Love is Blind

Chapter 3

Friday Night

Day turned into night and Severus Snape continued to
sit in the hospital wing looming over his research partner. Over the past few
hours he had let his mind wander to things he had long since buried. He was
frustrated with himself about his reaction to her… Miss Granger. Hermione.

Severus had started to notice Hermione when she was
a prefect in her fifth year. She was still a pain in his rear, but even at 15
years old, her mind was comparable to some of the most intelligent scholars he
had ever known. Many times during her final years at Hogwarts, she would work
extensive hours in the potions lab working on projects. During that time
Hermione and Severus would have discussions about wizard/muggle relations, the
war with Voldemort, and the wizarding world in general. They found that they
had many common interests including muggle literature and classical music.

Severus had started to have feelings for her that a
teacher should not have for a student. She was as close to his intellectual equal
as he could possibly imagine. He had to keep up his usual heartless and cold
persona so that he could distance himself from the possibility of anyone
realizing how impure his thoughts concerning the ‘Gryffindor Know-It-All’ had
become.

Four years later, she came back to work with him to
find a cure for Remus. Severus soon found himself being attracted to her once
again. She was still the same girl she always was, but now in a woman’s body.
He refused to let his demeanor betray his attraction to her, but now that she
was suffering, he couldn’t help but let his true emotions surface. There was no
denying it anymore, he hating seeing her suffer. It was killing him.

His heart ached like it never had before. Since
Voldemort’s defeat, Severus was finally able to feel again. He was free to
clear his conscience and his heart. He will never get over his past. He doesn’t
deserve the forgiveness and honor that everyone has given him for his betraying
Voldemort for the Order of the Phoenix. He has killed and maimed, tortured and
raped – he’s a monster in his own mind. He doesn’t deserve someone like her –
someone intelligent, kind, courageous, fearless, generous and beautiful.

Yes, Severus admitted to himself that he thought she
was beautifu - the way her hair shown in the torchlight of the dungeons; how
her brow furrowed when she was concentrating; how she bit her lip in
nervousness; how her eyes twinkled when she figured something out. Her
eyes…Dammit! He reflexively clenched his hands into tight fists, his
frnairnails leaving moon-shaped imprints in his palms. It hurt and he deserved
all the pain he could suffer for being so awful to her.

Madam Pomfrey had put a salve over the melted flesh
covering Hermione’s eyes and wrapped a thick bandage over them. What she couldn’t
tell anyone, was if Hermione would ever be able to see again. Severus wondered
how she would handle the idea of being blind. “She’s strong -kng hng her, it
wouldn’t phase her one bit. Damned Gryffindor,” he grumbled to himself. He felt
obligated, no… compelled to find a way to help her. She WILL see again, if I
have anything to do about it, he thought to himself.

He leaned his head down and started reading Most
Potente Potions for the thousandth time. Every few pages, he caught himself
glancing at the girl lying in the bed in front of him. He would stare long
enough to ensure she was there and still breathing; then he would continue
reading, looking for anything that might help.

At almost 11 o’clock he was awaken by the sound of
someone entering the hospital wing. Severus opened his eyes, berating himself
for falling asleep, to see Professors Dumbledore and Lupin walking toward
Hermione’s bed.

Dumbledore noticed Severus sitting in the chair next
to the bed with a book in his lap. “Good evening, Severus,” he chimed at the
potions master. “How is she doing?”

Severus didn’t hear Dumbledore’s question because he
was looking at Lupin, who was moving to sit beside the girl. Severus gritted
his teeth as he watched the werewolf take her hand in his. Severus strained to
hear the soft words that Remus was whispering to the young woman, but failed to
make any of it out.

“Severus?” Dumbledore interrupted his thoughts and
asked again, “How is she doing?”

“I’m sorry, Albus,” Severus stammered, trying to
collect his thoughts. “Poppy says that most of the burns were healed, but her
eyes may never be. She still has not woken up,” he said somberly.

“Ah, very well then. Severus, why don’t you go to
your rooms and get some sleep?” the headmaster more commanded than asked.

The younger man looked up at him, “Sir, she is here
because of me. I would like to stay with her,” he said his voice belying the
begging tone behind it. Severus noticed a twinkle in the old man’s eyes and a
mischievous grin spreading across his weathered face.

“Remus has offered to stay with her at times. That
is, if you decide to take a break.” Severus half-listened to the
headmaster, but was intent on watching Remus as he leaned down and kissed
Hermione’s forehead.

A large pang of jealousy overtook him and he
insistently replied, “No, thank you, sir. I think I can handle it. Since it is
Friday, I have two days without classes. Hopefully she will awaken soon.” His
gaze burned at Remus before he looked at the headmaster.

Dumbledore smiled. “Very well, Severus.”

Remus glanced up at the brooding Slytherin, caught
his gaze and nodded. Severus saw the same mischievous grin that Albus had,
creep upon Remus’ face as the two men left the room. He brushed the thought
aside as he picked up his book and continued reading.