Chapter 9
(Home of Ron and Hermione Weasley)
Hermione sat impatiently by the fire place. He was more than an hour late. Ron had sent her an owl over two hours ago, telling her he would be home in an hour with good news. She twirled her hair around her finger nervously. Damn him. He was always late. She finally gave up and headed for the bedroom to lie down. Just then, she heard a pop.
"Ron? Is that you?"
"I'm not late."
Hermione reached down, took off one shoe and threw it towards Ron's voice.
"Ouch."
She giggled, "That'll teach you."
"Well maybe it's not good news after all, not for me anyways."
"Ron!"
He chuckled. Then, his arms were wrapped around her. "We- err- I did it." He spun her in a circle before letting her go.
Dizzily, she replied, "Did what?"
"Found a cure for your blindness." Ron said wildly.
Hermione's smile faded. "That's impossible." She stepped back.
Ron stepped forward and pulled her into his arms again. "Nothing's impossible, Mione."
"How," she replied shaking her head, "I thought…but he- there is no cure."
"It doesn't matter how. All that matters is that there is one." Ron waited for a response. "Mione, did you hear me?"
"Yeah, I heard you."
"You don't sound happy."
"I am, Ron. It's just-"
"What?"
"I don't know. I don't want to get my hopes up."
"It has nothing to do with that. This is about him isn't it? You want to see him, don't you?"
"What! No!"
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Who are we talking about Mione?"
Hermione's face turned red. "Who are you talking about?"
"Malfoy, we are obliviously talking about Malfoy."
"No we're not. We don't talk about him. Not anymore."
"Really, then who were you talking about?" a voice interrupted. Hermione spun around towards the other voice. Draco never took his eyes off of her, "Weasley, can we have a moment, alone?"
Ron grabbed Hermione's hand, "Just listen to what he has to say. Please." He let go and walked out of the room.
Hermione looked around nervously. Draco circled around her. She turned slowly following the sound of his footsteps.
"You look well, Granger."
"I might say the same, but even blind I can see how much you don't want to be here. So why don't you just tell me what you want?"
Draco smirked, "I missed you too."
Hermione walked over to the couch and sat down. "I'm not in the mood for mind games."
Draco scoffed, "There is a man, in America. He thinks he can cure you."
Hermione looked up towards Draco's voice, "I wasn't aware that there was anything wrong with me."
Draco inhaled deeply. "Well, since there is obliviously nothing wrong with you, I guess I've just wasted the last two months of my life."
Hermione bit her bottom lip and turned her head, trying to hide the tears that had begun to fall from her eyes. "Why are you doing this?"
Draco kneeled down in front her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You know why." He brought her hand to his chest and placed it over his heart, "Do it for Regen and Peca. They're beautiful, Hermione. It's not fair that everyone but you can see how much."
Hermione reached out and touched Draco's face. His cheeks were wet. "What if it doesn't work?"
"What if it does? Are you going to punish me for the rest of my life for one moment of weakness?"
Hermione pulled her hand away. "Is that what it was? A moment of weakness?"
"No, not us, but yes… what I did was out of my weakness for you."
Hermione turned away. "Why did you come here? Why did you waste your time looking for a cure? Nothing has changed. Nothing will change."
Draco brought her fingers to lips and the mouthed words, "Because I could do anything for you. I love you."
Hermione nodded, "I know."
