Love is Blind

Chapter 4

Sunday morning

Remus Lupin walked into the hospital wing and sat softly on the side of Hermione’s bed. It had been two days since the young woman had been brought here. She had come back to Hogwarts for him - well, actually, to help him.

Her studies and theories of potions at Oxford had forged newer treatments in magical healing. She finished her university studies after four years with a double major in potions and charms.

Using her to fields of expertise, she was able to create a new version of wolfsbane that Remus had gladly volunteered to be the guinea pig for. The results were phenomenal. If the new potion was taken two days before the full moon, the werewolf’s transformation was painless. Rather than a fierce excruciating metamorphosis, it was more akin to the easy transfiguration of an animagus.

She was now working with Severus to find a cure for lycanthropy. She had been working day and night in the dungeons with the dark potions master. She had mentioned on day that they thought the cure was near, a few more experiments and they would have a test potion. That is what Hermione had been working on when the accident happened.

Since Severus had brought her to the hospital wing, he had not left her side, except to visit the loo. Remus was unsure if he had even eaten over the past 36 hours. He looked over at the man sleeping in the chair across from him. ‘If only he would admit his feelings, even to himself,’ Remus thought. “Maybe they could both have a chance at happiness. They don’t deserve my life. When Isabella was killed, so was I.”

During the final battle of the ‘Dark War,’ as it is now called, Isabella Figg was killed by Lucius Malfoy, who in turn was killed by Remus. Remus and Isabella had gone to Hogwarts together. She was an auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Her mother had been Harry Potter’s wizarding guardian when he lived on Privet Drive. The crotchety old lady that took care of Harry when his aunt and uncle went away, was in truth a squib working for Dumbledore. Her daughter, Isabella, was one of Lily’s best friend and the love of Remus’ life. She accepted Remus, despite his being a werewolf. She was his first lover and his last. She took his heart when she died. Isabella was beautiful, and Hermione reminded him so much of her.

He fought his tears as he looked down at Hermione. He gently took her hand and brought to his mouth. His lips gently grazed her knuckles.

“Remus?” a soft voice whispered and he felt her hand tighten around his. Speechless, he raised his head to look at her scarred and bandaged face. “Remus?” she asked again.

“I’m here, Hermione,” he whispered hoarsely back. “How did you know it was me?”

A smile spread across her face. “I can smell you,” she giggled.

Remus lifted his arm and surreptitiously sniffed his underarm. He didn’t smell anything foul and continued to sniff around without result. He stopped his sniffing when he heard Hermione laugh again.

“Not like that, Remus. You don’t stink. You smell quite good actually,” she grinned.

“I do?”

“Yes, you smell like grass after a cool rain.”

“Really?” he asked disbelieving.

“Yes… and Severus over there,” she nodded her head in the direction of the sleeping potions master, “he smells like sandalwood and spices.”

Remus shook his head. “You knew he was there?” She nodded. “You never fail to impress me, Miss Granger…” he paused slightly before continuing, “ I am so glad that you are awake. We’ve been so worried about you.” He sighed heavily. “Hermione, do you remember what happened?” he asked cautiously.

“I remember arguing with Severus because he was being a git,” she grinned slightly at getting away with calling him that, then suddenly frowned. “The potion I was working on started boiling. Severus yelled something. The next thing I know I am covered in goo and then…” she struggled to remember anything else, “then I woke up here, just now.”

She shook her head to try to recall any of the missing details and frowned a bit more. “Remus? How long have I been here and why are my eyes covered?”

Remus swallowed the large lump in his throat. “You’ve been here almost 2 days.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “You’re eyes are covered because you were severely burned. There was an explosion and the flames caught the ‘goo’ that was on your eyes, and burned your eyelids. Poppy tried to heal them but…” his voice trailed off.

“What?! Remus, are saying… I’m… I’m blind?” she stammered.

“There is that possibility, but Severus has been researching some possible potions to help.” Hermione sighed as she felt Remus’ hand rub her arm comfortingly. Tears wanted to fall, but it was impossible. She could now feel that her eyelids truly were fused together. Even without the tears, the sobbing came as a harsh retching made her body quake from emotion.

Remus quickly pulled her up into his arms. “Shhh… It will work out. Everything will be all right,” he whispered more encouraging words to her as he gently stroked her hair and back. When she had started to calm down, he spoke softly, “Hermione, I can assure you that Severus will not stop until he finds something. He has not left your side since he brought you here. The house elves have been bringing him volumes from his chambers and the library. ow how him – he won’t give up.”

Her sobs subsided as she absorbed what Remus had said. Something struck her as odd, but not exactly unwelcome, as she processed it over and over in her head.

“Severus stayed here… by me?” she asked shocked and breathless. She wasn’t sure if the breathlessness was from crying or from the knowledge of what Severus did. Her heart swelled as she thought of him sitting by her waiting for her to wake up. ‘Why would he do that?’ she thought as she felt Remus’ arms squeeze her tighter.

A hand softly brushed her cheek and a deep voice spoke, making her shiver. “Yes, Hermione, I stayed. I couldn’t leave you.” Severus’ voice was oddly soft and husky from sleep. Remus reluctantly pulled away from her as the potions master wrapped his arms around the sobbing woman.