She was sprawled upon the rug by the fire, books all around her, notepads open, many notes taken...and mechanical pencils, everywhere. She insisted on using them. She never could get used to a quill...but there she was, head pillowed on a book of Advanced Potions, pencil still in her hand..sleeping.
He watched her for many long moments before gently moving and gathering the books stacked them neatly on the table, carefully he gathered her pencils..placed them in their case, and stacked her notepads, all neatly in her bookbag, another muggle object she used often. Closing the backpack, and slinging it over his shoulder he bent down.
"Danny." He spoke softly...touching her hair. She stirred and yawned...rubbing her eyes.. "Damn... fell asleep again did I?" She hend her hand out to him and with ease he pulled her up. She stumbled and he steadied her.
"Sorry 'bout that. Im pretty sacked. " He only grunted and before she could protest, swept her into his arms...she yawned but didnt protest. He was disturbed at how light she was...but let the thought go.
"You study harder than even Granger." He grumbled with annoyance as he carried her out of the Library and down the corridors to her quarters. Given her Age she was given one of the Head Girls rooms outside of the Dormitory...gently with a foot he nudged open her door and carried her inside.
"It comes natural to her. Im a block head I have to study hard. " He said nothing and carried her to her bed, gently depositing her on it, and setting her backpack down by her nightstand.
He paused to survey her room once more, as he had dozens of times since he'd been bringing her back to her rooms, usually just like this, half asleep, or already asleep. Her walls were covered with Framed pictures of her people...there was a huge bearskin rug by the fire, hand made drums, peacepipes and other various Native American art...and...a dream catcher just on the wall above her bed. It was huge, elaborate, and beautiful...he pondered it every time he saw it...She streched out and looked up at it.
"My Great Great Great Grandfather made that for me, the day I was born...Do you know the tale of the Dreamcatcher?" She asked with a tired smile.
He pulled up a chair and shook his head. She smiled
softly. "Would you like to"
He found that strangly he did, he nodded and she
closed her eyes...her tired voice soft.
"Long ago when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared to him in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to the old man in a sacred language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand.
As he spoke Iktomi took the elder's willow hoop which had feathers, horse hairs, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web. He spoke of the cycles of life...how we begin as infants and move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of once again as infants, thereby completing the life cycle.
Iktomi said, "In each time of life there are many forces and choices made that can affect the harmony of nature, and interfere with the Great Spirit and all of his wonderful teachings." Iktomi gave the web to the Lakota elder and said, "See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hole in the center of the circle. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good dreams and ideas - - and the bad ones will go through the hole.
Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make good use of your peoples' ideas, dreams and visions."
The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Sioux Indians, and many other Tribes, use the dream catcher as the web of their life. It is hung above their beds or in their home to sift their dreams and visions. The good in their dreams are captured in the web of life and carried with them...but the evil in their dreams escapes through the hole in the center of the web and are no longer a part of them. They believe that the dream catcher holds the destiny of their future."
He was startled and touched. He touched his chest, feeling the necklace she had given him...the sentiment touched him, and he had worn it ever since.
"And you gave me the necklace...?" He asked softly, eyes narrowing.
Her eyes still closed a soft, sweet smile graced her features.
"I made that for you because, despite our differences, I believe we are alike...an our dreams arent always pleasant...and our good ones mostlikel are few and far between...it is a gift worth giving. I wove it with care, with hope, with well wishes."
He closed his eyes and nodded.. his voice gravelly as if it hurt him to hear those words. "Thank you." She reached her hand out to him, eyes opened..she looked concerned.
"I did not intend to hurt you Severus.." He rose brushed his fingers lightly against her palm before pulling back.
His voice was tight. "You havent." She looked up at him. "Then what is it?"
He shook his head and backed away. "I cant. I cannot discuss this with you now..rest Danny. You have classes tomarrow.." She reached for him, but he fled her room.
She saged into her bed with a frustrated sigh..."How can I help you if you dont open up to me, Damn you!" She yelled in frustration.
His back to the door he glared angrily at the wall...whispering. "You cant...so stop trying. No one can help me.." He strode away to his Dungeons, and another night of dreams where she touched him with kindness and it hurt. Hurt because he was an old, synical, bitter man who didnt know how to open up...not anymore.