Hermione was beginning to get used to her new sight; learning to notice what everyone else did and acting accordingly. So she could find her way to the end of term feast easily enough – following the groups of people and copying them every time they climbed stairs, pushed open a door or jumped over a trick step.
She froze at the doorway to the hall, noticing the hushed whispers through the room. It didn't take long to see why; Gellert sat at the head table next to Dumbledore, his inky black silhouette unmistakable next to the green and red of McGonagall and the rich purple of Dumbledore. The clash of the two opposing magics was so tangible that she was amazed she'd never noticed it before – the gold of Dumbledore and the blue-black of Grindelwald.
Of course, now that the world knew exactly who he was there was little point him pretending to be a student anymore and from the mutterings, most of the students seemed to believe they could have guessed beforehand. She shuffled to the table, the distinctive red of Ron standing out against the more muted colours of their year mates.
Then suddenly she noticed that Gellert was coming towards her, reaching out to assist her to the table. She shrugged his hand off in annoyance; had he been here the past couple of days, he would know that she could find her way to the table with little trouble.
'What are you back for?' She demanded quietly, knowing that the whole hall was listening to them.
'I'll tell you later.' He said quickly and she scowled. Harry and Ron shuffled to make room for her, the golden boy to her left passing her a plate of food. Gellert seemed to get the message as the two boys closed up around her that he was not welcome because he moved away back to the head table.
'What's he back here for?' Ron whispered to her, his breath warm against her face. She replied that she didn't know, stabbing at the plate until she managed to pick something up on her fork. Harry would have already cut it for her, so she lifted it to her mouth, delighted by the fluffy Yorkshire pudding. Her friends must have known she'd need her mood picked up because they'd even made sure it was soaked in gravy.
'All packed?' She asked quietly and she felt Harry's shoulders shift as he shook his head. Then, the boy-who-lived seemed to remember that she couldn't see him because he verbally denied having packed.
'I found a communication mirror that Sirius gave me.' He said by way of explanation and Hermione winced, reaching across to squeeze his hand reassuringly.
'Dumbledore will get him out soon.' She knew Harry was trying to remain strong for her, despite his godfather's return to Azkaban. She was almost ashamed the she'd been so wrapped up in her own problems that she hadn't even found out about Sirius' incarceration until a couple of days ago. Harry was terrified that the dementors would be focusing on Sirius now that their other captives were their allies, particularly considering the torture he had undergone at Bellatrix's hands.
'Dunno how Malfoy got away though.' Ron muttered mutinously and she looked up to see the yellow-green of Malfoy swaggering into the hall. 'Would have loved to see his face if we'd gotten his dad locked up.'
Hermione had told nobody of how Lucius Malfoy had saved her, meaning that he was outside the anti-apparition wards Dumbledore had set up. She had mumbled something about Dolohov when asked and they had moved onto other topics, which was good because she still hadn't sorted out her feelings on the matter.
'At least he can't take points anymore.' Harry muttered in return, referring to the demotion of the inquisitorial squad.
'They've won the cup haven't they?' she asked, despite already knowing the answer.
'Slytherin, yes.' Harry replied, the surprise and realisation in his voice. It must not have occurred to him that she couldn't see them.
Someone hushed them and Hermione realised with a start that Dumbledore stood at the podium, ready to address them.
She half listened, more interested in watching Gellert behind him, as Dumbledore informed everyone briefly about what had happened at the ministry. They were all awarded points, which felt rather trivial after such an ordeal and Dumbledore clapped his hands, tendrils of his golden magic caressing the ceiling. Boos and cheers filled the hall as Gryffindor was awarded the cup, but Hermione found it tasted a little sour. After all, they'd only ended up in the ministry by breaking a thousand rules, forgetting everything they were supposed to have learned in divination and not to mention, they never would have even escaped Umbridge's office if the Slytherins hadn't stunned themselves.
The bitter feeling persisted right up until she climbed about the train. Harry and Ron had made plans to visit the rest of the DA to say goodbye but she had declined, choosing to remain in the compartment when there were less trunks to trip over.
That was how Gellert managed to find her, slipping through the door and locking it behind him with a tendril of wandless magic. She huffed, turning away from him in a less than subtly hint that she didn't want to talk. He took a seat anyway in the seat opposite.
'I went to India, to visit someone who could help regain your sight.' He said abruptly and she glanced at him in surprise.
'India?' She asked in confusion.
'Yes. A monk who has the animagus form of a unicorn.' He replied and she laughed incredulously, her ire melting away.
'You should have told me, I thought you'd just left me and broken your promise.' She scolded.
'I didn't want to get your hopes up.' He was smiling; she could hear it in his voice.
'Did you find out how?' She asked, unable to conceal her eagerness. She was learning to live with what she had, but regaining true vision would be a dream come true.
'I did.' He confirmed, she gestured for him to continue. 'You were blessed by the same unicorn that cursed Voldemort.' He began, launching into an explanation of how he had discovered that like his own sight, what she had now was a blessing that was overpowering her senses. She nodded along eagerly as he explained how simple meditation would teach her to tune in and out of the 'arcane plane'. What he spoke about was mostly complex, abstract theories but Hermione was enraptured none the less. She would remember every word, then go home and research and practice, until she could see again.
Time must have flown by as he taught her the simple meditations that would begin her journey because they were soon beginning to slow down. He finished his instruction, promising to continue in a couple of weeks.
'A couple of weeks?' She demanded, confused. Usually he spent the whole summer with her.
'Yes, Albus and I have some things to do; the war will escalate now that Voldemort is in the open and the ministry is still looking for me.' He answered and she nodded as though she understood. She did really, but she had grown so used to his presence during the holidays that it would be strange not to see him.
'Is there anything I can help with?' She asked.
'Keep practicing what I showed you today. When you can read again I have something that might interest you.' He offered and she grinned, taking his hand as he helped her step down from the train. Then, something occurred to her and her mood dropped like a lead balloon.
'My parents will be furious.' She almost sobbed and he sighed.
'I don't know how to help with that.' Gellert's voice cracked slightly. 'Come on though. Albus did give me permission to fix one problem.' He said, sounding significantly more upbeat. She took his offered hand, allowing him to wandlessly levitate her trunk and lead her over to Harry and Ron by the barrier.
The crowd parted around the quartet to let them through, although she didn't know whether that was because of the trio's fame or Gellert's infamy. Either way they were among the first back on the platform. She stopped dead as they passed though, only Gellert's hand still linked with hers tugging her out the way before the next group came through. The muggles were bland – their silhouettes were the same as a witch or wizard but they didn't have the sparkle of magic around them.
'Gellert?' She whispered, tugging at his hand. 'How will I find my parents?'
'I'll take you to them.' He replied, 'but first, come with me.'
He took her after Harry, who had stopped facing three of the most boring people she'd seen. The largest was a flat, muddy dark brown, like swamp water. Next to him, a pale khaki green, stick thin woman stood and fractionally behind her a maroonish lump that was both short and fat. She could only assume they were Harry's relatives, the Dursleys.
'Could you spare a moment please?' Gellert interrupted Mr. Dursley's sneering welcome of Harry.
'What do you want?' The unpleasant man demanded and Hermione could imagine his face getting steadily angrier as he took in Gellert's strange appearance. She could picture him now, probably wearing a shirt, open at the neck. He might have dispensed with the woollen jacket because the day was particularly hot and rolled up his sleeves, which would make the scar on the back of his hand stand out. His eyes would probably be the biggest affront to Dursley; they just screamed abnormal.
'I'm just here to introduce myself.' He replied breezily, clapping Harry on the shoulder in a way that was entirely out of character.
'We don't want to be introduced to people like you.' Mrs Dursley said in a high, nasal voice. Gellert laughed a dark laugh.
'No, you don't.' For a moment there was silence as the Dursleys struggled to understand exactly what was going on. 'You see, the law has very little effect on what I can and can't do. In fact, I like to think they're a little too afraid of me to do anything at all.' He drawled. Dudley Dursley made a whimpering noise and scuttled to hide his considerable bulk behind his mother. 'I just thought you'd be interested to know that Harry is a good friend of mine. I do hope you won't mind him keeping in contact with me.'
They breezed away, Hermione unable to hide her sniggering as Harry began to play along, describing just who Gellert was. It would be good to see Harry have a better summer. She almost forgot about her nerves as they approached a lilac and lime couple until they began calling her name.