Chapter
11
Gentle
Slumber / Waking Moments
Drifts of consciousness...
“Will she be all right?”
“Calm yourself. Yes, she will.”
“But she’s been asleep so long...”
A light appeared,
bright and silvery. What was it they said in all those books? The light
at the
end of the
tunnel. Maybe this was what dying was. A hand taking a light grip on her’s
pulled
her back to
the world of the living. The light shifted from a heaven-like radiance
into a halo of
spun silver
framing a sharp pale face. Was it a dream or reality? Her head felt light
like it was
filled with
helium, yet heavy like it was still below water. Water...wait. Didn’t she...or
did she?
A vague memory
of being enveloped by liquid darkness...
*
She awoke in
a room filled with the cloying scent of musk and cinnamon. Feeling secure
and
safe, her
fingers felt thick blankets wrapping her in their warmth. Candles flickered
and shadows
danced on
the walls. A voice beyond the glow of the candles...
“Did you sleep
well princess?” A voice warm and rich, like molasses, soothing like a summer
breeze. Such
a change from its usual bitter frostiness.
Hermione gently
rubbed her sore eyes and looked up at him. This was real, no longer a dream.
A few blinks
and the image cleared up, and everything changed from blurred edges into
smooth
shapes.
“Get away from me Malfoy.”
Draco was shocked at her sudden behaviour. She glared at him.
“Are you some
kind of unbalanced psychotic pervert? Watching me sleep...how could you
be
so sick?!
I mean, I know you’re Malfoy and you’re sick, but HOW COULD YOU SINK
SO LOW!?”
His hand lashed
out and slapped her, causing her to cry out at the sudden sharp pain across
her
cheek. Her
hand reached up and soothed the stinging, her eyes filling with hot tears.
“I saved your
life you ungrateful little...” The sentence remained unfinished. Ashamed
of his
sudden violent
behaviour, he gently stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry Hermione.”
A further shock.
She didn’t pull away from him, and instead fixed her eyes on his own stone
blue ones.
He continued, not moving his hand away.
“Why did you do it? Is it because you’re unhappy?”
“Ten points
to the idiot for that answer.” She whispered. “Of course I’m not unhappy.
I’m as
happy as can
be. I just love being here. Dear diary, I love my life as an obedient yes-girl
to
Draco Malfoy.
My life resembles that of a pet dog but it’s all good. Now, what do you
think?”
She tilted
her head and looked up towards him, eyes filled with a dozen emotions.
He removed his hand and turned away, though he didn’t answer her question.
“You’ve been
asleep, almost half-dead, for over a week. Snape...he uh, he helped me
keep
you alive.”
“And weren’t
you glad I was half way there? Saved you your trouble...saved everyone’s.
Why did you...”
Her voice was soft, like liquid gold. “Why did you even bother to save
me?”
“Because I
can not live without you.” His voice cracked with emotion as he turned
back to
face her.
“I can not live without my soul.” A single crystal tear slid down his cheek.
“Even
though I don’t
deserve you.”
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