Healing Through Touch

Chapter Seven

"Ron please don't go. Please. Why do you keep doing this? Talk to me! Let's work through it. Ronald! Ronald please!" I begged, tears rushing down my face as I watched Ron's back fade into the darkness.

"Hermione, Hermione, you are okay. You are okay." A distant voice came to me in a whisper.

"Draco? Draco, is that you?" I looked around in the dark abyss, searching.

"Wake up, you are okay. You are okay. You are okay. You are okay..."

The words around became a blanket that provided me safety, as they repeated over and over again. My eyes opened, and were immediately blinded by the light through the windows. I must have forgotten to close my curtains last night. I began to reflect on my dream, which had begun as a nightmare, replaying Ron and I's broken relationship over to me. But there was a voice that guided me.

I thought of the voice repeating "you are okay", and felt a sensation wash over me. It was hard to explain, this feeling. I felt as if I was free to fly without a broom, weightless almost. Meanwhile, I could feel my heart, but not feel it beating. It felt as if, it was suddenly full, and heavy. Feeling both of those contradicting feelings confused me. Why did that sensation wash over me as Draco's voice played in my head?

It was something I wanted to know more about, this feeling. What was it; a spell, a potion? I had yet to experience a feeling like this in my life so far. My eyes quickly darted over to my bookshelf; my feet quick to follow.

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"Please make sure to have read chapter 8 and 9 before next class!" I shouted kindly to the Hogwarts students beginning to exit the classroom. I cannot believe I had just finished my first week as a professor at Hogwarts!

It was last class of the day, and as the students left to prepare for supper, I had a mission. I spent my spare time these past couple days rummaging through books in my room, and in the library. Nothing seemed to describe this feeling to be one caused by a potion or a spell. So, what was it? Well, since I had this feeling while hearing Draco's voice in my mind, I suspect he is connected. He possibly used a spell to get into my dreams, no no.... not even Draco would know how to accomplish a spell and a potion like that.

I interrupted my thoughts, focusing back to reality. I gathered my things and walked back to my room before supper in the great hall.

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After a grand super, I made my way to the small open land by the womping willow. I sat down in the grass, and pulled the note and my wand. I tapped with my wand, watching the paper shift into a dove, and fly to Draco's. No, all I had to do was wait, if he chose to come. I hadn't really thought of that.

I got lost in thought and feeling, I heard Draco's voice in my mind repeat his words, as I focused on the feeling. The more I focused, the stronger it'd become. I began to breath deeper into it, as it filled my whole body. I began to neglect the idea of this coming from a spell or potion, it felt so, warm. It was such a lovely feeling, I felt as if I could cry tears of joy, which I had not done in some time.

"Well Granger" I slightly jumped at the voice coming from my left, I turned to see Draco walking towards me.

"Did you really have to call to meet here, quite a distance from the hut". Draco said with sarcasm in his tone. I went to stand to greet him, but as I did, he began to sun over, and quickly sat next to me.

"Hermione, why did you ask me to come... here." He said, looking the womping willow up and down suspiciously.

"Don't worry, from this distance, it can't hurt us. We are okay." The feeling washed over me as the words 'we are okay' left my mouth. I inhaled deeply, feeling as though I needed to catch my breath.

I looked to Draco, who was staring at the womping willow with a disgusted look on his face.

"What is that look for?" I asked him, still lightly laughing.

"What good is that tree here? Seems like a problem if you ask me." His eyes, still watching the tree. His voice began to sound sharp, like he was angry or upset with the womping willow.

"This is my favorite part of the castle." I said, admiring the womping willow, and the nature surrounding it. Draco's manor changed in a moment, his eyes turned to me, as he hung onto each and every word I spoke.

"You went tout of bounds, so did I" I say, in a confident joking way.

Draco smiled at me and laughed, "look at Granger, going out of bounds." Draco leaned back on his arm and extended his legs, as I stayed sitting with my legs folded.

We laughed for moment, which quickly subsided to the sounds of the creatures around us. We sat in the silence for some time before he kindly asked, "So Ms. Granger, why is this your favorite place?"

A slight breeze passed, and I turned to look at him. "I have a lot of fascinating and scary moments here. That tree is magnificent and terrifying, its just how you choose to look at it." I looked away from him, slowly shifting my eyes toward the willow. "When I come here, it just reminds me you have a choice, I guess." I closed my arms, taking in a deep breath. I felt Draco's arm on my knee.

My eyes opened quickly, I turn to him, and I was met with his eyes, staring into mine. "I have had to make a lot of hard decisions since I left Hogwarts, it took me some time but I was able to do it. I stopped doing what I was told and did what I wanted to do. I listened to myself." Draco's voice began to crack, and my eyes were beginning to gloss from tears.

"I found a way for me to open up, and it has changed me a lot... as you can see" he smirked. "I know this isn't my place Hermione, but I can see it in your eyes. You are struggling like I did." Draco took my hand in his, "just let me know if I can help in anyway, okay?"

Some tears fell as I felt my heart begin to ache with each word he spoke. The feeling inside began to surround me as my eyes remained locked in to his.

"Draco?" I asked.

"Yeah, Hermione?"

"Do you mind if we go back to your hut or home or... whatever?" I asked him, I laughed at my stuttered mind as I wiped my tears away.

Draco looked at me, curious but also full of light. "Yeah" he said, smiling. "Prepare yourself Granger, you've got a long walk ahead of you." Draco stuck out his arm and assisted me up, as we began our journey back go the hut.