Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. They are all owned by J. K. Rowling but I do own those characters, which you don't recognize.

A week had passed since they had gone to Diagon Alley. Charles had not come to visit yet but Narcissa was somehow sure that he would. Hermione knew better than to ask how she knew that. Draco as usual had been busy with work. He was a little sour about the fact that all of Hermione's work had been loaded onto him and hehad beenforced to do triple the amount. Hermione always did double of what she was asked and Draco was not too pleased with that.

This particular day, Draco came home at around two o'clock with a particularly nasty head ache. He had walked into the parlor groaning, disrupting Hermione from her knitting. The last time she had knit was during Hogwarts when she made clothes for the house elves. Draco stared at her knitting with a look of revolt and fascination before saying, "What exactly is that supposed to be?"

Hermione paused and replied, "It was originally supposed to be a sweater but now, I really have no idea." She was right. You could not tell what it was. Part of what she was knitting had something sticking out on one side but the rest of it was rather long and lanky. Parts of it were also smaller than the rest.

"For once, I agree, Granger," muttered Draco leaning back.

Hermione snorted and said, "That's a shocker." When Draco didn't reply she asked, "Are you alright, Malfoy?"

"Oh yes, I'm positively dandy. What do you think?" he snapped.

"I'd say you got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," replied Hermione, as her fingers got tangled in the yarn.

"For your information, I have a splitting headache."

"What are you telling me that for? Am I supposed to do something about it?"

"A headache potion would be nice."

"Why didn't you ask one of the healers for one? The wards aren't too far from where you work."

"What are you, my mother?" Draco moaned as a spasm shot through his forehead. "Can you just conjure me a potion?"

"Can't you do it yourself? If you can't see, I'm currently in a err...situation here." Hermione's hands were both helplessly tangled in the yarn. She was unable to get it off.

"I can't conjure with a headache. It requires a lot of concentration."

Hermione scowled at him and somehow managed to pull out her wand despite her tangled hands. She muttered something under her breath and a bottle with a greenish black liquid zoomed into the room. Draco caught it and downed the whole thing in one gulp. He set it on the couch where it vanished with a pop. Stretching his arms out, he said, "Much better."

"Oh darn," muttered Hermione.

"Save your sarcasm for another day, Granger," said Draco standing up. "We have some work to do."

"We?" asked Hermione raising an eyebrow. She put down her knitting and turned towards him.

"Yes, we have some work to do. I refuse to do triple the amount of work that I normally do without your help."

"Triple the work?"

"I have your work to do as well," replied Draco turning to face her with disgust on his face.

Hermione sighed and replied, "I always did pity the person who would get my work when I was gone…now, I'm not so sure about that."

Draco looked at her with disbelief before asking, "Are…are you alright?"

Hermione arched her eyebrow at him before saying, "I'm fine. I've just been thinking."

Draco rolled his eyes and replied, "That's never a good thing."

"You be quiet!" snapped Hermione. "There's nothing else to do in this house besides think." She let out a growl and threw her knitting beside her. "I get so sick and tired of being cooped up in here."

Draco regarded her warily for a moment before saying quietly, "Where would you like to go?"

"Outside!" she groaned. "Your mother has put me under house arrest for some unknown reason."

Draco looked at her with puzzlement before replying meekly, "Err…perhaps I could get her to let you out for today?"

Hermione sat up and said, "That would be great. Go do it, Malfoy and don't come back here till you have!"

Draco slowly backed out of the parlor and closed the doors. Muttering to himself about how rude she was, he went to find his mother. It was only when he had found his mother did he realize that she never agreed to help him with his work.

About an hour later, Draco came back with a scowl on his face. He opened up the door to the parlor where he saw Hermione knitting once again. When she didn't acknowledge him, he cleared his throat. When she didn't answer him, he cleared his throat once again.

"Do you need a cough drop? If you do then I suggest you visit Umbridge at the ministry. She has plenty of them, Malfoy." Hermione let a graceful smirk cross her face before turning her head away from her knitting.

"That was not funny, Granger," replied Draco sourly. "Anyways, I talked to mother and she said that you can go out today but-

"But?" asked Hermione placing her knitting in her lap.

"We have to be together."

"Really?"

Draco nodded then mentally slapped himself for forgetting that she couldn't see him. "Yes."

Hermione jutted her lower lip out then after a few seconds said, "Well, I suppose it's better than nothing."

Draco looked at her intriguingly before shaking his head. "Where do you want to go?"

Hermione tilted her head sideways, her face lighting up. Draco's eyes widened as he said, "No, there is no way in hell that I'll ever see one of those muggle pictures again, somewhere else, Granger."

Hermione scowled at the blond before going back to thinking. Finally, she thought of something but she wasn't sure whether it would be such a good idea. "Well, I don't know if you'll want to come but I haven't visited my parents in a while and…"

"Your parents' house, that's it?" asked Draco.

"Yeah, I haven't been home in a while. I've talked to thema while ago but that's about it." Hermione twisted a piece of her hair around her finger before asking, "Can I go there? You don't have to go if you don't want to and if your mother gets mad, I'll say that it's my fault."

"Granger, it's alright, I'll take you," replied Draco running his fingers through his hair. He looked at her and felt himself smile for some odd reason. He had been doing that a lot lately. Every time he looked at her he smiled. It wasn't a cold stare like he normally did. It was a genuine smile. It was odd. She looked worried for some reason though,almost nervous. "Is something wrong?"

"You could say that." Hermione laughed nervously and said, "My parents, they…they don't know that I'm blind." Draco stared at her for a moment before letting a small chuckle escape his lips. A small tinge of pink appeared on Hermione cheeks. "It's not funny, Malfoy."

"Sure it is, Granger," he snickered. "I never thought I'd see the day that you lied to your parents."

"It's not lying if they don't ask," Hermione replied standing up. "Now are we going or not?"

Draco shook his head at her and smiled once again. It was odd.

About half an hour later, Hermione and Draco found themselves outside a very normal looking yellow two story house with a white picket fence. There was a small apple tree in the front yard with a swing dangling off of it. To Draco, it screamed muggles while to Hermione it was just home.

"Is this your house?"

"Is this 1456 Marble Drive?" asked Hermione.

"Yes but…"

"Then it is my house. Would you mind getting me through the gate?" Draco took Hermione's arm while staring at her house and led her through the gate, up the steps, and onto the porch. Right when Draco was about to ring the doorbell, Hermione said, "Wait."

"What?"

"Do you…do you think they'll be disappointed in me?"

Draco looked at her with confusion and said, "Disappointed? About what?"

"You know, I failed at my job, now I'm blind."

Draco snorted and replied, "Well, I don't know about that but they might be upset at you for not telling them."

"Really?" asked Hermione clutching his arm.

He pried her arm off his and replied, "I wouldn't know. My parents never really cared." Draco pushed the doorbell and a few seconds later, the door opened. His eyes met brown eyes much darker than Hermione's belonging to a woman about as tall as Hermione. She had light brown hair that was frizzy with bits of gray in it. Draco also noticed that her teeth were extremely straight and white.

The woman's eyes widened as she saw Hermione. She immediately wrapped her arms around her and said, "Hermione…your father and I haven't seen you for such a long time dear. We've been very worried about you."

Hermione patted her mother on the back while Draco stood awkwardly next to them. Mrs. Granger pulled out of the hug and kissed her daughter's forehead. She smiled then turned to Draco. "Who is this, dear?"

Draco stuck his hand out and mumbled, "Draco Malfoy."

Mrs. Granger's smile faded a bit as she took his hand. "Malfoy, you say? You wouldn't happen to be the same one Hermione always complains about, would you?"

"Er…that would be me," replied Draco uneasily as his grey eyes locked with hers.

She pulled her eyes away from his and turned back to Hermione. "Well, why don't the both of you come in?" Mrs. Granger walked inside leaving Draco and Hermione outside.

"She hasn't noticed," mumbled Hermione softly.

"I know," he replied. Taking her arm, the two of them went inside.

Once they were inside, Draco noticed that it was very warm. Pictures of their family lined the wall along with many certificates of achievement all belonging to Hermione. Draco would never be able to get over the fact that none of the pictures moved.

The two of them followed Hermione's mother into a rather cozy room done up in beige and maroon. Draco helped Hermione sit down then sat down next to her. He could feel Mrs. Granger's eyes following his every move. It made him wonder what Hermione had told her about him.

Mrs. Granger sat on the couch in front of the two and looked at him with narrowed eyes. As she looked at Hermione, her gaze softened. "Hermione, how have you been?"

"Fine, I suppose." Draco nudged Hermione softly and she scowled. "Actually, I-I have something to tell you." She took a deep breath and said, "I thought you would have already figured it out by now but-

"Don't tell me that…" Mrs. Granger looked at the two of them with disappointment. She stood up and said, "I need to call your father." She raced out of the room leaving the two of them alone.

Hermione groaned and shook her head. "She never lets me talk. She always assumes things before I even tell her anything."

"She still hasn't noticed then?"

"No she hasn't," snapped Hermione. "She probably thinks that I've married you or something odd like that."

Draco's face paled a bit. "Married?" he choked out.

"Well, that's what I would assume. I mean, I haven't seen them for about five months and when I finally visit them, I'm here with you." Hermione ran a hand through her hair.

"I guess…that's logical but you and me? Besides, I'm sure that you've told them how much we hate each other so why would they think that we…"

"Honestly, Malfoy, I have no idea." Hermione sat up as she heard both her parents walk into the room.

Draco's eyes widened as he saw her father. He had perfect white teeth like her mother and he was extremely tall. He had dark brown hair that was slightly wavy and Draco could feel an air of authority radiating off of him. He immediately walked towards Hermione and gave her a hug. He turned to Draco and stuck out his hand. "Frank Granger…"

"Draco Malfoy," replied Draco carefully taking the man's hand.

Frank nodded and took a seat next to his wife who had a look of disappointment on her face. "So," began Frank. "When did the two of you…"

"What makes you think we're married, Dad?" asked Hermione coldly. Draco patted her arm comfortingly and Hermione mumbled a quiet "sorry".

"We don't see you for five months and you come home with a boy. What are we supposed to think, dear?" Frank asked.

"That's exactly what you said," mumbled Draco to Hermione.

"I know my parents very well, Malfoy," she replied. She turned to her father and said, "When I said that I had something to tell mother, it wasn't that I got married because I would never get married without telling the two of you."

Hermione's mother stood up and said, "Then why didn't you call us? You know that we have no way of reaching you in the wizarding world, Hermione."

"There's no telephone where I'm staying."

"What do you mean no telephone? You have one in almost every room in your apartment."

"I'm not staying in my apartment," said Hermione raising her voice.

"What do you mean not staying in your apartment?" asked her father. His eyes widened as he said, "You haven't been evicted, have you?"

"Oh, Hermione, that's horrible! Why didn't you tell us? You could have lived here till you found another place to stay," said Mrs. Granger.

"I have not been evicted from my apartment," muttered Hermione through clenched teeth. Draco let out a short chuckle causing Hermione to scowl.

"Then why aren't you staying there?"

"She's living with me and my mother," interjected Draco pulling Hermione back down onto the couch.

Frank raised an eyebrow and said, "At your house?" He and his wife exchanged a glance. "Are you two dating?"

Draco's jaw dropped. Her parents were impossible. He would have run away as a child if he had to live with parents like these. "We-we're not dating."

"Then why is she staying at your house?"

"May I please say something?" yelled Hermione causing the other three to jump. "Firstly, let's get something straight. Malfoy and I are not romantically involved with each other in any way, alright?" Draco smiled as her cheeks turned a pink. She looked very funny. Hermione picked up her cane and brandished it in front of her. "Secondly, what I've been trying to tell you this whole time is that I am blind."

Hermione's parents stood up and gazed at her horrified. "Blind, dear?" asked Mrs. Granger softly. "Blind?"

"Yes, I was injured while on assignment with Malfoy. He took me to the hospital and the healers decided that it would be better if I stayed at his manor then at my apartment."

"What's wrong with here?" asked Frank a bit offended.

"Erm…that's a bit complicated."

"Really? Explain it to us then," snapped Mrs. Granger, clearly hurt by her daughter's statement.

Hermione frowned at her mother and shook her head. "I don't think I will."

"And why not?" her mother asked.

"I refuse to talk to someone who isn't even willing to listen to anything I say." With that, Hermione turned her nose up and sat down on the couch.

Draco touched her arm and whispered, "What are you doing? They want you to tell them, Granger."

"Well, I don't want to tell them," she muttered. "You can tell them if you want to though."

Draco rolled his eyes and looked back at the Grangers who were watching the two with looks of intrigue. Mr. Granger in particular was looking at them with narrowed eyes. "Sir?"

"Are you sure that you are not in any wayromantically involved with my daughter?"

Draco frowned and said, "I am not dating Gra-Hermione." Draco turned to Hermione whose face had turned a shade of red and smirked. He turned back to her parents and said, "Hermione is staying with me and my mother because the healers felt that it would be better for her safety. As an Auror, you make many enemies and as a result, people will try and kill you if you are not on your guard. A blind witch alone is easy prey for anyone. She could have stayed here but then you would needs wards put around your house and that would take a while…" Draco's grey eyes locked with Hermione's blank eyes and he continued. "My manor has had protective wards on it for centuries and as all of her close friends are out of the country, I was the only one left. Rest assured my mother is taking very good care of her."

"We can see that," snapped Mrs. Granger. "But why didn't you tell us, Hermione?"

"I don't know. I thought you'd be disappointed."

"For what?" asked her father. "Disappointed because you became blind?"

"Yes!" said Hermione with a flustered look.

"Hermione, we would never be disappointed in you for something like that. We just wish that you would have told us."

Hermione dropped her head and mumbled, "Sorry."

The Grangers both got up from the couch and gave Hermione a hug, which she gladly returned. Draco on the other hand was a bit uncomfortable. He was not a person for emotional reunions like these. In fact, he preferred to stay as far away from them as he could. He couldn't very well leave her alone here though. She wouldn't even be able to get back to the manor.

After what seemed like an eternity, the family stopped hugging. Hermione was smiling brilliantly while he parents looked at her with equally brilliant smiles. Hermione's mother took Hermione's hand and pulled her up. "Come dear, you must be hungry."

Draco watched as the two of them left for the kitchen. He looked away from them and saw Mr. Granger looking at him with gratitude.

"Mr. Malfoy, we have heard many things about you. Mostly bad things but there were some good things." Mr. Granger looked at Draco for a second before smiling. "Thank you for looking after our daughter. You are forever welcome here." Clapping Draco on the shoulder, he said, "Come to the kitchen, Anna just finished making a delicious apple pie."

Draco got up from the couch and followed the man thinking to himself the whole time about how absurd Hermione's family was. Secretly a part of him wished that his family could have been like this. Life would have been much easier.

It was about ten thirty at night and Draco and Hermione were in Draco's study. Narcissa had gone to sleep a long time ago and had insisted that if Draco was going to be up late then he should have some company. Hermione really didn't mind after all, Draco did take her to see her parents. The least she could do was stay with him. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep leaving Draco to work quietly. He didn't mind. He welcomed the silence.

After silently putting away his papers in his desk, he looked over at Hermione who was sleeping haphazardly on the sofa. She had one arm draped across the pillow that was on top of her and her hair had fallen into her face. Her other arm was touching the ground and her head was on the arm of the sofa.

Draco rolled his eyes as he got up from his chair. Looking down at her, he noticed that she didn't look half bad despite the state she was in. In fact she looked pretty. He immediately frowned when he realized what he had been thinking.

He took her hand which was touching the ground andshook it. "Granger," he said softly.

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and sat up. She pushed her hair out of her face and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Draco pulled her off the couch and into a standing position and said, "No, nothing's wrong. I'm finished with my work so I thought I'd wake you."

"Oh," she replied with a smile. "You could have left me here. I was perfectly fine."

Draco chuckled and said, "Mother would have killed me if I had done that." Handing Hermione her cane, he said, "I'll take you to your room." He took Hermione's arm in his and led her out of the study. The two walked in complete silence towards her room, Hermione with her blank eyes and Draco's grey ones fixed on her.

Once he reached her room, he opened her door and said, "Goodnight, Granger."

"Goodnight, Malfoy." As Draco turned to go, Hermione remembered something. "Wait, don't leave yet!"

Draco turned around and came back to her. "What?"

Hermione hesitantly lifted her hand up. Draco shivered as her cold fingers brushed the side of his face. "Thank you, Malfoy."

"For what?" he asked, his grey eyes piercing hers.

She rested her hand on his cheek and said, "For taking me to my parents' house."

"It's nothing big, Granger. I'm sure your precious Potter and Weasley would have taken you as well."

"No, they wouldn't have. They are far too busy with other things these days and its just not the same anymore."

Draco smirked at her and said, "So I am better at Potter in something."

Hermione smiled and whispered, "So you are."

Draco took his hand up to hers which was still on his cheek and squeezed it reassuringly. He brought her hand down and turning on his heel, he walked away, leaving Hermione leaning on her door frame.