A/N Happy belated birthday Zariah. My life has gone through a series of very unfortunate events, but I know you and your other 2 companions want me to update. I hope you enjoy. Instead of asking if I died, words of encouragement might be helpful. I've been stuck on this chapter for a long time.

Chapter 16:

Worries of the Future

Hollyhock, Severus and the Grangers sat in the living room, waiting for the RNIB representative to arrive. The Grangers had received a call the previous day, informing them that someone would be coming to their house today, so had contacted Narcisa and Lucius. They had decided though that Severus should go with Holly alone since they had prior engagements at the ministry. Feebee was in the house somewhere, probably in the kitchen which directly faced the living room with the hallway in between.

"I wonder how this will go," Severus mused as they sat, chatting to pass the time. "I've never experienced anything like this before. Heck to be honest, I didn't know there was such a thing as a blind magic user. Morgan and I have been to visit many libraries in the surrounding countries and either we're missing something, or it's hidden very well. Of course, this cuts into our vacation time."

"The representative will probably just ask a few questions about Holly," Hannah reassured him, looking sympathetic. "He or she will probably want to know what mental level she is at, what her eye condition is, and whether or not she's blind or just visually impaired. They need to know what kind of equipment she'll need."

"Why didn't they ask when we were there a week ago?" Severus asked, watching as Hermione and Holly constructed a fort out of Lego and Duplo blocks.

"Likely, the RNIB person we spoke to didn't have much time," Oliver said with a frown. "Either that, or he was one of those people who thought we were wasting his time. He did ask about living conditions and whether or not her house was easy to get around. He seemed more interested in the home and her safety than anything else."

"Well he should be," piped up Hermione. "Malfoy manor is not easy to get around and Holly could get into lots of accidents on her own. Remember the time she was outside meditating under her tree and forgot to call Feebee to help her back in?"

There was a collective shudder as Severus and the Grangers remembered. The pine sapling was growing well, and it seemed to have grown a natural nook where Holly could sit under its branches. She had gotten out and was walking toward the house, when she ran into the wooden edge of a flower bed and fell full length onto the flowers. The steps were only a few feet away and as she struggled to get away from the magical snapdragons, her clothes were torn and she sustained many small cuts.

The next day, Narcisa had sent Mousy to go replace the flowers with daisies and buttercups but Holly threw a fit. She ran outside, probably smelling the plants she had fell on later and began to stroke the flowers. They tried to snap at her, but it seemed it was only playfully, and the flowers had grown an inch or so over night. A railing was erected from Holly's tree to the house at chest height and since then, she had no more accidents.

Just as Holly placed one last Lego onto the pyramid next to the fort, there was a knock at the door. Oliver got up to answer it and Feebee scurried in, lowering a tea tray onto the table. She vanished back into the kitchen as Oliver lead in a cheerful looking woman with a large box tucked under one arm.

"Just take a seat there, Mrs. Rudy," Oliver said as he sat down. "Holly dear, someone's here to see you."

The slightly plump woman sat down on the end of the sofa beside Morgan and Severus, placing her box down on the ground. Hannah moved a footstool near to Morgan's legs and Holly plopped down on it, carefully taking a cup of tea from her godmother. Hermione climbed into her father's lap and looked Mrs. Rudy straight in the eyes, frowning a little.

"None of this will hurt Holly, will it?" she asked.

"Of course not dear," said Mrs. Rudy as she opened the box and pulled out a few things from inside. "I just need to ask a few questions and do some tests."

Mrs. Rudy had a slight accent. Morgan wondered if it might be German or Russian. After they had all had a calming cup of green tea with rose petals, Mrs. Rudy turned to Hollyhock and began the first of her tests. She held out shapes to the girl, asking what each shape was. Holly looked thoroughly bored with this test, but answered correctly each time.

"She looks like Lily used to when someone was being really stupid," Severus whispered into Morgan's ear.

Morgan tried not to laugh as Mrs. Rudy tested Hollyhock's range of textures, smells, and then as a treat, gave her a pack of gummy bears to test her tastes. She informed Hermione and the adults that Holly seemed to be in perfect order mentally and then asked what her eye condition was. Severus looked blank, but Morgan saved him.

"We think she has retinopathy," said Morgan firmly. "She has been blind since birth, though she hasn't seen many doctors since her first year. We're hoping you can give us some reading materials and study guides so we can homeschool her."

"You would rather do it yourselves?" asked Mrs. Rudy in puzzlement. "I know of at least two schools near here who have a few blind students. I'm sure one of the EAs helping out there wouldn't mind one extra one. This little girl seems very well behaved."

"I assure you ma'am that we are more than capable of helping our little girl learn," said Severus a little frostily. "We only want what's best for her."

"We don't have much to lone unfortunately," said Mrs. Rudy. "If she went to a public school, we could help out more with equipment. We also have staff that regularly checks up on the students."

"We received a grant for over 20000 pounds last month just for Holly's education," said Morgan. "If we need help, of course we will visit the RNIB for tips."

"That's a lot of money," Mrs. Rudy said, looking shocked. "Don't forget to keep in contact with us then, and we'll send out another representative soon to take a look at her home."

Everyone nodded and Mrs. Rudy was shown out of the house. Holly climbed into Morgan's lap and snuggled there, making huffing sounds of annoyance. Morgan just petted her hair and traded looks with Severus.

"Lucius and Narcisa will have to be informed of course," said Oliver after a while. "It is their home she's staying at, and I don't think the grant money story will fly all the way through college and beyond."

"Oliver," said Hannah slowly, "She's going to Hogwarts with Hermione remember? By the time she turns 16, she won't need those items anymore—"

Hannah frowned, her troubled look confusing everyone. She turned and called for Feebee, asking her to take the children outside. Hollyhock didn't want to go, but Morgan convinced her it was a good idea.

"Okay Hannah, spill," said Morgan. "What has you so troubled?"

"Well it's just that…" "Well it's just… How long will it take for her sight to fully return? How long will it take for her to fully adjust to a sighted world? You do realize she will have to learn how to do her reading and writing all over again right?"

"I hadn't thought of that," Severus admitted. "I think a drink or two is in order, preferably before we have to tell Lucius and Narcisa about these new worries."

Oliver nodded and walked to a high cabinet. He took out a few shot glasses and poured out a generous measure of scotch. The adults sat there, clinked glasses, then downed their shots in one go.

A/N What would you like to see next? Where shall Hollyhock, Harry, Draco and Hermione's adventure go next? Please read and review.