Iris [D.M]

D r a c o

When we met the first thing I noticed was her eyes. Our eyes met across the station. They instantly captured my attention. They were unusual in their colour as if they couldn't decide. Blue and green woven together in an intricate mosaic. Never had I see irises so beautiful.

She always ensures that I know what she thinks of my eyes. When I looked in the mirror I saw cold grey, steel and unwavering. I saw a coldness that had been built up after years of abuse. These eyes had been dry for years. "Boys can't cry, pull yourself together Draco". Each tear would result in another lash of his belt.

She once told me she saw the sky and the mist that settles over Brighton pier autumn in my irises. She took me their once and made me close my eyes and smell the air. It was salty and fresh and it made me feel alive. She made me feel alive. Later that day we went swimming off the harbour in the same sea we had watched lap over the shore before coughing it out again. It was freezing and she laughed at my pale skin turning purple while she remained rosy cheeked. I was so enraptured with her and the moment that I forgot the horrors on my back. For years I'd kept them covered; they were my secret.

Whilst we were splashing about she caught sight of the gruesome lines. Slowly she swam over to me as if I was a frightened animal that could bolt any second. She moved with such gentleness that I wasn't afraid. When she reached me I looked into her eyes. Those wondrous eyes. There was a raging storm of anger and pity swirling in the sea of colours. We said nothing. The silence was enough for us, as if we knew what the other wanted to say. She traced the lines on my back as if they were a precious treasure map and she could see the hidden gold. She could always see the gold in everyone and everything.

It was because of that goodness that I saw in her that made me want to fight...

It was the battle of Hogwarts and I had committed an act of betrayal against thousands of my generation. I hated myself for it. It was a deep seated hatred that reminded me of the disgust I had felt towards my father as a child. Slowly I was being forced into his shoes, trained to take his place in the inner circle of death eaters. Weak. I had been too weak to protest anymore against my father and his brutality. I had tried so hard for her, I wanted to protect her. Instead I failed her. Because of me she was now on her back as she rolled and writhed across the floor under the power of my sadist aunt.

Pure unadulterated torment twisted my heart and made me feel sick. Slowly my sunshine was fading under the heavy blanket of the darkness I had let into the school. The girl that had once shown me the only kindness I had ever known was being consumed by a force far greater than anything we could have imagined. My heart sank to my feet as she let out another resounding scream that would be seared into my memory forever. Not even the strongest 'obliviate' charm could erase the sound from my mind. In that moment I came to my senses. No longer did I fear the sound of a belt being cracked, now it was her screams that I feared. I knew then that if I heard her scream once more I'd go insane. How could I have ever have thought that I'd be able to live with myself knowing I was the one who had condemned her?

It was with her next ear splitting scream that I ran towards my aunt with my knife, the very knife she had gave me for my investment into the inner circle, and drove it into her back over and over again. Her manic laughter ceased and she slumped the floor. Red flashed across my vision and I couldn't stop myself. My knife obeyed my every move as I slashed at any Death Eater in my path. So many mistakes dirtied my past but now I felt as if in some twisted way I was redeeming myself. I was creating a hope for future generations. It was like I was the moon and my sunshine had shown me the light and now I was passing that light on in my own way.

Cut after cut I brought down dozens of Death Eaters each time feeling more redeemed. Finally I had managed to make a difference and I owed it all to my Aurora. Covered in blood and sweat I ran back to where she lay still, conscious but visibly exhausted. Her eyes fluttered open and closed as she fought to stay awake whilst the battle around us was drawing to an end. When she saw me a weak smile crept across her face and a single tear slipped from her mesmirising eyes. The irises were duller than usual but still a small flicker of luminescence remained shining through. A sense of pride rose in my chest as I realised that I was the once who had protected that light. Finally I repaid her for all the years she had protected and restored any hope that was left in me.

Entranced by those beautiful eyes I failed to notice the sense of alarm rising behind them and the man with the cane that came crashing down on my back. Forcefully I was thrust towards the cold floor my every joint screaming in agony. I turned to see my father standing above me and I found myself in an all too familiar position only this time I wasn't a petrified little boy with no hope. This time I was a man with a reason to fight and a sense of bravery that rivalled that of a Gryffindor's. Rising from the floor I stood strong with the man who broke my spirit in front of me and the woman who healed my heart behind me.

We ran at one another wands tossed to one side. This battle was too personal for wands; this would be intimate, proof that I hadn't been broken. Fists flew and blood splattered on the floor as the cracking of bone echoed through the hall. He was older and tiring quickly, this would be over soon. I saw an opportunity and took it. He fell to the floor as his legs gave way and I quickly restrained him as he looked up at me with disgust. His dull ash grey eyes bore into mine and for once I wasn't afraid. For so long I had hated those eyes, the ones I had inherited from this monster, but now realised they were different for mine held the light of the moon.

Pain. A cold metallic feeling pierced my side as I let my guard down to relish the moment. An emerald encrusted dagger sat obnoxiously in-between my ribs, the gems glinting with a malicious glee. I was pushed off my father easily as the shock froze me from the inside out and I couldn't react. A long piercing scream that resembled my name resounded across the hall. A spell reverberated around the room accompanied by a flash of striking green and my father collapsed.

I lay on the ground my hands shaking as I reached to clasp the bejewelled hilt of the dagger pertruding from my side. The noises around me were stifled by the pounding of adrenaline in my ears. Two hands on my shoulders and a familiar scent brought me back into the world. Aurora pulled me close to her body and once again she was the warmth and light in my cold, dark story. Looking up to meet her eyes I was greeted by her beautiful face which was framed by the lights making her seem angelic. I tasted her tears as she brought our foreheads together in an intimate embrace.

My breathing was becoming laboured but I still had something left to say. I wanted her to know how sorry I was and how much she had blessed me so with strained and uneven breaths I told her everything I had ever wanted to tell her because I was a fool to have never told her before. She told me it was going to be okay and for the first time in all my life I was sure it would be. I could see my happily ever after in her eyes. She was my hope for a new day, my sunrise, my Aurora.

A.N~Part 2 to be expected...