Ill Love
By Lannereddy aka Reddy
Disclaimer: None of these characters (except for Bridget) belong to me. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
Summary: Hermione has to take care of her fiancé, Harry, after he is cursed and left to live his life with a critical condition.
Hermione slowly sipped her coffee as she walked from the lounge area into her kitchen. Her soft and fuzzy Barney slippers were sliding gracefully across the smooth and polished wooden floor. Her eyes had a calm and peaceful glazed look about them and as for the way she was humming to herself, she must have been on top of the world.
She started when she heard a flutter of wings and saw Hedwig flapping into her kitchen with a roll of parchment attached to her foot with a black ribbon. Hermione's face fell and all the blood drained from it as she dropped her mug and it shattered on her floor, the black coffee spilling everywhere. She fumbled about, as her breaths taken in where ragged gasps, to untie the black ribbon. As she finally got it undone, she unrolled the parchment and read.
H, Come now! It's Harry.
-Draco
Hermione dropped the parchment and it was if she was swimming through water. Everything was in slow motion as she bolted from the kitchen, as fast as her slippers would allow her, and failed to notice the black and silver envelope sitting in her owl tray from the Ministry of Magic.
Dear Ms. Granger,
We regret to inform you that your fiancé, Mr. Harry James Potter, has been seriously wounded in battle against the remaining Death Eaters from the defeated Dark Lord's league. He is currently at the St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies undergoing treatment. We are very sorry.
Hermione - We don't know how it happened. Draco is going by to collect Harry from the hospital. Meet them at Harry's flat. Owl me if you need anything.
Alicia Spinnet
Auror Department
Ministry of Magic, United Kingdom.
Hermione ran upstairs and grabbed her wand off her bedside table. She did not even notice that the tears had started and were leaving stains on her usually rosy cheeks. She swung her wand arm wildly and her room erupted into chaos, clothes, books, shoes, toiletries and sheets of parchment along with quills zoomed all over the place as they were packed into her suitcase. She rummaged around her rubbish bin and pulled out a blown light bulb.
"Portus." Her voice came out dry and raspy.
She grabbed hold of her suitcase and was gone within seconds.
Draco Malfoy was leaning against the wall and staring into space when Hermione arrived in the sitting room of Harry's flat. She dropped her suitcase and Draco walked over to her, embracing her.
"What happened?" she asked softly, her eyes darting across the ceiling. "What happened to him?"
Draco stepped back and rubbed her shoulders comfortingly. "Sit down love."
Hermione did not protest as she reached blindly for the sofa and sat gingerly. Draco pulled up a chair and sat beside her.
"There was a battle at Dover…"
"Dover?"
Draco nodded feverishly. "Yes Dover. Now, don't say anything until I'm through."
Hermione shook her head as more tears ran down her face. She placed her head in her hands and rocked slowly.
"I'm sorry," she choked. "But when I saw the black ribbon, I have not…"
"Shhh." Draco tried to relax her as he rubbed her back. "I only used it to prepare you before you got here."
Hermione shrugged his hand off and nodded, folding her arms in her lap. Draco took that as a sign to continue.
"Do you remember that tip you had received?"
Hermione nodded, clearly remembering the day she had been talking to Alicia Spinnet about her new assignment when the tip arrived. A man by the name of Julius McKenzie had come in from Scotland with news regarding the latest stir with the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters refused to let go after their master perished at the hands of Harry Potter eleven years ago during Harry's last year at Hogwarts. Julius, who was well acquainted with the Aurors, wanted to meet them at Dover. He would find them, he had written.
"It was a trap."
Hermione gasped and the tears came again.
"There was the whole league of Death Eaters there. They just opened wand fire on us. They were not only using forbidden curses, but curses that make limbs tear apart, that cause disembowelment." Draco looked away and rubbed his face. He looked exhausted. "They sent a disembowelment curse at Harry…"
Hermione broke down immediately and Draco's head snapped up to look at her. His eyes widened with realization.
"No! No! Harry didn't get it! It was Ron! Ron took the curse for Harry."
He stopped as Hermione's eyes widened in fright.
"Is Ron okay?"
Draco shook his head solemnly and Hermione fidgeted nervously with a loose thread on her skirt and shook her head disbelievingly.
"Harry saw what happened and ran down the Death Eater in a rage. Another Death Eater nearby saw this and sent a curse at Harry, knocking him unconscious. When he woke up…when he…when he woke up…"
Hermione glared at him. "What? When he woke up what?"
Draco's jaw clenched and he whispered, "He was blind."
***
Hermione stood outside Harry's bedroom door, unable to move, unable to lift her arm and use it open the door to see the love of her life, her fiancée. She ran upstairs to go see him and hug him, to reassure him, but she could not, not when she needed reassurance herself. She sighed and turned away, her fingers at her temples trying to relieve the stress. Then as if inspiration took hold of her, she flung open the door and it hit the wall with a resounding bang.
"No! Too loud! Who's there?"
Harry was lying on his bed, crying. His hands went to cover his ears and he immediately curled up in a fetal position. He was wearing a white vest which was soaked through with his perspiration, and his boxer shorts.
Hermione stood there in shock, scared stiff as she watched him. He tentatively removed his hands and looked around, blindly. Suddenly, he sat up and scrambled backwards, hitting his head on the headboard and he howled in pain. Hermione ran two steps towards him, but then he shouted.
"Who is there?" He clutched at his arms and his face crumpled as he cried out tearfully. "Don't hurt me! Please! WHO IS THERE?"
"It's me!" Hermione cried back, unable to hold back the sobs. She continued her run and Harry's eyes opened in fright.
"No! No! You can't! Whoever you are! Don't look at me! Don't see me like…like…DON'T Look at me!" His hands scratched at the headboard, his eyes focused downwards, unseeing and blank.
Hermione climbed on to the bed, sobbing and grabbed at Harry before he could move away from her. Reflexes took over and he pushed her off him and she hit the floor. She lay there for a few moments in shock and then loud wracking sobs took over her body.
"Oh Harry," she cried. "It's me...Hermione."
Harry clutched at his hair and raised himself on to his knees. He stretched out his arms and felt the air for her.
"Where…where are you?" He cried.
Hermione got up as fast as she could and reached out to grab Harry's hands which held on to hers tightly. She pulled him and he turned to face her.
"Oh baby," she whispered chokingly. "My baby."
She moved his arms to wrap around her waist and she held his head to her chest tightly. Harry tried to say something, but he was sobbing too much for his words to be understood.
"Shh," Hermione cooed. "I love you and I am here for you."
He smothered his face among her breasts and cried and cried.
***
Harry eventually went to sleep in Hermione's arms. She tucked him and made sure he was warm before she left the room, leaving the door open. Instead of finding Draco, as she had expected, she found Ginny Weasley. Ginny was sitting nervously on the settee, biting her nails. She jumped out when she heard Hermione coming down the stairs.
Hermione stood there and looked at her for a long while before she ran into Ginny's arms and broke down for the thousandth time that day.
"What is he doing?" Ginny asked quietly with a slight frown on her face.
Hermione backed away and stood with an arm on her waist and one at her forehead.
"He's sleeping now. Ginny…went I first saw him…he looked crazy. He looked like he had lost his sanity. He was sweating and crying and he was so scared…"
Ginny's hand flew to her mouth in horror and she too started to cry.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know!" Hermione cried as she started to pace. "Harry is fucking blind! I love him, but he's fucking blind!"
"You're not…not going to leave him are you?" Ginny asked as her eyes followed Hermione.
Hermione stopped and stood there stiffly. "No! I can't. I love him too much. But…our future…together…is not the same."
***
Harry was awake as he listened to Hermione's and Ginny's conversation downstairs. He felt the hope drain out him and boy under the cupboard return when he heard Hermione say that he was fucking blind. He knew she did not mean it in a bad way, but he could not help thinking that it was probably best if she left. What kind of future could he give her?
His eyes fluttered close and sleep overtook him once more.
***
It was nine o'clock in the evening and Harry had been sleeping for eight hours. Hermione had a lot of books spread out around her as she researched and tried to figure out what could have caused Harry's blindness. Her bushy hair was pinned up in a messy pony tail and her glasses were slipping down her nose. She leaned back and spread her arms as she stretched and thought that she may cook something for Harry so when he woke up he would not be hungry.
She rummaged through the refrigerator and saw the usual bachelor groceries; eggs, bread, butter, milk, beer, orange juice, ham, lettuce and tomato. She whipped up an omelet with some toast and had just put a heating charm on it when she heard a slow rumbling then a tumble and thud. She stopped for a moment, listening, and then she ran outside gasping when she found Harry sprawled out at the foot of the stairs. She ran over to him and dropped to the floor beside him, gripping his shoulders, tightly, as if to stop the shaking of her own hands.
"Harry? Are you all right?"
Harry grimaced and shrugged her off. He could not see the hurt expression on her face as he struggled to sit up.
"I am as fucking all right as I'll ever fucking be."
Harry was disheveled, his disobedient hair standing up more than usual. That was when Hermione noticed that he was not wearing his glasses. His eyes looked so naked, the green stood in sharp relief against the purple hue of his eyelids and the bloodshot red.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, tearing her eyes away from him. "I heard you fall…so I came."
Harry's back was turned to her, but upon hearing her speak, he turned his head to listen.
"Why haven't you left yet?" He asked miserably.
Hermione frowned. "Why would I leave you?"
Harry gritted his teeth. "I heard yours and Ginny's conversation. I expected you to be gone by now."
Hermione gasped and sat there still. "Harry, you can't expect me to be thrilled that you've lost your sight! There is no way on earth I'd be happy about any of this! I am angry…"
Harry spun around and faced the kitchen door, thinking he was focused on her.
"You made it sound as if it was my fault that I went and lost my sight!"
Hermione bit on her fist as a sob broke out. Harry's anger quickly evaporated as he heard the body wracking sobs issued from her, and his mouth turned down as misery took him over.
"Harry…I LOVE you! I am angry and pissed at whatever twisted fate is out to make our lives so difficult! But don't you ever think…" She leaned over and took hold of her face in her hands, "that I would ever leave you! You are my best friend, my lover, my soulmate and we are getting married. I will take care of you and help you overcome this! You are mine to love as I am yours and we will work through this…together!" she managed to choke out.
Tears were leaking from Harry's eyes and he lifted his hand to touch Hermione's face. She glanced over and saw it moving around in circles and she guided it to caress her cheek. He then lifted his other hand and it found its way on its own to her other cheek. He exhaled as his thumbs gently brushed over cheekbones and nose. She closed her eyes as his forefingers passed over her lashes. A sob escaped him and Hermione's eyes fluttered open to see him staring into space, his eyes held wonder and awe and his lips were slightly parted. His tongue darted out to moisten them and he gasped.
"You are so beautiful. You're just as how I remember you."
Hermione smiled tearfully and she guided his fingers to her lips.
"You're smiling," he whispered.
"Mhmm."
"What are you wearing?" he asked a bit shyly.
"A light green cotton skirt and a white tank top." His hands ventured down to her neck and she closed her eyes in appreciation as she arched herself to feel him.
"My hair is pinned up…" she stopped as Harry moved his hands to the back of her head and pulled the band out of her hair, allowing her thick brown locks to fall loosely to her waist.
He opened his legs and Hermione pushed him back gently until his back rested against the wall. She settled herself in between his legs, her legs over his as he continued touching her.
"I want to feel your breasts," he said softly, almost reverently.
Hermione frowned a little. "I don't think that is such a good idea Harry. You need your rest…"
"Just!" he cut her off. "Just let me…feel them."
Hermione guided his hands to the end of her top and he slowly pushed it up and off her body. Her nipples hardened as soon as Harry's hands touched her stomach. She controlled her breathing as gently moved his hands upwards, grazing her skin with his finger tips.
"I feel the curve," he said in a rush. Hermione waited.
His thumbs found her nipples and he rubbed. He continued rubbing, more frantic as moments went by and he heard no sound from her.
"I won't stop until you give in." he said.
Hermione gritted her teeth against the feeling between her legs. "We shouldn't Harry."
He rubbed harder and Hermione's eyes widened as she felt his growth gently push against her. Hermione reached up and moved his hands away. He wrapped his arms around her waist and used wand less magic to remove the remaining clothes on both of them. In an instant, upon freedom from the restraint of his pants, his member slid inside of Hermione.
The warm plate of food was forgotten.
***
Instead of waking up curved against Harry's body, her back to him, with him curled protectively around her; Hermione woke up with her body cocooned around Harry's with his head nestled in her breasts. Somehow she had guided him to bed after their lovemaking at the foot of the stairs and this was the first time since she heard the news that she allowed herself to dwell on Ron's death. She vaguely wondered if she would ever stop crying as more tears ran down her face. This led to the moment when she realized that hers and Harry's relationship had evolved into something deeper and blind to regular sight.
He had reached behind him to rub her hip comfortingly.
"I know sweetheart. I miss him too."
***
Weeks had gone by and it was now July 31st. Hermione was preparing The Burrow for Harry's 29th birthday and it was going to be a surprise party. Fred and George were with him at his flat keeping his company until it was time to bring him over. This would be the first time he was leaving the flat since he became blind and Hermione could not have asked for a better opportunity to do so where the environment was familiar.
A couple of hours later, Hermione flooed Fred and George and told them it was time. A few minutes later, Fred came through the fire by himself and called Hermione over.
"He won't come," he whispered.
Hermione frowned in confusion. "Why?"
"He says he is not leaving unless you say it's okay and unless you're there."
Hermione bit her lip and nodded before patting Fred's shoulder. "Thanks. I'll just apparate there."
Hermione popped into the living room and saw Harry sitting stiffly on the settee with George. George looked up and saw her and apparated with a wave. She walked over and sat beside Harry.
"So…what's up?"
Harry shrugged, the miserable slump in his shoulders more prominent than ever. "I hate this."
"I know you do love," she said as she reached over and held his hand.
"I am scared to go over and have the Weasleys see me like this."
Hermione sighed and kissed his cheek. "You look handsome."
He turned his head to face her. "What am I wearing?"
She smiled and snuggled up to him, his arm pulling her in tighter.
"A beautiful green silk shirt and neatly ironed black trousers with your black doc martens shined to perfection."
Harry smiled. "I must look like a hottie."
Hermione giggled. "You're MY hottie, Potter…and you'd do best to keep that in mind."
Harry reached up to push his glasses up his nose, but realized they were not there. He sighed.
"I can still feel them you know? I need to remember I have no use for them."
Hermione turned his face so she could look into his eyes.
"Yes, but I can see your beautiful and bright green eyes, like jewels, shining every time I look at you. Your glasses hid those, and now…they are so beautiful…emerald. I can see your soul without having to look through a window. Your soul is so precious Harry, a jewel like the emerald. It's there without it being behind your glasses. It's the most beautiful thing in this world that I have ever seen."
Harry's eyes watered. "I'm ready."
Hermione nodded and took his hand. "Ready to apparate?"
He nodded and closed his eyes as he and Hermione disappeared together.
***
It was Christmas, two years after he lost his sight. Harry was walking through the cobbled stone streets in Hogsmeade with a white cane. He loved to floo over from Edinburgh just to walk around while Hermione was at work. They had got married in a small ceremony in Aberdeen last Christmas and moved from London to be somewhere quieter where they could one day start a family. She flooed to London everyday to finish up her remaining paperwork and complete her mission regarding the illegal smuggling of potions, before she resigned from her job. They had received offers from Hogwarts to start teaching there the following school year and they had thought it was a great way for them to be and work together. He would be teaching History of Magic, as he could not teach anything practical, and take over from Professor McGonagall as Head of Gryffindor once she retired at the end of the year. Hermione would be teaching potions and Professor Snape finally got the Defense against the Dark Arts teaching position he had desired all these years.
Harry refused to wear dark glasses to 'darken his vision anymore,' as he had put it, when he went out in public. He was wearing a black coat underneath his cloak and every time he walked down these streets, he could hear the younger children whispering among themselves.
"There he is! They say he comes here to eat the children!"
"Oh no! Should we leave?"
"Oh shut up! He's blind can't you tell you nitty brain?"
Harry cleared his throat and held his head even higher as he moved slowly through the village, gently tapping his cane in front of him.
"Good morning Mr. Potter!"
Harry tentatively raised a hand in greeting and stared straight ahead as he carried on.
"Oi! Harry!"
Harry tilted his head this and that way as he glanced around in confusion, then made a decision to turn right, tapping his cane in front of him as he moved.
"Hello?" Harry called out.
"Excuse me…oops, sorry sir…" Harry heard shuffling and a box of bells hitting the ground.
"Harry Potter! Oh my God…"
"Seamus?"
"Yeh…oh…shit."
"Harry frowned and reached out a hand. "Are you okay?"
"Yeh…yeh. I didn't know that…that you…"
Harry smiled weakly, hoping to reassure the man with the unmistakable sorrow in his voice. "Uh, well yes. I am blind. Got into a bit of a spat with the Death Eaters and they cursed me to a lifetime of darkness!"
Harry raised his arms to emphasize the sarcastic grandeur of his situation and ended up whacking one of the children, who was talking about him, in the head.
"Ouch!"
Harry spun around and searched the air for a moment then looked down. "Sorry!" he called out. "I'm so sorry!"
More than one children screamed and he heard the pattering of little feet as they ran off.
Seamus stood there in confusion. "Are they scared of you?"
Harry chuckled bitterly. "Yeh, well. I eat them, so I don't blame them you see."
***
It was just after Hermione's 33rd birthday when she had found out she was two months pregnant with Harry's child. Madam Pomfrey told her it was a girl. Harry and Hermione had finally settled in at Hogwarts and classes were going smoothly. Professor Dumbledore had taught Harry Braille along with a spell that Harry could use to change his students' writing and tests into Braille. It was not as much trouble for Harry to settle in as he and Hermione thought it would be. If he got lost, the portraits would guide him back or one of the Hogwarts ghosts. Peeves had even taken to tugging Harry along through the corridors if he happened to come across the lost professor. Harry could hear the staircases gearing to move before they even started, so he knew not to get on. The students were also very cooperative and moved aside when they saw Professor Potter coming through with his cane.
Harry was standing behind Hermione in their kitchenette rubbing her shoulders and back as she cringed in pain. The baby was due any day now. She could not stop sweating and she felt the non-stop movements of the restless child.
"Oh Harry," she moaned.
"What is it love?" he answered softly.
"Fuck me."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he felt the temperature in the room rise steadily. The command had been so throaty and was enough for him to want to spin his very pregnant, but undeniably sexy wife around, and have his way with her on top of the kitchen sink. "The baby…"
"That's the whole point. Fuck me so I can get this baby out! She won't stop moving."
As hard as it was for Harry to contain himself, he reached around her and rubbed her stomach soothingly. She leaned back against him as she felt the baby calm.
"She knows her daddy's hands," he said with a smile.
Hermione sighed in relief and a smile crossed her features too. "Of course she knows her…ah…ah…"
She jerked away from Harry as she bent forward suddenly. Harry heard liquid splash and felt some on his bare feet.
"What happened?" he asked in shock.
His answer was Hermione's scream and ragged breathing.
"The baby!" she cried out. "Oh my God! I'm in la….ahh…bour."
And then she was gone. He heard her moving around and as well as the chairs. He walked around, feeling the air and squinting in concentration as he tried to find her.
"Where are you?"
"Harry…help…I am in so much pain!" she cried.
He then heard a thud.
"Hermione?" he called out, feeling along the counter top and knocking over glasses which fell to the floor and shattered. He stepped on a shard and cried out in pain before swiftly moving away and tripping over a fallen chair. He fell and did not bother to get up as he crawled on his knees to find his wife.
"Hermione?"
No answer.
***
"She has black hair and blue eyes which I am sure will turn green soon."
Harry chuckled tiredly and rested his head against Hermione's, his eyes closed.
Hermione worried her lip and reached up to lay her hand on his cheek.
"I am sorry I made you fret."
Harry smiled and groped around for a bit before taking hold of her hand to kiss it. "You fainted, you couldn't help it. The pain was just too strong."
"But I let you down and I made you panic and I…"
"Don't," he said softly upon hearing her voice crack. "I love you and it was fine. I got Madam Pomfrey and she fixed you up. Everything will be okay. We have a healthy girl and she is beautiful. We are blessed."
Hermione stared at him in awe. "You're right. We are blessed."
***
"Daddy catch me!"
Harry spun around. "No! Bridget no!"
But it was too late, and Harry ended up feeling his way along the carpet to find his crying four year old girl.
Hermione rushed into the room. "What happened?"
Harry was rocking his daughter back and forth, tears streaming from his own eyes, as her crying hushed.
"Daddy didn't catch me," she wailed, her brown eyes sparkling with tears and her lips in a pout.
"Oh," Hermione soothed and kneeled beside her. "Remember what we spoke about Bridget. Daddy can't see, so he can't see when you're jumping off the bed and into his arms."
"Oh." Comprehension dawned on Bridget's four year old face. She looked up at her daddy who was sitting there, still, with his arms loosely around her and tear stains on his cheeks.
"Sorry daddy," she said. "I forgot."
Harry gently smiled and felt around for her face so he could kiss her forehead.
"That's okay Tinkerbell. I'm sorry I couldn't catch you."
Bridget kissed her father's nose and bounded up before running out of the room. Hermione watched her leave then turned to Harry who was sad all of a sudden.
"It's not your fault." She said.
Harry sighed. "I know."
***
It was Bridget's first year at Hogwarts when it happened. Harry was now well acquainted with his life as a blind man and was as fully independent as he used to be. He had walked into Hermione's office in the dungeon and smelled a pungent odor. His face squirmed in disgust.
"What are you brewing?"
"Nothing anymore. It's ready."
"What is?"
"Lean back."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
He did and Hermione leaned over with small silver ladle, no bigger than her forefinger and poured two drops of her potion into each of Harry's eyes. He blinked in surprise then suddenly shut his eyes tightly. He cried out in pain and Hermione held on to him until the pain subsided. Her face was awash with nerves, pale, yet hopeful.
"Open them," she said.
Harry blinked and closed his eyes again.
"Too bright," he rasped out.
A bright grin spread across Hermione's face and tears ran down her cheeks. She let go of Harry and fumbled for her wand, all the while not taking her eyes off him. She flicked it and all the lights went out.
"Open them," she said again.
Harry did and this time he cried out in surprise. He got up and tilted for a bit. Hermione reached out to him and helped him steady himself.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Yes," he said and gulped, "just dizzy."
"Okay, are you ready for the lights?"
He smiled. "Yes."
She flicked her wand again and this time, one candle came on.
Harry screamed with joy, lifting his wife and spinning her around.
"Oh my God! I can see! I can see you!"
He broke down and started crying along with Hermione. He grazed his fingers across her skin, mentally matching the feel with the sight. He revered every smile line, the graceful curve of her nose, the eyelashes against her cheeks, and the softness of her lips; and as they cried for a long time in each other's arms, Hermione allowed the candles to come back on, one by one.
Harry stared at her with his red rimmed eyes and gasped, his face crumpling in disbelief and pure, untarnished happiness.
"You are so beautiful. You have some grey hair, but it's silvery like a unicorn. Your eyes…they are pools that comfort me. And now I can see into the depths of your soul…oh beautiful, your eyes hold so much more wisdom than when I last saw you. "
"Which was…?"
"Sixteen years ago."
Hermione's bottom lip trembled. "That spark is back…the spark that left your eyes all those years ago."
Harry smiled, but then he frowned.
"How did you know and how…?
Hermione held up a hand and he stopped talking.
"I was researching on a curse that could have cause this blindness, but I couldn't find it. I had given up on the research and devoted myself to you and helping you make the best out of the situation. I had lost hope that you would make a full recovery and I was just thankful and prayed everyday, thanking God that I you had not died, and you were alive, with me…until that day before your birthday. Remember that surprise party we had for you at the Burrow just after you went blind?"
Harry nodded, afraid to speak.
"I told you how green your eyes were. I could hear the pieces sliding around and clicking as they found where they belonged. Your blindness was starting to make sense in a way, and I figured that I was taking the wrong route all that time. They, your eyes, didn't lose their colour or anything. They looked as if you could see, not the typical cloudy look. I did more research upon blindness and magic. All that time wasted, I was looking for a counter curse for something like the blindness curse used on dragons. What I should have been looking for was a potion that causes masked blindness. The curse had no effect on you except to create the poison. I found this old potions book at the ministry that had an antidote for the poison that was making you blind."
Harry frowned in shock. "Poison?"
"The curse that you were cursed with, warped the sight cells in your brain as well as the muscles in your eye and your retina. They were made to secrete these liquids that mixed and created a poison, like a potion, to cause you to lose your sight."
Harry gasped.
"It takes twenty years before you go truly blind. You were not blind all this time. The poison has twenty years before it takes effect and then there is no turning back."
Hermione looked deeply into his eyes and smiled bitterly.
"It took me the better part of six years to get the ingredients from the centaurs and have the Bloody Baron advise me on the potion making. It is an ancient poison he would know about. Then it takes ten years to brew and it finished today. It repairs all the damage and kills the poisonous cells."
There was silence for a while, and then Harry spoke, his voice, the steadiest it had been since this revelation.
"Thank you."
Hermione shook her head. "No…thank you," she placed her palms flat against his cheeks, "for the best sixteen years of my life. I got to know you on such a deeper and truer level and now, we have the rest of our lives to see the fruits of our labour."
They kissed and Harry kept his eyes open the whole time. When they broke away, Hermione took his hand.
"Are you ready to meet everyone?"
Harry nodded. "But first," he said, "let me see…let me see my daughter for the first time."
Hermione nodded. "Okay."
They walked out of her office, leaving the white cane behind.
*The End*