heat of the moment, not two people stuck inside their heads analysing and overanalysing a situation where they were aware of every glance and movement.

She sighed and went up to bed, leaving further consideration of the damning impulse and the books for the morning.


So you can probably see why I was so keen to make sure you guys didn't have a massive hiatus to wait on this chapter!
~~~~~THEY HAVE FEELINGS~~~~~
Also legilimency is just a super fun thing to play around with. As you already know, I've just gone to town with making my own lore to fill in the gaps, so I'm having a great time.
Hopefully who's "speaking" isn't too confusing, I tried to mark it so that it wouldn't get too muddled up, but I was also in two minds about the formatting (it's something I'm particularly fussy about). Also - lol for two minds. Totally unintentional pun.
Also...what's this? Wistfulness? Staring into each other's eyes? Almost kisses? Cue an evil grin from me...
And Draco was a good boy and stayed in his own head. He's learning. Slowly.

Sadly this will probably be my last update for a while, cos the next chapter sort of starts the next arc of the story, and that's not really written, and I don't have the time to produce the chapters because life/drama/stupid people/thesis work.
BUT, I will come back to it because I love this fic and all of you, my fantastic readers! So I must merely crave your indulgence, and apologise for how long you'll probably have to wait.

I hope you loved it as much as I did! 3