Chapter 9

Soon, the end of school arrived and Draco knew that all his friends were making their way home on the train. He was trying to convince the healers to allow him to take Ivy home. Hoping that at the Manor, she would be more comfortable and feel more loved and wake up. Finally, after a week of pleading, the Healer David agreed to him taking her home. His parents visited every day and when they arrived, he told them his plans. They packed up her things and with the assistance of a few healers, flooed home with Ivy. No questions were asked when he carried her to his room and placed her gently on his bed. Pulling the covers over her, he rounded the bed and sat down on the other side beside her. His father brought her things into the room, with his mother following. They put her things away in an extra chest of drawers that was brought in. He loved seeing her clothes hanging next to his in the closet. He loved the feeling of her in his home, even if she wasn't awake.

Two weeks after arriving at the Manor, Draco was sitting in the chair by the bed, he head leaning back, his eyes closed. Ivy opened her eyes cautiously, not sure why. She knew that everything would still be dark. However, when she cracked one eye open, she saw light. Slowly opening both eyes, she saw things, actually saw things. The first thing she saw was a boy sitting in the chair, seemingly asleep. Behind him, a curtain fluttered in the breeze from the open window. Bringing her gaze back to the boy in the chair, she looked at him. Oh, she knew exactly who he was; the smell of vanilla and apples lingered in the air. She knew that he was her Draco. She felt safe in his presence, even though he seemed so far away right now. She took in his white blonde hair and his relaxed posture. He was comfortable here in this place. Where was she, exactly? His left ankle rested on top of his right knee, his head rested on the back of the chair. His hands were linked over his stomach. He looked almost peaceful. She shifted and raised herself up on her left elbow, placing her hand on her head.

Hearing a rustling sound, Draco jerked his head up and stared at the girl lying in his bed. She was looking back at him, no longer a vacant look in her eyes. She was actually looking at him. Jumping up, happy to see her awake, he didn't care that she was looking at him. All his insecurities were forgotten. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

"Can't breathe Draco." She laughed softly.

"Oh, sorry. It's just been so long since the explosion. I was afraid that you would never wake up." Draco whispered in to her hair, letting up on the squeezing, but not taking his arms away from her. He pressed a kiss to her hair and sighed.

"How long?" she asked.

"Six months. Six long months," he answered.

She leaned back, laying on the pillow again, and breathed out the breath she was holding. "So, what happened after the explosion?"

Draco withdrew for a moment and stuck his head out the door to call for his mother. He came back to the bed and sat down beside Ivy again. His mother appeared a moment later and was surprised to see Ivy awake. "I'll get the healer," was all she said as she disappeared again.

"You had a very serious head injury from hitting the wall. The healer wasn't sure if there would be any brain damage or not. You were taken to St. Mungos, where you spent the time up until two weeks ago, when I brought you here. I'm curious as to why you can see now when you couldn't before," he explained. His mother and the healer entered the room.

"So, you finally decided to wake up." The healer said. He took out his wand and began examining her. "Hmm… everything seems to be in order. No damage to the brain at all."

"Except one thing, sir," Draco spoke up in the silence. "She was blind and now she's not."

The healer looked up at Ivy as Narcissa gasped. "Well now, that's interesting. Wonder why that is?" he spoke, thinking.

Ivy sighed, leaning back into the pillow more. "Well, possibly because it was a head injury that caused the blindness in the first place." She looked up and saw that they were all staring at her. "I know it's hard to believe, but I do remember everything from the moment of my birth until now. It's odd, I know, but it's true. When I was born, my mother died during the birth and my father followed her a week later due to his broken heart from losing my mother. I was given to a foster family who, well, I'm not sure why they wanted to take in children; they didn't like us at all. It was not a nice home. It started with just a pop or smack, but it escalated quickly. When I was a year and a half, I woke up in the hospital, after being unconscious for several months. A serious head injury, plus all kinds of minor things, and I had lost my sight. They said that it was temporary, but it turned out to be for longer than they expected." She explained.

"Well, that would explain why a head injury caused your sight to come back." The healer stated.

Draco put his arm around Ivy's shoulders and rubbed her arm reassuringly. There was silence in the room, "I was then put into the orphanage, where it wasn't a loving place, but there was never anything physical." Ivy added.

The healer finished his exam of her, "Looks like you are fully healed. How about we try the muscle memory? Can you stand for me?"

Ivy nodded and threw back the covers to reveal herself in a white nightgown. Wondering where it came from, she put her feet on the floor and slowly stood. Draco rushed around the bed to her side, the help support her as she stood for the first time in six months. Holding on to his arm, she stood on shaky legs. Taking a few moments, she got her balance and then put one foot forward to take a step. Taking a few more steps, she slowly made her way to the other side of the room. Turning, she walked back to the bed, her legs getting stronger with each step. Smiling, she sat down on the side of the bed, and looked up at the faces in the room. Seeing smiles on their faces, she felt loved and wanted.

The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped by for a visit to find her up and about, having meals at the table with the rest of the family. She was getting stronger and was loving being able to see everything. She didn't know where to look first, everything was so colorful, including her hair. When she had woken up, her hair had lengthened magically and it now hung in ringlets past her shoulders. The color had turned to a true red (not a ginger, but actual red). She liked it, and apparently so did Draco.

That night at dinner, "So, Ivy, when is your birthday?" Lucius asked.

"August 5th." She replied.

"Just a few days from now, then. What would you like to do for your birthday?" he asked.

"Oh, wow. I've never actually celebrated my birthday before. I wouldn't know what to do." She answered blushing slightly.

"Well then, I guess we will just have to surprise you." Narcissa said with a sly smile and a wink at Draco. They would plan later after she had gone to sleep for the night.

The morning of her birthday, Ivy awoke to the smell of French toast with syrup and fresh orange juice. Opening her eyes, she saw Draco standing by the bed with a tray of food; a single rose held in between his teeth. Sitting up she smiled at him and he placed the tray over her lap. Handing her the rose, he knelt beside her on the bed and kissed the top of her head. "Happy Birthday, love," he said and smiled at her.

Ivy smiled, "Thank you." She looked at the tray and began to eat as he watched. He loved watching her, the way she moved was so fluid, almost like a dance.

When she had finished, "Now, a relaxing day doing whatever you wish. Take a walk, take a swim, go shopping, whatever you want to do, we will go do it," he told her as he whisked the tray away and placed it at the door.

"A walk with you would be nice." She said to him with a shy smile.

"Well, okay then, let's go." Draco offered his hand to her and helped her out of bed. Instead of releasing her, though, he pulled her into a kiss that caused her to sigh and melt into him. Letting her go, he ushered her to the closet to get dressed and then left the room to give her privacy. Taking the tray with him, he met his mother downstairs. "We're going for a walk."

"Oh, that's nice dear. Everything is set for tonight. Guests will be arriving at 6." Narcissa told her son. They had decided that a party was the way to go for celebrating Ivy's birthday. It would be a surprise for her. Lucius and Narcissa had accepted her as their son's wife and were treating her like family. Even though they were young, Draco and Ivy were still bonded in the magical world and that was sacred to all witches and wizards.

Ivy came down the stairs dressed in a skirt that came just above her knees and a white button-down shirt. Her feet were bare as she loved the feel of the well-manicured grass between her toes. Draco joined her at the bottom of the stairs and led her to the dining room. They spoke with Narcissa for a few minutes before heading out for their walk. She was gaining strength again, and the walks helped, but she still needed to rest in the middle of the day.

"I just love the way the sky looks, with the clouds and birds flying through it." She said, laying her head on Draco's shoulder as they walked.

"I know what you mean. I've always taken for granted the things I see every day. Now that I'm here with you, I see things differently, like the first time seeing them." He told her.

Ivy smiled and they walked on, hands linked together, looking at each other occasionally. When they reached the lake, Draco turned to her and put his free hand up to her face and pulled her forward to kiss her sweet lips. He would never get enough of those lips. Turning back, they slowly walked side by side to the Manor. Inside, they had a late lunch with Narcissa, Lucius being at work. Draco then insisted that she take her rest upstairs in the bed. Reluctantly, Ivy agreed and left to go upstairs. Draco and his mother began setting up for the party. At 6 that evening, the guests arrived, Harry, Ron, and Hermione among them. Draco went upstairs to bring Ivy down, and found her standing in front of the closet, staring at all the clothes.

"I don't know what to wear to dinner. There are so many beautiful choices in here." She said when he stepped up behind her and put his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

"Well, how about this dress?" he suggested, pulling out an emerald green dress that flowed around her legs when she walked. Pulling out heels to go with it, he laid it on the bed and left her to dress. Moments later, she opened the door, dressed and ready to go down for dinner. He offered her his arm and led her down the stairs to the dining room, where everyone was waiting for her to arrive.

Stepping into the room, Ivy first saw Harry and then looking around saw more people she knew and even more she didn't recognize. "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" they all shouted.

Ivy stood, gaping at them. This was a party… for her. She couldn't believe it. Draco had planned this party for her. Slowly, a smile formed on her lips and she turned to Draco at her side. Reaching up, she gave him a quick kiss and made her way around the room, thanking everyone for coming. As she talked to people, she began to recognize who they were. Mostly kids from school, some professors, all here for her. She enjoyed being with her friends and accepted their wishes with grace. Draco was never far away, and she felt loved and safe here in his home. The party lasted for hours, but finally began to die down. Ivy was exhausted; she didn't realize how much she still needed to rest to heal. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Professor Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall were the last ones to leave when Draco took Ivy up to bed for the night.

Stepping into the room, they both felt a slight electric charge. Looking at each other, they knew that it was time; time for them to seal their bond. Draco stepped closer to her, not breaking eye contact. He had been told what to do in this situation, but had never done it before, so he was nervous. Looking into her eyes, though, he knew that no matter what it would be okay. Raising both hands to her face, he pulled her to him and kissed her lips passionately. She began to tremble slightly and he lowered his arms to wrap around her slender waist. Pulling away, "Trust me not to hurt you. This is a first for us both," he whispered. He ran his hands up her back and found the zipper to the dress. Sliding it down, he removed it and let it pool in the floor at her feet. Bending down, he removed her shoes and the rest of her clothing slowly, leaving her naked in front of him. Standing back up, he put a hand on the back of her head and kissed her again as he began to slowly lay her down on the bed. He removed his own clothing and joined her under the covers. Slowly and patiently, he explored her body and she explored his.

As they became one together, the earth shifted and magic exploded around them. Breathing heavily, they held each other and knew that they were now linked for eternity, nothing could break their bond.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Lucius asked, standing by his own bed. At the Burrow, Harry was saying the same thing to Ron. Dumbledore smiled in his office when he felt the earth shift and Severus closed the book he was reading and sighed.

"I think they just sealed the bond, dear. Come back to bed." Narcissa said. "We can find out tomorrow." Lucius looked over at his wife and then climbed back into bed next to her.