The Eye Of The Gazer
Chapter 2
Cho Chang locked the door as her last customer left Cho's Chic. She pulled down the hand-painted blind over the glass part of the door, and turned to Alan. She rolled her shoulders, and rotated her neck, trying to free the tension in her muscles.
"Tired, my sweet?" asked Alan, smiling at her as he carefully folded up the suit he had just been fitting. Cho nodded her head. "A little. I haven't been sleeping too well recently."
"Has Bryony been keeping you awake?"
"No, she sleeps very well. Since she started having lessons, she's usually exhausted at bedtime. She's so keen to learn, she concentrates so hard. When I see her afterwards, she's dying to show me what she's learned. It's almost more tiring for me than when I spend a whole day with her. I'm just overtired – you know how difficult it is to sleep sometimes when you're desperate to drop off. "
"And how's Jane Currer working out?"
"She's very good. Grandma was right. I was a bit doubtful at first, she seemed such a shy little thing. I thought Bryony would be too wilful for her. You know how stubborn she can be – she has her father's temperament sometimes." Cho grinned. "Yes, I know I can be stubborn too, so she gets it from both sides. But Bryony loves her. Her quiet manner seems to work like magic. She's the fount of all knowledge. It's 'Miss Currer says' all the time these days."
Alan glanced around the shop one last time, collected his cloak, and prepared to leave. He gave Cho a brief hug, and kissed her on the cheek. "Have an early night if you can. Use a potion if necessary. If you don't have any left, remind me tomorrow and I'll make you some more. Goodnight, my love."
Cho let Alan out into Diagon Alley, and locked up again behind him, sealing the door with wards for extra security, for there had been a number of robberies lately. Many wizarding folk were too trusting, and most local premises were unoccupied at night. Cho then checked over the shop one last time, and wearily climbed the stairs at the back of the shop to the flat, carrying the day's takings with her in a large canvas bag. She was not really paying attention as she walked into her living room. Then she realised that the room was not lit solely by the summer evening sun, but that the lamps were lit too, and a familiar figure had made itself at home in her most comfortable armchair.
"Lucius!" she said, her surprise evident. "I wasn't expecting you."
Lucius put down the book he was reading, but did not rise. A pair of cool grey eyes regarded her steadily. He said nothing. Cho searched Lucius' face for clues to his mood. She had known him well for many years now, and learned to read him. She realised that he was angry, but controlling it very well. These days, Lucius was not as overtly angry as often in the past. When something annoyed him, he tended to seethe quietly. But this was much worse, she could see that he was furious.
Inwardly, Cho sighed. Soothing Lucius was the last thing she needed just now, feeling as weary and tense as she did. She had been looking forward to seeing Bryony, and spending a pleasant evening in her daughter's company.
Playing for time, Cho unhurriedly made some camomile tisane. She brought two cups over to the coffee table, and sat opposite Lucius, tucking her legs under her on the sofa. "What's wrong, Lucius?" she asked finally.
"So you admit something is wrong then?" he replied. His eyes had hardened. Cho realised Lucius was not just furious, he was furious with her. But she was too tired to play verbal gymnastics. She chose her words carefully, saying, "Lucius, I've had a very hard day. I'm tired too, I didn't sleep well last night. Please don't play games with me. If you have something to say, say it."
The grey eyes flashed, but Lucius kept his voice level. He had learned over the years that Cho would not tolerate being shouted at. "I went to see Bryony this afternoon. I arrived at Gildenford Hall just as she was finishing her lesson, so I met her tutor." He looked meaningfully at Cho, but she was nonplussed.
"Sorry, I don't understand. You met Miss Currer? What didn't you like about her?"
"No, I didn't meet Miss Currer because she wasn't there. I have met her on previous occasions, and she's a perfectly respectable witch, if a little shy and plain, and she seems to be a good teacher judging by what Bryony has learnt. I met Bryony's other tutor." Now his eyes challenged her to misunderstand him.
"Ah, you mean Hermione Granger?" said Cho, "Well, Lucius, I know you don't like Hermione very much, but I still don't see why you're so angry."
Lucius looked very hard indeed at Cho, as if he was doubting her sincerity. "Did you do it to annoy me?" he asked. "I know we've had our differences, but so far we've never disagreed about Bryony."
"To annoy you? No, of course not! I chose her because she's easily the cleverest witch I know, and she needed the money. University research bursaries don't pay very well. She teaches part-time at the university, but they couldn't give her enough hours. When I found out she was prepared to teach a six-year-old, I jumped at the chance. The only reservation we both had was that she had no experience with young children, so we decided to see how it went. But she turned out to be a natural, at least as far as Bryony's concerned. They get on really well."
"May I ask why I wasn't consulted?" asked Lucius stiffly.
"Consulted? I don't understand. Grandma hired Jane Currer for me, and arranged everything. I told you after it was all done. You didn't complain. You said you were happy with whoever I chose."
Lucius said, "I understood that she was to be the only tutor. I wasn't aware that anyone else was involved with Bryony's education. Except your grandmother of course, to teach her Chinese. You didn't think my daughter's education was important enough to tell me about what was happening?"
"Hermione only started a couple of weeks ago. I haven't seen you to tell you, that's all. It wasn't a deliberate secret. Lucius, why are you making such a fuss? Is it just because you don't like her? Well, hard luck. Hermione's an excellent teacher. How many six-year-olds get the chance to be taught by a university professor?"
"You really don't know what's the matter?" Lucius was white with rage, although he did not raise his voice. "Do you know what she's teaching my daughter? Have you seen any of her lessons?"
"She's my daughter too, Lucius," said Cho firmly. She sighed. "Spell it out for me. Exactly what has she taught Bryony that is so terrible?"
"Muggle Studies!" Lucius almost hissed the words, they were said with such contempt. "As if it wasn't bad enough that they teach it at Hogwarts, my daughter is now exposed to this in her own home. What are you thinking of? You know my views on Muggles!"
Cho regarded Lucius with raised eyebrows. She knew she hadn't been entirely honest with him. She had deferred telling him about Hermione's appointment because in her heart she had expected him to react like this. She had told herself it was because the trial period was not yet over, and if Professor Granger did not stay at Gildenford Hall as Bryony's tutor, there would be no necessity to tell him at all. She had no intention of saying any of this to Lucius though. Instead, she raised her chin defiantly, and looked at Lucius steadily from her dark eyes.
"Lucius, I know you hate Muggles. You think they're the dirt beneath your feet. But just remember, I'm descended from Muggles on my mother's side, and so Bryony is part Muggle too, even if it's a very tiny part. I want her to learn positive things about Muggles, so she's proud of all her family. I also don't want her to pick up any of that Malfoy pure blood nonsense from you. I hate it. I never speak about it, because I know how you feel, but I'm telling you now. Hermione is a perfect role model for Bryony. She's got where she is today by hard work, and without any of the Malfoy or Chang connections Bryony has. I want my daughter to see that who you are depends on what you do with your life, not who your parents are."
Lucius looked taken aback. He had obviously not expected such a robust defence from Cho. He said stiffly, "And that's your final word on the subject, I take it?"
"It is. Now Lucius, I'm very tired, and I need to collect our daughter. Come with me if you like?"
But Lucius was in such a bad mood following this encounter that he declined the invitation. Instead, he departed abruptly, with a curt nod in Cho's direction. As he disapparated, she could see the sneer on his face.
Jane Currer was taking a walk in the grounds of Gildenford Hall. She enjoyed the spacious green park, especially the small lake and the ancient trees soaring skywards and spreading their leafy branches wide. She walked towards the ornamental pavilion built by the side of the lake to fulfil the whim of a previous owner. She liked to sit there and watch the light playing on the water, and the family of swans gliding by, the parents elegant as ballerinas, the half grown young ones gawky in their grey-brown ugly duckling plumage.
Jane walked onwards, dividing her attention between the well-worn track and the lake. She was unaware till the last minute of a tall figure coming towards her from the direction of the house, and she stopped abruptly to prevent herself from walking straight into him. She looked at the man for the first time, and blushed crimson as she saw who it was.
"Miss Currer," he said to her, "Lucius Malfoy. We met a few weeks ago, if you remember?"
"Yes, Mr Malfoy, I remember," replied Jane barely above a whisper. Could he really believe she did not recall the encounter?
"The weather is very pleasant today," he observed. But she saw that he was not looking at the sky or admiring the scenery, he was looking at her in a very disconcerting manner. Jane knew she was not pretty, but plain women have feelings too, and Lucius Malfoy had an air of danger about him that somehow made him very attractive. Jane was wise enough to realise that if he was paying her any attention, he must have an ulterior motive, but she decided to enjoy the moment, as far as her embarrassment would allow. She raised her eyes to look into his face. Two pairs of grey eyes regarded each other steadily. Lucius' long silver-white hair stirred gently in the breeze, whereas Jane's brown tresses were neatly trapped in a smooth bun at the nape of her neck.
"Indeed, Sir. It's a lovely day. Are you out here enjoying the wonders of nature?"
"One must make the best of any chances. One never knows what tomorrow may bring." Jane realised that this reply might or might not refer to the weather or the wonders of nature. She decided to wait and see what Mr Malfoy really wanted. No doubt he wished to know something about his daughter's progress in her lessons. She stood patiently, and said nothing.
"Are you enjoying your new job teaching my daughter?" he asked her, with a slight smile. Jane felt herself reddening again, as unbidden her body responded with a twinge between her legs. She felt exposed, even though she was swathed in clothing from neck to ankle. "Of course," he continued, "I shouldn't ask you such a question, for what can you say in reply if you wish to remain in employment? Let me instead ask you to walk along with me, and tell me a little about what you have been teaching her, for you must know that small children do not always answer one's questions in the way one would wish." So saying, Lucius offered Jane his arm. She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, and they began to walk towards the pavilion once more, Jane ever conscious of the closeness of this man, of his maleness and the animal grace with which he moved. She was also aware of her own body far more than she had ever been in her life before. She caught herself walking taller than usual, and thrusting out her chest like a battleship in full sail: or that was how it seemed to her, but Lucius did not seem to be aware of anything out of the ordinary, and he began to question Jane in more detail.
As the two of them strolled along, Jane was obliged to give Lucius' questions her full attention, and consequently she relaxed a little, for she liked speaking about her work. Bryony Chang was a delightfully attentive pupil, eager to learn and full of curiosity, so Jane was able to praise the child to her father without the necessity of exaggeration. In turn, the doting father seemed less formidable as he drank in all that she said. Jane had begun to enjoy herself, and even to joke slightly with Mr Malfoy when she realised that the questioning had changed in tone. He was asking her about Professor Granger; but he did not call her that, he called her "Miss Granger", and he said it in such a way that Jane could hear the dislike in his voice. He wanted to know how Jane felt about her position being usurped by another tutor. Did she feel pushed out, or that her position had been undermined by this other woman?
Jane Currer was in fact in awe of Hermione Granger. She did feel pushed out and slightly resentful, but she was not proud of this feeling, for she recognised that Professor Granger was an exceptionally clever witch, and that her pupil was lucky to have such a tutor. Hermione had always been pleasant to her, and slightly apologetic about her late appearance on the scene after Jane's appointment. So she did not admit her resentment to Mr Malfoy, but instead said that they each taught different subjects, and so there was no difficulty. Her tone or her manner seemed to stop Lucius from pursuing the matter, and by now they had reached the stone pavilion.
The wizard released her arm, and stepped up into the structure, and turning to Jane, he offered her a hand to help her up, and guided her onto the stone seat facing the lake. He then sat beside her, slightly too close for her to relax. Jane realised he was still holding her hand, and made to withdraw it. Lucius tightened his grip, turned and looked at her again with his fathomless grey eyes, daring her to pull away again. Jane felt confusion, longing, and not a little fear, but she did not move. She sat motionless and silent, listening to the thump of her own heart.
"Speak to me, Jane Currer," said Lucius, turning to look out at the water.
"What about, Mr Malfoy?" she asked him, surprised.
"Whatever you like. I leave the choice of subject and the manner of treating it entirely to yourself." Jane was silent, bewildered.
"You are dumb, Miss Currer," he observed, looking at her once more: a flash of defiance in her eyes.
"Stubborn? Ah, and now annoyed too. Let me see. It is because I ordered you about like a servant, and a governess is not a servant. I rephrase my request to you. Please talk to me. I feel the need to be diverted. I like the sound of your voice."
"I will endeavour to amuse you, Sir. But how do I know what topic will interest you? You could continue to ask me questions."
"Talk about yourself, girl. Tell me who your people are, and where you come from. Why are you a governess?"
So Jane Currer told Lucius Malfoy about herself. It was mainly a monologue, with a few brief interjections from Lucius. She could tell that he was listening carefully to her, especially when she told him her family connections. Once he was satisfied that she was descended from good wizarding stock on both sides, he relaxed gradually, the hand that held hers gripping her less tightly. Jane did not again attempt to remove her hand from his, but gave in to the urge to lean slightly against Mr Malfoy. As he felt her weight, he turned to look at her, his silken hair brushing her cheek, and once more she felt a contraction deep inside her core. Lucius again faced the lake, listening to her soft voice telling her tale, and she was afraid no more.