This will be a very serious fic.

... Yes, I know all my friends are gasping and running in circles screaming, "OMG! LLLEE IS WRITING SERIOUSLY! IT'S A SMALL MIRACLE! ... OR A SIGN OF THE UPCOMING APOCALYPSE!"

Now, all random urges aside - I want you to actually think about this.

Imagine what it'd be like to live blind. To walk through the world without being able to see it. Darkness. I want you to think about what would make your life more complicated.

You'd never be able to read. Writing would be hard. Color would be a faded memory - if it's a memory at all.

But don't dwell on it too long.

A quote from one of my favorite stories - "Smile, Oliver, the sun is rising."

Yes, your name is not likely to be Oliver, but you get the message.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Oh, and the quote is supposed to be centered. Dang fanfic wasn't letting me center - kept screwing it up. Eh, so is life.

I just reread my story online - it's perfectly fine. How odd. And snooty.


"When you watch someone for long enough, you'll learn more than you'd ever believe.
And the blind... Oh, if you watch a blind man long enough,
You'll find he's blind to nothing at all."

- Tiffany Cohoon


We were running through the Department of Mysteries. Everything was a blur. I turned when I heard Luna gasp, and then gasped myself. Ron had somehow gotten himself cornered. Both Harry and I moved towards him, but it was too late. Much too late.

There was a small flame ball that flew from Lucius Malfoy's wand. It hit him square in the chest.

I didn't have enough time to look away. The ball entered his chest, and he seemed to fold in on himself. Melt, almost. In a second, only a smile pile of ashes sat where Ronald Weasley once stood.

I felt faint, and instinctively shot a obscure curse at the blond snob. He went down, and I scooped the ashes up numbly. I created a small jar to hold it - him - them - oh, I don't know. I tucked the jar and ashes into my pocket before casting a silencer on Dolohov, who was aiming some type of spell at Luna.

He spun towards me, and mouthed a spell. Meranincio. There was a streak of purple light flying towards me. And then all was silent and black.


I could open my eyes. I knew they were open. But everything was black. Dark.

Like when you stare into the deepest parts of a forest - at midnight.

My hearing was suddenly sharp. I could hear soft breathing on one side of me. Someone shifted, cloth sliding against cloth, and the deep breathing continued. I'd never been able to hear things like that.

There was a moan. It came from my right. I recognized the voice... Harry.

He groaned again. He was moving back and forth. I put my hand out towards where I heard him. By some stroke of luck, I grabbed his upper arm.

He continued to writhe. I sat up and swung my bare legs off of the bed. Or at least, it felt like a bed. My feet touched the floor. It was cold, frozen. I shuddered, and then heard a gasp from the person on whom my hand currently sat.

My head swiveled - and I saw nothing. More black.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, his tone marveling.

"I can't see."

He sucked in a huge breath. "You can't?"

His voice shook with my head.

"Why?"

"Dolohov's spell. I recognized it. Is Ron..?" I trailed off.

I could hear Harry shake his head. He caught himself, and said emotionlessly, "No. Ron's... I'm sorry, Hermione. Really."

"He's gone, isn't he?" I, too, seemed to have lost the emotion in my voice.

There was a shuddering breath. He grabbed my hand. "Yeah. I've been staring at his ashes for a while now."

"Can you hand me them, Harry? And my wand?"

He was shaking when he handed me the wand. I held it, relishing the feel of the oak. A smooth jar was put into my hand. All feelings left me like water would from a drain.

I took a breath. "This is for Ron," I kept chanting under my breath. I knew he was dead. And I knew I had one last thing I could do to make sure we could remember him.

So I divided his ashes into two floating piles. Before, I had hated it when he'd told me in great detail of how he wanted to be cremated. Yes, Ronald Weasley was capable of deep thought. He'd said he wanted to be cremated, and then made into two diamonds. One for me to put onto a necklace that I would wear at all times, and one to put into a wizard's watch for Harry.

And so I did just that.

Well, I firstly used a spell I'd found deep in a book. It created the watch - minus a glass covering that went over the part of the watch that faced up. And so I used half of my best friend to create a flat diamond that I slipped into the front of the watch. It was easy work, and I really didn't need to use my sight.

I handed the watch to Harry. "It was his wish for him to be worn by his best friends."

Harry wasn't breathing as I heard him slip the watch on. Then he sighed. "It's beautiful. How - how did you know?"

"I..." ...couldn't finish.

And with that I created a silver (as far as I knew) chain and empty pendant. Then I used the other half of Ron to create the diamond. It must've been exquisite. I could feet that it was roughly the size and shape of an egg. Well, the back was smooth and flat, like it'd been cut down the middle. The front had a graceful curve. Ron would've been happy.

I assembled the necklace silently, feeling it over for any part that could be blemished. Everything was perfect.

Then I slipped it on. The necklace automatically clasped, and I felt comforted. Like Ron was still here - just out of sight. But, sadly, everything was just out of sight for me.

"I'm sorry. This is all my fa - "

"No, Harry. It was my own stupidity. If I would've hit Dolohov with one of a million other curses, this wouldn't have happened."

"But, you're blind now! You can' - "

"No buts. My fault. Now, help me stand."

He was really hesitant. I heard him stand, then take a step to move in front of me. I felt a hand on my shoulder, then one on my wrist. "Do you want help up, too?"

I shook my head and hoisted myself into a standing position. Harry was beside me now. I could hear his breathing.

"You okay? Need water? Food? I can go down to the kitc - "

"Harry."

" - Dobby make some, if you need. And - "

"Harry."

" - have a nice cloa - "

"Harry."

I heard him blink. It was odd how I knew he did. "What?"

"Just tell me if I'm going to trip over something."

I took a few laps around the room, just getting used to not being able to see where I was going. Harry was a perfect guide, maneuvering me around the beds and describing the Hospitial Wing to me in great detail.

I felt I could deal with this hurdle.

Braille would be a new learning experience? I loved learning, right?

"What time is it?"

Harry's hand left my arm for a second. "2:30 am."

"How long have I been asleep?"

I could feel him tense beside me. "Three weeks, six days, four hours, thirty-two minutes."

"Oh."

We were silent for a bit, him steering me gently.

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Have my parents been informed?"

He was quiet.

"Have they?"

"... You've been pronounced as dead."

I took a deep breath. "W-why?"

"You died twice. Madam Pomfrey has been watching you like a hawk."

"Why did someone tell my parents I'm dead?"

I heard him reach up and rub the back of his neck - once again. "Dumbledore said it would be for the best. He said that when you woke up, he had something important to show you and I. Neville, too."

"Ginny?"

"Hermione..."

I could hear him continue, even if he didn't say anything. The words just hung in the air, torturing us both.

Ginny is dead.

"Poor Molly," I muttered.

"Poor Molly," he agreed.

"Is she okay?"

"No. She's doing as well as you can expect for someone in her situation."

I sighed. "So Neville and you are all fine? What about Luna?"

Harry took a small breath. It was more than enough for me to understand.

Luna is dead, too.

"How did she...?"

"She was protecting Ginny after you'd been hit. There was an odd double spell, and suddenly both of them were dead. I checked for pulses... Nothing."

He was guilty. I could feel it. I could nearly see it.

"And... Neville's... Neville's lost an leg."

How could things have gone so wrong? Why?

"He got hit by some spell - Sectumsempra. It hit his leg, there was some blood. That's it. He's fine now. Got some type of muggle walking leg. It's made of steel."

"Ah. I've seen different versions before. But they're really expensive. How'd he buy one?"

Harry paused. "I bought about six of each version for him. He's going through physical therapy. Well, he finished yesterday. Now he's just practicing walking. You can barely notice it now."

I nodded to myself. Poor Neville. Learning to walk again... I couldn't find the strength to do so.

"So only you?"

He nodded, and caught himself again. "Yes." His tone now had a bitter edge. Like I'd just insulted his father to his face. "I'm the only one."

"Who did Dumbledore want?"

"Neville, you, and myself. Once Neville learns how to walk, you get used to seeing nothing, and I 'learn to cope with the guilt'. I'm not sure that's going to happen soon."

I patted him on the shoulder.

"You will." I heard him look at me. "Get over the guilt, I mean."

"No," he said, his voice craacking with emotion.

"Well, I'm about as used to being blind as I can be. Why did Dumbledore want us?"

"Something about a trip."

It was quiet between the two of us for a second. "Where's my clothes?"

He started blushing. I could actually feel the heat. "Over here."

He showed me back to the bed, thrust some clothes into my hands, and hurriedly pulled the curtains around my temporary bed shut. I felt a pair of Muggle jeans, a wool jumper, trainers, and a few other necessities.

I dressed as quickly as I could, trying my best to make sure everything was on like it should be before standing and pulling back the curtain. Harry rushed to my side, and I couldn't help but giggle a little.

Until I remembered Ron wouldn't be here to make some obnoxious comment.

I sobered. Quickly.

"Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the common rooms. Then we'll all go to Dumbledore."

We treaded the familiar path back to the Gryffindor commons, Harry talking about what was around me as he made sure to lead away from anything that could trip me up.

Harry dropped me off by a couch, and ran up to the boys dorms. At least, I believe it was the boy's dorms. I didn't hear him go sliding down.

It was a short time later before I heard the soft clunk of footsteps. I twisted, trying to hear. There were two sets of feet, two sets of breathing. One hitched at the top of the staircase, and then I heard something like: clunk, thum, clunk, thum, clunk, thum. It was someone rushing down the stairs towards me.

"Hermione!"

It was Neville. He sounded surprised. I guess Harry had filled him in up stairs. "Hello, Neville. How are you?"

I felt someone dropping down on the couch beside me. A calloused pair of hands took mine. "I'm fine. How long have you been up?"

I shrugged. "A while. We need to go."

"Yes, yes," Neville sighed. "But firstly, I need you to tell me about what happened to Ron's ashes. And where you got that diamond."

"That diamond is Ron. I converted his ashes. He'd said that he'd seen a commercial - like on muggle TV - for changing the deceased into a diamond. He'd told me..." I choked a little, but continued on. "He told me that he wanted both Harry and I to wear him at all times... So we are."

Neville's voice was full of awe. "You made that diamond? Even when you were blind?"

"Yes. Now, Dumbledore wants us. Do you know why?"

"No. But he did tell Gran that I didn't make it... I can imagine how relieved she must be."

I was quick to shoot that thought down. "No. I bet you she's just as sad as my parents. Now, c'mon. If I run into a wall, I blame you."

He helped me up with a laugh, grabbing my left arm to keep me by his side. Harry was quick to take my other arm. There was only the slight thunk of Neville's prostetic leg on the ground to alert anyone to our presence. Until I was hit with an idea just before the Fat Lady swung closed.

"Harry, do you have the invisibility cloak? Or a trunk? Or my clothes?"

His hand left my right elbow, and I heard him run to the portrait. It is odd how I couldn't see, and yet I knew things like this. Very odd.

"So, Hermione, how are you feeling? Y'know, with the blindness and all?" Neville's voice was soft. Nothing more than a whisper.

"I guess I'm doing fine. I feel so... Dependant. I don't like it. Otherwise, I guess I could get used to living like this. But one of the two of you will have to read to me. A lot."

Neville's laugh was throaty. I'd never noticed that before. Maybe something positive would come from this. Out of nowhere, I was gripped by the sudden urge to see him as best I could. I felt bad about not being able to remember his face that well. We'd been around each other for years, and yet I still couldn't remember his face.

And so I said one of the craziest things I'd ever said. "Neville... Can I touch your face?"

He was startled. I knew that by the way he froze. "Why... Erm... Why would you want to touch my face?"

I laughed a little. "I want to see if I can build a mental picture of you."

I felt him shrug and lean down to my level. I hate this shortness of mine. Really, who needs to be 5'0? It only got you called 'cute' or some other variation. Cute was what you called your cat, not your friend.

I shoved these thoughts aside and tried very hard to wipe my mind of everything. I was very careful as I put my hands on his nose. It was straight, if anything. His eyebrows were thin, and I could feel the wrinkles forming on his forehead. I felt his entire face, pausing only on his sunken in eyes.

Yes, I could tell they were sunken in.

Harry's voice shocked me out of my findings. "Hermione?"

I heard Neville jump back as if Harry had just cursed him. There was a clatter, and then I could hear him pivot towards where Harry's breathing was coming from. I simply turned, reveling in how silent I seemed to be now. Maybe my body was simply being quieter, since it knew I was mostly relying on hearing only.

Whatever the reason, I was quieter as a whole. Everything from my footsteps to my breathing. It was actually very nice. I felt graceful. Never in my life had I felt graceful. Or any type of grace at all. I always felt like the ugly duckling that wasn't turning into a swan any time soon. But now wasn't the time to think of nursery rhymes.

" - Hermione? Are you listening?"

"No, Harry, I wasn't. I was thinking about... Stuff. What were you saying?"

He cleared his throat. "What were you doing, touching Neville's face like that? Is there something that you haven't told me?" The last sentence was joking.

I didn't feel in the mood to laugh.

"Harry," I said, my voice sounding... Odd. Different. Like I'd seen the deaths of many, and had buried them all. A very haunted voice. I didn't like it. Not at all. "I'm not dating Neville. I was trying to get a feel for his face. I'll do the same to you, if it makes you feel better."

Harry managed a weary chuckle. "Later. I've gotten all your things packed, along with Neville's and my own. Let's just go to Dumbledore, tell him you're up."

I smiled at him with a tight, utterly exhausted smile. I heard Neville's mismatched feet coming towards me, and then he was back to holding my left elbow. Harry was at my right seconds later, and we resumed our walk. Harry once again entertained me by telling his own very detailed history of the Fat Lady's life.

But I still couldn't bring myself to laugh. I subconsciously reached for the necklace, which felt like it weighed absolutely nothing at all, and was washed over by a feeling of warmth. The fear was wiped from my mind, as was the depression and tiredness. I felt quite light, actually, and had the sudden urge to begin singing.

I let go of the necklace pendant, and all of the fear came back. All of the pain over loosing many of those near and dear to me. All of the other emotions I couldn't - wouldn't name.

How odd.

"We're there, Hermione. Start namin - "

"Harry Potter," a voice rasped. Harry nodded beside me. "You have been allowed into here without password. Bring your friends."

"Er," Harry stuttered with all of the grace of a man falling down a flight of stairs. "Thanks?"

"Good luck," the voice replied ominously. There was the grinding of stones, and then the soft whoosh of what was the golden eagle statue coming out of the ground. Harry was overly careful as he led me to the top step. Neville was pensive. I could feel the emotion coming off of him in waves.

He, Neville, was the one to lean foreward and knock on the door.

"Come in," Albus Dumbledore's command floated through the air.


You know, review if you're going to review.

I won't demand one.

You are your own person, and whether or not you decide to share your wisdom is your choice.

Thanks,

Leedle-Leedle-Lee