Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and other things you don't recognize!
Summary: According to Ministry Laws a blind witch or wizard should never live alone. When Draco becomes blind because of an accident and a Nurse comes to live with him, will love blossom? Or will Chaos ensue?
Love Is Blind
Chapter Eight: Hold On
This world, this world is cold
But you don't, you don't have to go
You're feeling sad you're feeling lonely
And no one seems to care
You're mother's gone and your father hits you
This pain you cannot bare
Draco lay behind Ginny, holding one of her hands in his own, "It's exactly two years to the day, tonight." He said out of nowhere.
Ginny opened her eyes and turned around to face him. She saw that he had his eyes opened and she shivered. It seemed as if he was looking right through her.
Feeling her shiver Draco closed his eyes, but Ginny put her hand on his cheek to let him know it was okay, "Exactly two years to what?"
"Two years that I've been blind…"
Ginny's whole body tensed, was he really about to tell her the reason? Or was he just telling her so that she'd know. Had he only shagged her to make himself forget about the previous year's happenings? "Draco…what happened? Who did this to you?" She asked her voice full of concern as she ran her thumb over his eyelids.
The room was silent for awhile until Draco finally spoke, "It was my father."
For a moment Ginny stopped breathing, "Y-y-your father? Lucius?"
"That would be the only one I had."
His father? She thought, how could anyone be so cold? How could anyone have the heart to do this to their own son? Ginny just didn't understand. She had grown up in a family full of love, and her father would never even think about harming any of his children in any way, let alone blind them.
"Draco," she began, slowly moving her hand down his neck, over his shoulder, and down his arm to hold his hand, "Draco, tell me why he did this to you…" She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it.
Draco took a deep breath and again the room was silent until he spoke, "Two years ago today, it was nearing the end of the war…"
~*~ Flash Back ~*~
Draco sat in front of his Father's desk in his Study. Lucius' eyes bore into his sons, trying to read him, looks like he had taught him well. "Draco, you must join our Lord now. I hate to say it, but these Mudbloods and Muggle Lovers are, hitting us, and their hitting us hard. We need more Death Eaters in order to prevail."
Draco shook his head, "I'm not ready father…" and for the first time during this meeting, he actually looked nervous.
Lucius abruptly stood up from his seat, glaring down at Draco, "What do you mean you're not ready!? You are 23 years old, Draco! How can you not be ready? I have been preparing you for this your entire life."
"But can't you see, Father? Don't you see? You can't win this thing. They've backed you up so far into a corner; there is no hope to be kindled!"
"How could you say such a thing? Do you not believe in the strength of your Lord?" Lucius asked, his hand gripping the serpent head of his cane.
"My Lord? I've never devoted myself to that man, Father. He's your Lord, I can see right from wrong, but you and your fellow Death Eaters seem to be blind to all that is around you!" Draco stood from his chair, ready to leave.
"You don't honestly think I'm just going to let you walk out of here after refusing our Lord, do you?" He felt his blood pressure rising beneath his skin. "The end is drawing near, Draco…you either choose the Death Eaters or choose to die fighting beside the Muggle Lovers."
"I never said I was going to fight beside them…" Draco said, his heart beating very fast, "and yes, Father, the end is coming near. It won't be my end…but yours."
"Well, Draco, my son, if you can't see the truth between right and wrong, maybe you shouldn't see anything at all." And without another thought Lucius drew his wand out from his cane and pointed it at Draco, "Neqeuo Animadvertio!"
Draco didn't have time to react before the room slowly started to fade to black. His fathers pale face slowly grew darker, and the last thing he saw was the flickering light of the fire. His body felt weightless, the only thing he did feel was the hard, cold, dungeon floor as it came in contact with his body.
~*~ End Of Flash Back ~*~
"…and I woke up in St. Mungo's a week later."
"Oh, Draco," Ginny said, her eyes watery, "How could he do that to you?"
Draco shrugged and turned over so that he was lying on his back, "He didn't have a heart."
Ginny moved closer to him and rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes, willing herself to go to sleep, "Don't worry," she yawned, "I won't let any one touch you."
Draco chuckled and closed his eyes; it felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest. Now that everything was out in the open, and Ginny didn't pressure him with thousands of question, he felt better.
~*~
The following morning Ginny woke up and realized she was in bed alone. It was a Saturday morning so, without a doubt, Draco was in his Study, with paper work as always. She stretched and got out of bed.
She walked into his study and stifled a yawn, "Good morning."
"Morning, if you'll wait just a minute, I only have a few papers to finish going over."
Ginny stood beside him where he sat in his chair. "Do you mind me asking how you read the papers? Well, I know about Braille, but…how?"
Draco reached a hand out and put a hand on Ginny's waist, he brought her closer to him so she could sit on his lap. He held the paper with one hand, and grabbed her hand with the other. "Close your eyes," he instructed her.
She closed her eyes and let Draco move her hand around the paper, "Feel the bumps?" He felt her nod, "You have to feel the different dots in each Braille cell, and memorize what the different combinations stand for."
"Is it hard to learn?" She asked and stopped moving her hand around the paper. She turned around to look at him.
"It wasn't for me; I've always been a fast learner. By the time I went to Hogwarts I could speak seven languages, fluently." He gently lifted Ginny up, and stood beside her, "Let's go get some breakfast."
"What about your papers?"
"I've got all weekend to finish them."
Ginny smiled and led him out to the kitchen. They ended up having breakfast on the Terrace; it was a very nice day outside. "I have to go over to Blaise's house today, your welcome to come along if you want."
"Thanks but I've got to stop by Ron's place and have a little chat with his wife about Michael Corner, and then I was going to visit some of my old friends at St. Mungo's."
Draco nodded, "Alright then, I'll see you when you get back." He stood from his seat and went back into the house.
~*~
Later that day Ginny was knocking on the door to her brother's house. The door swung open to reveal Ron looking tired, in his boxers and eating a bowl of cereal, "Ron it's already noon, you should be up and out of bed by now."
He shrugged and let her step inside, "Luna's in the kitchen fixing lunch."
"She's fixing lunch…and your eating breakfast?" She closed the door and made her way to the kitchen. She saw Luna in the kitchen pulling things out of the cabinet, with a baby on her hip. Ginny walked up to her and picked up the baby, "Hullo little Ronnie-kins."
"Hey Gin, what brings you by here?" Luna asked, sighing and taking out bread, peanut butter, and jelly.
"I came to have a little chat with you about Michael Corner," she adjusted the baby on her hip.
"What about him?" Luna asked as she spread the jelly over bread.
Ginny laid the baby's head down on her shoulder and covered his ear, "The bloody git was cheating on me, Luna!"
Luna turned around, "Oh Gin, I'm so sorry, I didn't know. This is my entire fault! Ron told me not to bring him…but I did, anyways."
"Actually…I want to thank you for it."
"What? Why?"
Ginny glanced around and made sure Ron wasn't in the room, "It brought Draco and I erm…closer together, if you get what I'm saying." She ran her hand over 'Baby Ron's' soft hair.
"Gin, you did not!"
She grinned, "Yes, yes, I did!" She squealed, "Well I never thought I'd ever do this with him. I mean, I do work for him after all, and it just seems wrong."
"How was it?" Luna grinned, starting on another sandwich.
"Lovegood, I don't kiss and tell."
Luna rolled her eyes and took her child from Ginny's arms, "Well then your welcome and I'm glad I could be of some assistance." She picked up a baby bottle and put it in Ronald's mouth, "Would you like to stay for lunch, Gin?"
"Oh, no thanks, I just dropped by to tell you." She kissed Luna and the baby on the cheek, "Tell Ron I said goodbye, and I'll see you all very soon."
Ginny's next stop was St. Mungo's. As soon as she was done apparating, she spotted the Head Nurse coming her way, "Ginny! I was just going to owl you."
"Owl me? Why would you need to owl me?"
"I've got some good news, well hopefully good news, maybe not for you, but for Mr. Malfoy, yes." She rambled.
"What's the news?"
"Ginny, they've found a cure!"
Ginny's eyes opened wide in shock, was she dreaming? This all seemed surreal. It was happening so fast. First she found out Michael was cheating on her, which was actually a relief, then she shags Draco, and now they've found a cure. "Pinch me, I'm dreaming."
"I assure you, you are not."
"But that's what they always say…"
The Head Nurse rolled her eyes, "If you'd come to my office I could explain everything to you."
Ginny nodded her head and followed the nurse into her office. The Head Nurse explained about the cure. But of course, everything came with a bad side.
Half an hour later Ginny apparated back to Malfoy Manor and instantly began searching for Draco. When she couldn't find him anywhere in the house she apparated to the Zabini Estate, and sure enough, there they were.
"Ginny, what are you doing here?" Draco asked, before she had even said a word.
"Well well, the woman of the hour." Blaise said.
Ginny arched an eyebrow; Draco always knew it was her. "I came here to tell you something, very important." She glared at Blaise.
"What is it?"
"They've found a cure, Draco. Mind you, it would only last 72 hours or so."
"A cure for what?" Blaise asked, clueless.
Ginny sighed, "How ever did you manage to graduate? You have the mental capacity of Crabbe and Goyle." Draco chuckled, "A cure for his blindness, you idiot!"
"Oy mate, that sounds great!"
Draco stood from the sofa, "A cure that lasts for 72 hours or so? How do they know this works, exactly?"
"Well, they've tried it on a few willing patients, and the effects were terrific the first day! But nearing the end of the third. the patient couldn't see any longer."
Draco shook his head and started pacing, "Why even do it if it only lasts for 48 hours?"
"For a chance to see your surroundings, mate!" Blaise chipped in, "You two could plan a lovers rendezvous to Paris."
Ginny guessed by Blaise's comments, Draco had told him what happened. She rolled her eyes, "Your so immature, Zabini."
"Yeah, the ladies love it." He grinned at her.
"Draco, I really think you should do it. This could be the opportunity of a life time, and who knows…maybe this time it will last longer than 48 hours."
Draco remained silent as he considered his options. He could go along with it, and see everything, especially Ginny. But he was finally getting used to life like this, and to go back to being able to see…he just didn't know what to do. He sighed, "I need to go for a walk." He exited the room and a while later they heard the heavy front door open and closed.
"I wonder where he's going to take a walk. He must have forgotten there isn't really a way out of here on foot." Blaise chuckled.
"If he comes back, tell him I'll be at the Manor, would you?"
"Of course," he said grinning at her before she apparated away.
~*~
Lonnie had come into Ginny's room and told her that Draco had just returned, and that he was in his study. She nodded and got there as quickly as she could.
"Ginny?" He said when she opened the door. It was quite odd how he always knew.
"How do you always know it's me?"
"I can see your color," Draco told her.
"My color? What do you mean?"
"Yeah, it's an aura surrounding you. It's about the only thing I can see in a never ending pit of darkness." He said his fist clenching.
She walked around the side of his desk, "You may not have to stay that way much longer, Draco. If you try the operation and see how it goes…who knows what could happen."
He put his head in his hands, "I don't know about it…"
"It's a really good opportunity, Draco…even if it is only for three days; you could see anything and everything you wanted in those three days."
Draco didn't care about seeing all the things Ginny was thinking about, he wanted to see her. Maybe even the bloody git, Blaise. He couldn't help but grin, it would be nice to see everyone again…
"I'll do it."
~*~
But we all bleed the same way as you do
We all have the same things to go through
Hold on...if you feel like letting go
Hold on...it gets better than you know
Don't stop looking you're one step closer
Don't stop searching it's not over...
Hold On - Good Charlotte
~*~Thats So Raven~*~
Well, interesting chapter, no? Sadly, I don't like it. I only like the beginning and end a bit…heh, but I'm just weird like that, and as long as you, the readers, like it, then I'll be happy with it! Thanks for all the reviews, I love them. Do it again, please. =D
Also, the reason I had you pick a number was because I couldn't decide how many days it lasted, and thought I'd be sneaky and have you guys pick without knowing, because surely if you knew, you would have picked 5, right? SO THANKS TO THOSE WHO READ THE AUTHORS NOTE AND PICKED A NUMBER. You helped me with the fic! But who knows, I always have tricks up my sleeve!
~!@*Thats So Raven*@!~