Love is Blind

Chapter 9

Severus sat on the bed with Hermione curled up on
his lap. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, his around her waist -
neither of them releasing their hold on the other.

“Hermione?” he whispered into her hair

He felt her breath against his neck and heard a
muffled, “I’m sorry, Severus.”

“Hermione, what happened?” he asked softly.

She finally let go enough that he could look at her
properly. Her face was red and her lips were swollen. He kissed her hairline
softly and she smiled.

“Severus, how am I going to do this?” her voice was
shaky and raspy from her crying.

“What ‘this’ are you referring to?” he asked
cautiously, wondering if she understood what he meant.

She sighed and grinned. She understood the hidden connotation
of his question. ‘I know what I’m going to do with you,’ she thought,
but said, “I mean my eyes. I couldn’t even take a proper shower. How am I
supposed to do the most mundane things that everyone takes for granted?” she started
shaking with sobs again.

His hand seemed to move of its own accord and rubbed
her back gently. “Hermione, I could’ve…” ‘Better not go there, Severus’
he thought before continuing. “Poppy was here, why didn’t you call her? There
are simple charms to compensate too.” He tried to sound convincing, as to not
blame her or belittle her over this.

“Severus, I’m sorry. I… I wanted to do it by myself.
I wanted to be ready when you came back, so we could eat breakfast together. I
was too embarrassed to ask Poppy. I’m sorry if I worried you.”

He hugged her closer. “Hermione…” he whispered, but
she continued.

“I tried to use the spells, they didn’t work. I even
tried a summoning charm, that’s why everything was on the floor. Severus, I
can’t do magic.” She buried her face in his neck once more, letting her sobs
resume and shake her violently.

“Hermione, I’m sure you can still do magic, we’ll
just have to work on not focusing on the visual aspect. You are one of the
strongest witches I know. We will get through this. All right? If you want me
to, I can cast the charm,” he was speaking so softly that his voice was hard to
hear through her hair.

Hermione nodded into his shoulder, but did not
release him. He contorted himself to retrieve his wand from his still-wet robes.
A few Latin words later, along with a swish a f a flick, Hermione was clean,
dry, and her hair was combed. Severus also decided to dry his own robes in the
process. Hermione apologized again for the state of his clothes from sitting
under the shower holding her. “It was my fault, I’m the one who didn’t think
about turning off the water until later,” he chuckled.

They sat holding each other for a few more minutes
wheveruverus spoke, “I have classes today. Do you need anything?”

She stirred in his arms and pulled away, “I forgot
about that,” she said sadly. “I was hoping to go for a walk today. I hate this
hospital wing. But that can wait until tonight.” Severus could hear the
disappointment in her voice and it was breaking his heart.

“Hermione, let me fetch Poppy to help you get
dressed, and I will be right back,” he said firmly as he placed her on the bed
beside him. Hermione felt the bed shift as he got up. She could hear him softly
talking to Madam Pomfrey. Suddenly, the infirmary door closed and small
footsteps came toward her bed. She could smell the antiseptic on the mediwitch,
as she came to help her get dressed.

Severus left Hermione in Poppy’s capable hands as he
went down to the potions classroom. He found a quill and parchment and penned
instructions for his students and posted the note on the door. He then found
the spiral staircase leading to Dumbledore’s office. “Kit-kat,” he said to the
gargoyle. It jumped aside and let the potions master through.

“Albus?” Severus asked as he knocked on the door.

The large wooden door opened to reveal the old man.
“Severus, you seem out of breath. Is everything all right?” Dumbledore asked as
he led Severuso hio his office.

“Yes, sir. Everything is as well as can be expected.
I wanted to inform you that I will be taking a break today from my classes. I
have left an assignment on the door. I believe Miss Granger has a bit of what
the muggles call, ‘cabin fever.’”

“Very well, Severus. Will we see you at lunch?” the
old man smiled, his eyes twinkling.

Severus sighed, “You are a meddling old codger. Did
you know that?” he asked exasperated.

Albus smiled bigger. “That is not this first time
someone has said that to me, so yes, I guess I do know that,” he chuckled. “Why
don’t you take her to Hogsmeade? Buy her some candy. Maybe go get a drink.
Hmmm?”

Severus growled, “Old man, you are trying my
patience.”

The headmaster laughed as he saw the frustration in
Severus eyes. “No I think I hit the nail on the head. Didn’t I, my boy?”
Severus stood up, grunted and left the headmaster’s office with his billowing
robes. As the door closed, Albus shook his head, smiling. He petted Fawkes’
plumage as he thought of his two most stubborn colleagues and their mutual
affection for each other.

Severus returned to the infirmary to find Hermione
dressed and sitting on the edge of her bed. The exasperation he had felt at
Dumbledore had vanished the second he saw Hermione sitting there. He moved
slowly to her and took her hand in his. “Milady, would you like to take a walk
with me?” he asked in his most chivalrous voice.

She giggled and stood up, “That sounds wonderful,
sir.”

Hermione wrapped her arm in the crook of Severus’.
He guided her through the many hallways of the castle, before reaching the
entrance hall. They strolled through the grounds talking about the weather and
any other small talk they could think of. It was not just idle chatting, the
conversation was fulfilling for both of them. Severus described what it looked
like outside for Hermione. She explained to him how her other senses had
heightened since the accident. She tried to get him to close his eyes and just
savor the smells of the flowers, the lake, the trees and the air. The
conversation slowed as they neared the rose garden. They both took in their own
perceptions of the beauty of the gardens. Hermione focused on the smells and
the soft touches of the petals around her. The silence was not strained, but
comfortable.

Hermione sat on a bench that she accidentally ran
into. She could hear Severus walking, rustling a few bushes in the process.
Suddenly she was overwhelmed with the wonderful smell of a rose. She could feel
the soft petals under her nose, rubbing against her lips. It felt almost
sensual. She cautiously took the rose from Severus and tucked it behind her
ear.

Severus stood and stared at her. She was beautiful.
Her hair was gently blowing in the breeze, a few tendrils escaping the plait
she had done. He wanted tach ach out and push one behind her ear, but then she moved
and put the rose there instead. He smiled, “Do you like it?”

“Hmm-mmm” she responded lightly. He sat down beside
her, each of the reveling in the other’s presence.

The comfortable silence resumed for a few moments
when Hermione turned toward Severus. She opened her mouth, but no words came
out.

“Hermione, please say what you want to say. Or, at
least, close your mouth. You look like a goldfish,” he joked.

Her face became serious. “Severus, why are you doing
this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you helping me? Why did you cancel your
classes today? Why haven’t you slept in your chambers?”

Severus sighed heavily, trying to think of the
correct way to answer such a loaded question. “You don’t understand why I do
it?”

“No, I don’t understand it. The accident was not
your fault, and if you even blame yourself, I will hex you when I get my magic
working again.” She smiled, “I just want to know why you have given up your
weekend to deal with a weepy blind Gryffindor.”

“Hermione, I don’t really know how to answer that. I have
been shocked by my actions too, but I hope this explains it…” He raised his
hand to her cheek and turned her face to his. She froze when she felt his soft
lips graze hers. The kiss was quick and chaste, but she could feel his breath
still so close to her. She lifted hace ace and pressed her lips to his, a
little firmer than he expected. This was the kind of kiss you dream about - the
prince waking Sleeping Beauty kind of kiss. It was heaven.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Severus’ neck and deepened
the kiss. She felt his tongue softly lick her lips requesting entrance. She
opened her mouth to him and their tongues danced the most natural rhythm in
creation. She had never been kissed so tenderly, so much emotion and passion
flowed through him, and she returned it. She could feel his hands in her hair
and cradling her face, like she was the most precious thing in the world. He
softly pulled away. “Does that answer your question?” he asked breathlessly.

“I think I need a more thorough explanation,” she said
silkily and he couldn’t help but oblige.

**

A/N – No it’s not over this is just the beginning. She is
still blind, remember? Does Severus find a cure for her? Will they finish the
lycanthropy cure for Remus? What about Ron & Harry? We will just have to
see, won’t we? Muwahahahaha!

I would like to thank all of my reviewers. I love getting
that email telling me I have another review. I live for that stuff. Thank you,
thank you, thank you!