{ 31 }
Sunday morning the sun was shining for a change. The temperature was warmer than it had been in weeks. I refused to sit in that library again.
After breakfast, when Hermione tried to walk up the stairs towards the library once again, I held her hand tighter and tugged her towards the door.
"No. Not today. You need a break. I need a break."
She reluctantly agreed and followed me outside. It quickly became obvious that her mind was still on her research when she did not question where we were headed.
I can't blame her. We've only been able to come up with one explanation as to why everyone that has come into a close proximity of that book has felt dark wards surrounding it, except for the two of us.
And that explanation is too fantastical to even entertain.
The wards are keyed to us.
It's impossible. That book was written hundreds of years ago, supposedly by one of the Founders of Hogwarts. The wards cannot be meant for us.
It has to be a trick somehow. A curse that will show itself when we try to open it.
You could die.
Professor Bones' warning sent a cold chill down my spine every time I thought of it.
"This is good." I stopped her in the open field near the Forbidden Forest. "I have something for you."
She stopped and looked around, only just realizing how far from the castle we had wandered.
I opened my backpack and retrieved two brooms. I kept mine and held the other out for her.
"What is that for?" She stared at the offending object.
"I don't know that I've ever seen you fly." And I need to know how proficient she truly is.
She blinked. Twice. Her brow crinkled.
"I have my own broom." She still did not take the broom from my hand.
"Hermione. I've seen your broom." I let my lip lift up in a smirk. "It is one step up from a training broom."
"It's gotten me this far." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.
Merlin, she's cute when she does that.
"It has. And now it's time for you to try out something a little more advanced."
She visibly swallowed. I can see the anxiety settling into her shoulders. Her nose curled up on the end.
"Relax. I will be right beside you the whole time." I stepped closer. My hand settled on her waist. "I won't let you fall."
She looked up at me through her lashes.
"You better not, Malfoy." She huffed out a short puff of air and took the broom from my hand with more force than was strictly necessary.
"Have you noticed you still call me Malfoy when you are annoyed with me?" I chuckled.
"I'm always annoyed with you." She rolled her eyes and released a deep sigh.
"And yet?" I grinned to myself before leaning in to kiss her soundly.
She sighed once more against my lips.
"And yet." She pulled me in for another kiss. Her tongue slid against mine in a sensual dance.
We could forget about flying altogether, go into the forest and snog each other senseless.
Of course, Hagrid caught us the last time we tried that.
Right. I pulled back before we could get too far.
"Alright. What do you want me to do?" She looked down at the broom in her hand with apprehension, and perhaps a modicum of disgust.
I turned my head to hide my smirk.
"Just get used to the feel of the broom. This one is faster than your other one. It will also be easier to steer, and to stop, so be careful with your movements until you get a feel for it."
If she pulls on the handle as hard as she has to on her broom to get it to turn, she will go into a tailspin and crash.
"You'll be right beside me?" She waited for me to confirm before she tossed her leg over the broom.
Seeing how nervous she is has made me question myself. What if she isn't ready for this?
"Your broom is like your wand. It's an extension of your magic. It's going to go wherever you tell it to go."
She held my gaze for a minute before nodding that she understood. Then slowly, she lifted off the ground.
I took a deep breath and centered myself before following her into the air.
It was a little rocky at first, as she figured out how to turn at just the right speed, how to speed up or slow down, and how to ascend or descend smoothly. More than once, I had to intervene to keep her from hurting herself.
"Dammit!" She yelled in frustration when she turned too sharp and nearly lost control. Again.
I swooped in and righted her before she fell off the broom. I kept my arm around her waist and steadied both of us. Every time she gets a little more frustrated.
"Breathe, Hermione." My hand settled on her hip.
"What the fuck am I doing wrong?" She growled in frustration.
"You're thinking too much." I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Just relax."
"This is not the time, Draco." She tried to pull away, but I held her in place.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course." She rolled her eyes and huffed like she was offended at the question.
"Then close your eyes." We are hovering in the air fifteen meters from the ground. Her eyes darted to the grass below. My arm is still around her. "Trust me, Love. Close your eyes."
She took a deep breath, before following my instructions. She closed her eyes slowly.
"Good. Now, breathe. Center yourself." I gave her a minute. "Picture yourself walking up the stairs to the third floor. The staircase swings around and stops at the landing. What do you do next?"
Her brow crinkled, but her eyes remained closed.
"I step onto the landing and walk down the corridor."
"Exactly." Her eyes did open then, and she looked at me like I'm crazy. "You don't have to tell your legs to turn the corner, do you? You know where you want to go and your legs take you there."
Her eyes searched mine for a moment.
"Your magic controls the broom. Relax. Trust your magic." My hand caressed her hip as I released her. "Try again."
She kept her eyes on me for a long moment. Then with a deep breath, she leaned forward. I stayed close, watching her every move, ready to catch her if she loses control again.
Her next turn was better. Still a little jerky, but she stayed upright and kept flying. It was progress.
Each turn after that was a little smoother than the last. An hour or so later, and she was flying comfortably.
I kept pace with her, staying by her side the whole time. We stuck close to the forest, flying along its perimeter to the lake and back again. Each pass was a little faster than the one before. A little higher, too.
A few times, I caught her smiling. She might have even been enjoying herself.
We landed on the ground near the forest. As soon as her feet were steady, she threw her arms around my neck and held tight.
[ - - - ]
Rather than going back to the castle for lunch, we sat under the canopy of the forest and ate a picnic lunch that I had the elves prepare for us.
"When did you do all this?" She smiled as she took in the spread.
"I placed an order this morning. The elf assigned to my dorm did the rest."
She raised her brow, but did not give me grief about having the elves set this up.
"Well, it looks wonderful," is all she said.
We talked as we ate about a variety of topics. I was careful to keep the conversation light, and not to talk about our project at all.
After we finished our lunch, we took a walk along the inner edge of the forest. We followed it to the lake and the waterfall that fell at least a hundred meters. The boundary for the grounds of Hogwarts was there, at the edge of the waterfall. You can see it, but you can't get to it.
"Alright. It's my turn to teach you something." Hermione stopped in the middle of the clearing. She tossed her bag off to the side and turned to face me.
"What exactly do you plan on teaching me?" I put my bag with hers and smirked at her.
"How to defend yourself without magic." She stepped closer and held her hand out towards me. "We'll start with escapes. Grab my wrist."
For the next two hours, she demonstrated different ways to get away from an attacker. She showed me where vulnerable pressure points are that can distract or harm an attacker. And she showed me how to use joint locks to trap or harm an attacker, like she had used on Theo that day.
She demonstrated each technique, then she walked me through what to do step by step.
I could tell she was holding back, going slow so I could understand her movements, but also she was not committing to the actions. She was controlling herself, trying not to hurt me.
She hasn't had a chance to practice since she got back to Hogwarts.
"Have you had enough?" There was a slight laugh in her voice.
"Almost." I ran my hand through my hair and took a deep breath. Because what I am about to suggest is crazy. "I want to do it one more time, but this time, don't hold back."
"Draco," she sighed. "I…"
"Don't want to hurt me. I know." I put my hands on her waist and tugged her closer. "You need to practice this stuff. Really practice, so you will be ready if you need it."
She rolled hers eyes and huffed a short laugh.
"Like when a friend inadvertently spooks me?" She raised her brow.
"Exactly." I pushed a stray strand of red hair behind her ears. "Friend or foe, this could save your life."
"You know, I broke Theo's nose. And Ron's fingers."
"And you healed them brilliantly. Just don't kill me and I'll be fine." I lifted one side of my mouth in a smirk.
She stared at me for a long moment whilst she chewed on her bottom lip. Finally she sighed and dropped her head back.
"Alright, Malfoy. You asked for it." She rolled her shoulders back.
"Bring it, Granger."
This is an insanely stupid idea.
Her eyes met mine and she nodded to let me know she was ready. I moved quickly, grabbed her by the wrist and turned her around.
For a brief moment, I thought she wasn't going to react. Then she clapped her hand over mine. As I pulled her back towards my chest, she pivoted. Using the momentum I had created, she continued to turn. She slipped under my arm, twisting my wrist around backwards. She hooked her leg around my knee, pulled my wrist down, then spun out of the way as I crashed to the ground.
In two heartbeats, I had gone from being in control, to being flat on my arse. The wind had been knocked out of me.
And it's entirely possible that my wrist is broken.
And maybe my ankle.
"Are you still alive?" Hermione stood over top of me with a grin on her face.
"Fine," I gasped. "I'm fine."
She huffed a short laugh.
"Of course you are." She helped me sit up, then examined my wrist.
"Broken?" I asked even though I know it is.
She gently lifted my hand and rolled it around while her fingers prodded along the bones. It still hurt. Not much. But a little.
Her wand skimmed over my skin.
"Just a sprain. You'll be fine."
I flexed my fingers and rolled my wrist. A little sore, but not bad. I stood tentatively. My ankle is sore also, but I can put weight on it.
"I'll survive." I dusted myself off.
"Do you want to go again?" She raised her brow in a challenge.
"No. I think that's enough for one day." I took a few small steps to test out my ankle. She chuckled to herself but followed me to the edge of the clearing.
We stood and watched the water fall dramatically below. My arms wrapped around her waist, my hands settled on her stomach. Her back pressed against my chest and I rested my chin on her shoulder.
"This has been nice." She leaned back against me. "Thanks for getting me out of my head. I need that sometimes."
"I need you, Hermione."
I cringed to myself. I am going to scare her off by saying shite like that.
She didn't pull away, though. In fact, out of the corner of my eye I could see her smiling.
"We need each other, then." She turned her head just a little, just enough. Her lips brushed against mine once. I drew her in closer and kissed her deeply.
She is the other half of my soul. I'm sure of it.
She turned to face me, linked her hands behind my neck and smiled up at me.
It struck me then, how far we've come. Her eyes are clear. No mask. No pain. Her smile lights up her whole face.
The now familiar warmth in my chest burned like fire, consuming me.
I lifted my hand to push her hair back behind her ear.
A moment later, her lips were moving against mine in a heated kiss.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you enjoy beating me up." Not that I mind. I've wanted to snog her senseless all day.
"Shut up and kiss me, Malfoy." She slid her fingers through my hair and pulled my mouth back to hers.
I'm certainly not going to argue with that. My hands spread across her back and held her close as I deepened the kiss.
The pain in my joints were forgotten as I kissed her. I don't know how long we stayed locked together. Not long enough before she pulled back.
"We should probably stop." She did not sound convincing at all. Especially since her hand is still tangled in my hair, and the other is clutching my shirt.
My lips trailed across her chin and down her neck. I sucked on the skin at the base of her neck. She moaned in pleasure.
"Oh, Gods," she muttered to herself. She pulled on my hair, directing my lips back to hers.
I lifted my hand to push her hair back behind her ear. Just as I started to lean in to kiss her again, the wards behind her…pulsed.
It happened with such a force that she was pushed towards me, almost like someone shoved her from behind.
I was taken off guard, not prepared for the force. I stumbled backwards. How we both managed to stay on our feet, I have no idea.
In a heartbeat, we both had our wands drawn, facing the wards.
"What the fuck was that?" Hermione's eyes darted around, scanning the edge of the boundary, looking for anything that would have caused that pulse of energy.
I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat. I don't know what it was. But I know what it felt like.
"It felt like someone was trying to get through the wards." A cold chill ran down my spine.
"Exactly what I was thinking." Her breath caught in her throat. "No one can get through, though. Right?"
It wouldn't be the first time.
"Right. Of course not." My hand found hers.
The last time it took an entire army of dark wizards to break through the wards. And I don't see anyone on the other side at all.
Another pulse of energy pushed towards us. This time we were ready for it. We stood our ground.
The energy was concentrated. It seemed to be aimed directly at us. It even glowed a dark blue color.
What in the actual fuck?
"Did you see that?" Hermione asked, more curious now than scared.
"That was not someone attacking the wards." I still held her hand. I took two steps backwards and pulled her along with me.
"No. No, it wasn't."
Neither one of us said what we were thinking.
The wards are attacking us.
"Maybe we are simply standing too close." I cleared my throat and took another two steps back. Come to think of it, I've never been this close to the wards before.
"Perhaps." She did not sound convinced. After a moment she shook her head. "No. That isn't it."
She dropped my hand, put her wand away and sat down on the ground.
"Hermione, we should go." My eyes darted between her and the waterfall. Or the typically invisible barrier between us and the waterfall.
She already had her bag open and was rummaging through it. I released a deep sigh and sat on the ground beside her.
"Remember, one of the books Bones gave us talked about wards that behaved erratically."
I groaned to myself. We were supposed to have a day without working on the project. One day without focusing on wards. And here we are.
"I thought you took those back to the library?" I cringed as soon as the words left my mouth. Her next sentence would be "we need to go to the library, then."
"Oh. I did." She retrieved a brown leather bound book that I immediately recognized as the notebook she has been making her notes in. "That night, I had a dream about it."
She opened the book and flipped through thick pages until she found what she was looking for. Her eyes darted from the page to the waterfall and back again. Slowly, she handed me the book.
I scanned the page. My heart stopped, then started again at double its normal speed. My breath caught in my throat.
"You dreamed this?" My voice was barely a whisper.
On the page before me was a drawing. It might as well have been a picture of the scene in front of me.
The lake. The waterfall. The wards lashing out towards the trees.
"Yes. It was after I read that passage about unstable and erratic wards." She stood and took several steps closer to the cliff.
I stared at her drawing. The level of detail is uncanny.
I flipped the page. Another drawing. This one was of a garden. Roses clung to an overhead trellis.
The next picture was me, flying in my quidditch uniform. Potter was behind me. The snitch hung in the air in front of me. My hand was outstretched, reaching for it.
"These are amazing." I have seen her doodling in class, but this…this is impressive. "When do you find time to do this?"
I looked up in time to watch her lift her shoulders in a shrug.
"I don't sleep much. You know, nightmares. Memories. Whatever. When that happens, I think of the other things I've dreamt of and focus on those. It helps me forget."
She isn't looking at me. Her wand is in her hand and she is facing the wards with both hands stretched out in front of her.
Not the best idea given the energy flares we have already felt from there.
But I digress.
"Are all of these drawings from your dreams?" I focused on the page in front of me. The drawing of me and Potter.
"I guess." She is only half paying attention to me. "Why?"
I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat. Because the drawing of me and Potter playing quidditch, of me catching the snitch with him right behind me, was dated almost ten days before the match took place.
[ - - - ]
"How long have you been drawing your dreams like this?" I turned to the front of the book. The first drawing was of herself. She was looking over her shoulder into a mirror, studying the phoenix tattoo on her arm.
"It's something I picked up over the summer. My aunt suggested journaling. You know, writing down my dreams. But when I tried, the nightmares took over. So I started doing this instead."
I looked up to find her standing over me.
"Why are you so interested? It's just a snapshot from my dreams. No big deal." She held her hand out for the book. Instead of handing it back, I fanned through the pages. There had to be at least a hundred drawings.
"What if it isn't?" I held my breath as soon as I said it.
"What else would it be?" Her brow crinkled in confusion.
I stood and dusted myself off. This is a conversation we need to be at eye level for.
"Hermione, Love. According to the date in the corner, this was drawn six months ago." I turned to the second page and handed it to her. Her eyes widened as she took in the image.
It was Ravenclaw's book. Underneath a glass case. Sitting on a round table. In the lecture hall on the third floor.
Her fingers drifted across the graphite lines.
"That is remarkable."
Remarkable? How about un-fucking-believable?
I swiped my tongue across my lips. She doesn't see it. Even when it's right there in front of her.
Or maybe she just doesn't want to.
"Remarkable? Hermione, come on!" I ran my hand through my hair and inhaled deeply. "You had a dream about Ravenclaw's book six months ago. You drew this exact spot and the wards lashing out over a week ago."
She rolled her eyes.
"They're just dreams, Draco. They don't mean anything."
Unbelievable. Stubborn witch.
I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes.
"Alright, then." I tipped my chin up in a challenge. She can't resist a challenge. "Open it to a random page. Let's see what other just dreams you've had that turned out to be significant."
She tilted her head to one side. Her eyes crinkled in confusion.
"What, exactly, are you suggesting?" She seemed genuinely confused.
Brightest witch of our age, my arse.
I took the book from her and flipped to a page about halfway through. Then I held it between us so we could both see it at the same time.
The drawing depicted the bedroom on the third floor. The stained glass door was open and the balcony could be seen beyond.
The date in the corner was July 21. Nearly two months before we ever stepped foot in that room.
"It's our bedroom." She raised her brow. "So?"
Our bedroom.
I felt my lip tilt up on one end. I suppose it is our bedroom now.
But that isn't the point.
"Look at the date, Hermione." I gave her a second to look. "We were not even here in July. Hell, you were on a whole other continent, halfway around the world."
"What? No." She took the book from me and lifted it to check the date out again. "I was never in that room before this year."
Finally. Maybe she will understand now.
"That's impossible." She sat down on the ground once again and started flipping through pages quickly. Occasionally, she would stop to look at one and try to determine the timing.
After a few minutes she slammed the book shut and dropped it like it had burned her. She scrambled backwards and glared at the book. Then she stood and started pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth.
"What the actual fuck?" She shook her head, ran her hands through her hair and tugged on the ends. "This cannot be happening."
"It's a gift, Hermione."
I know she doesn't see it that way.
"A gift?" Her tone rose in both pitch and volume. "Draco, I don't even believe in divination! In prophecy! In fate!"
I crossed the distance between us and placed my hands on her shoulders. As soon as I realized what her sketches meant, I knew this would be difficult for her. After everything she has been through, she wants to believe that she has some kind of control over her own destiny.
"And you didn't believe in magic, until you found out you are a witch." I searched her eyes.
The momentary panic started to fade. It was slowly replaced with resignation.
She stepped closer and dropped her head against my chest.
"Why, Draco?" Her hands clutched at my shirt and she drew in a shaky breath. "Why can't I just be normal?"
"Oh, Hermione." I dropped a kiss on her forehead and slid my hands around her waist. "You are far too extraordinary to ever be normal."
I held her in my arms whilst she came to grips with the fact that her dreams are portents of the future. That her drawings depict more than a random image selected from her subconscious.
She draws things that matter. Or that will matter.
My eyes darted to the leather bound book that was lying on the ground behind her.
How many of her visions have not come to pass?
What can we learn by examining each one?
"Seers are extremely rare. You know that, right?" I held her a little tighter as another thought ran through my mind. An unsettling thought that made a cold chill run down my spine. "This is one secret you should keep to yourself."
She tensed.
"Let me guess," she sighed deeply. "I have yet another huge ass target on my back?"
"Most likely." I don't want to admit it. I don't want it to be true. Unfortunately, people suck. And people that want power will do anything they can to get it.
"Fucking perfect." She dropped her head back and stared at the sky. "I should just burn that notebook and never draw anything else again."
"No. You shouldn't do that. It's part of who you are. If you try to stop it, it will simply manifest in other ways."
She would know that if she had actually taken divination.
She inhaled deeply and blew it out in a fast gust of air before stepping back. As she did, the wards behind me pulsed yet again. This time, neither one of us stayed on our feet.
I was pushed forward as she fell backwards. I landed on top of her.
It took a long few seconds to catch my breath.
"Are you alright?" I looked down into her eyes. What I saw there made my heart freeze.
Fear.
"Hermione?" I looked over my shoulder to see what had scared her. I didn't see anything.
"Move." Her hands pressed against my chest and she pushed me away. I rolled to my side and she scrambled back, putting distance between us before she sat up and wrapped her hands around her knees.
Merlin and Salazar. It's me. She's scared of me.
Why, though? Because I was knocked to the ground?
And landed on top of her.
Oh. Oh!
"I won't hurt you." I spoke quietly and kept my distance.
"I know." She took a shallow breath. Her hands shook as she ran them through her hair and tugged on the ends. She licked her lips and took another breath. Her eyes met mine. "I know, Draco. I'm sorry."
I moved closer to her. Slowly. Very slowly. She watched every move.
"I didn't mean to…"
"I know. And I know it was you and I don't have to worry. It's just, when you were on top of me like that…" She stopped and blinked her eyes several times. She took another breath and a shudder ran down her spine. "It happened so fast…and it caught me off guard…and it just…it reminded me of…of him…and I'm so sorry."
"No. Damn it, Hermione, don't you dare apologize." I closed the distance between us. I was careful not to touch her until she laid her head against my shoulder. Only then did I put my arms around her. "It's alright. We know what your boundary is now, that's all."
We sat there, on the ground, for several minutes. To her credit, she did not go into a full panic attack. She was shaken up, but she retained control.
"What about you? What do you suppose your boundary is?" She kept her head on my shoulder. Her hand rested on my knee. Her other hand was on my chest.
I've thought about that. So many times. Especially when we are snogging.
"I don't know. I suppose we'll find it the same way. Completely by accident." I kissed her forehead. Held her a little closer.
"I used to think that I would never want to have sex. Not after that." She cleared her throat. Her hand rubbed across my chest. I'm sure she can feel it beating hard. "But now. Now I think that I want to. Have sex. With you. Someday."
Her ears and her cheeks were bright red.
I gently lifted her chin so I could look in her eyes. The fear from moments ago was gone.
I leaned in and kissed her. She did not hesitate to return the kiss, and she even deepened it by swiping her tongue across my lips until I opened my mouth.
Still, it was a slow, sensuous kiss that conveyed what I am feeling at the moment. Nothing but love for the witch beside me. The fire in my chest is consuming me. A slow burn that spreads from my heart to my limbs.
When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers.
"Someday, Love." It was the first time that I acknowledged, even to myself, that I want to be intimate with her. I want to share all of myself with her. "Someday."
"It's getting late. We should head back to the castle."
Neither of us wanted to, but she is right. The sun has already started to fade beyond the horizon. Darkness will settle over the grounds soon enough, and we are about as far away from the castle as we can get.
We collected our belongings and started the walk back along the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
For the most part, we walked in silence. Both of us were deep in thought.
What was supposed to be a light, fun, relaxing day had turned into anything but. Yes, we had fun and relaxed, I suppose. And then reality had to set in. The reality of who we are. Of what we have been through. Of what is to come.
The closer we got to the castle, the more I realized that I needed to say something. Anything. Try to salvage the rest of the day if I can.
"Draco." Before we entered the courtyard, she stopped and tugged on my hand.
I turned to face her.
She looked up at me through her lashes. Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth. She took a step closer, filling the space that remained between us.
As my eyes met hers, all of the apprehension I had been feeling drained away. The warmth in my chest was back, spreading quickly.
I don't know what she was about to say. Whatever it was, she didn't get the chance. I captured her lips with my own before she could say another word.
She smiled against me and threaded her fingers through my hair. My hands settled on her waist, then slid down to cover her arse.
The moan she emitted reverberated through me.
I broke off the kiss and struggled to catch my breath as I held her in my arms.
"Thank you, for today." She muttered close to my ear.
The warmth in my chest doubled.
[ - - - ]
We made a stop by the restrooms before entering the Great Hall for dinner. Even though it is a little early to eat, there are plenty of people sitting around in small groups.
Some are working on homework. Others are gossiping amongst themselves.
And at the end of the Ravenclaw table, Theo and Luna are playing a game of chess.
AN: A little bit of fluff for our favorite couple this week.
I want to take a moment to thank those of you that have been with me from the beginning. I have been writing this story for a very long time and there are a handful of you that have been with me from the beginning and leave reviews every chapter. I look forward to reading those every time I post these chapters. I know, I don't respond, but please know that every one warms my heart and makes my day.
You know who you are. I love you guys. : )
Until next time.
-mezy
