Life is Beautiful

Disclaimer: No. I did not make up the characters (unfortunately). JK Rowling made them with her wonderful mind. bows down I am forever your servant.

Credits: The title is from a movie called 'La Vita é Bella' or 'Life is Beautiful'.

Summary: After being captured by Voldemort and escaping Hermione is left blind. She has learnt to look after herself and is Head girl in Hogwarts. Unfortunately Head boy is none other than Draco Malfoy. Just because someone is blind does not mean they can't see. The things that you want to do the most are the things that are probably most worth doing and don't let anyone or anything stop you. HrD

Chapter 2: Learning to Live

Professor McGonagall walked stiffly into the compartment glancing at Hermione before announcing "Good morning Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy."

Hermione's head instantly turned into that direction. She managed a small smile, she could tell who it was as the strict Professor's elderly but tuneful voice was very unique.

"It is good to see you two looking so well." McGonagall briefly paused "Now as you know you two are the Heads for this year. With this title comes responsibility and also privileges. You will each get your own private bedroom and bathroom within your house dormitories. You will still share the common rooms with the rest of your house. You may sit with the teachers at meal times but you may also sit with your classmates. It is asked that for the sorting ceremony you sit with the teachers and you will be informed in the future if it is necessary. You also have permission to go to Hogsmeade at any time as long as you are accompaniedbythe other oron rareoccasions a professor." She took a small break in her speech to see that they were taking this all in.

"Your responsibilities include planning and organising events for the school, answering questions from younger students and helping with the first years after the train ride. You are required to assist Hagrid in getting themfrom the boats to Hogwarts after the boat ride. At Hogwarts you must patrol every night in pairs from 10.00-10.30 and 11.00-11.30. The other house prefects will patrol at other times. You will have a meeting together at 9.30 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in my classroom. Do you have any questions?"

She took the silence as an answer and then said "Mr. Malfoy I must now ask that you wait outside for a few minutes while I talk about some issues with Miss. Granger. You will be called in after her for a discussion."

Malfoy looked confused but slowly rose to his feet and stalked out the door.

Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione sadly once she knew Malfoy was safely out the door. She didn't enjoy being the bringer of bad news but someone had to tell her and she didn't trust anyone else. She wondered how to put this.

"Miss. Granger, as you are probably well aware of, a number of the Order, including myself, Professor Lupin, Professor Snape and Dumbledore, have all been researching in an attempt to find a cure for your…condition." She paused and pursed her lips. "I am afraid that we have not be able to find a cure as this is a spell that revolves around your position in relation to a person, namely Lord Voldemort. You must be within half a kilometer in distance from Lord Voldemort for your vision to function correctly. The spell only be removed by the person who cast it. We are going to continue researching but Dumbledore felt it was best not to…get your hopes up."

Hermione was silent for a minute and then she said clearly " I know you didn't want to have to tell me that. I'll just let you know I am not as devastated as you might expect as I knew that their couldn't possibly be a cure." She raised her arms and made questioning gestures "Why would Voldemort put a spell on me that could easily be taken off? I'd rather that you used your time on things like why he didn't kill me and how to help Harry. The poor boy doesn't seem to have a clue what is to come!" She finished with a bang and then turned her head in the other direction, a small tear leaking out of her eye.

Professor McGonagall stared in awe at this girl- well she was hardly a girl any more, this young woman of 17 who was brave and wise beyond her years. McGonagall did something completely out of her character. She knelt down beside Hermione and wrapped her arms around her and whispered. "You can't give up hope! There is still a chance if there is hope."

Hermione reached up and brushed her tears and responded simply " I never completely gave up hope I just prepared myself for disappointment. I think there are more important things than getting my sight back. I can learn to live with it, but I can't live for long with Voldemort back."

Professor McGonagall nodded and stepped away from her. "Yes, I see your logic. You are very brave Hermione, you may go. I assume you don't need help?"

"No, Professor." Hermione replied.

"Good luck." Professor McGonagall ushered her out the door.

"Mr. Malfoy, please come in."

Draco Malfoy walked boldly into the compartment and sat down, crossing his arms. The Professor was obviously surprised at his defiance but kept her hard expression on. She cleared her throat and began almost immediately.

"As you have probably become aware of, Hermione Granger is now blind. I know to you it may be funny and a good time to tease and play pranks on her but she is very vulnerable right now. I am not saying she isn't intelligent, if you did try something she would probably realize and stop it, but she had a hard time mentally and emotionally in the holidays and I think she deserves a few more months to heal completely. Is that understood?" Her eyes bore into Draco as he sat there.

"Yes. I understand that completely. I am not my father. Remember? I turned down the Dark Mark a few weeks ago?" Draco replied defensively.

"I am well aware of that Mr. Malfoy. Thank you for your time, you may go."

With that he stood up and strode out of the room in search of an empty compartment.

Hermione walked bit by bit down the corridor, listening to the sounds from her shoes. She knew that Harry and Ron's compartment was two sections down and then 6 from the entrance to the tram. When she arrived at the compartment she sighed with relief as a wave of accomplishment washed over her. Then she felt clumsily for the handle, turning it and walking in.

"Hermione! How was it?" Exclaimed Ron's enthusiastic voice. "Was McGonagall strict as ever?"

"Oh it was fine…lots of things to do this year." She sighed. I guess I should tell them. She thought

"Malfoy is Headboy." She said quickly so she couldn't change her mind.

"WHAT!" the two boys barked out in surprise.

"Woah…guys calm down…it's not the end of the-"

"If he does anything to you I swear I'll-" threatened Ron

"Just wait till I get my hand on-" Said Harry in a protective voice.

"Boys! Shut up for a minute!" She imagined their surprised faces. "Listen. I don't really care. If I know McGonagall, the talk she gave him after mine would have something to do with this. I'll be fine. I repeat, I…will…be…fine."

"Ok…whatever you say…" the two boys mumbled in embarrassment.

"Good. Now tell me about your holidays. I missed out on a lot it sounds like." Finished Hermione as she let herself be engrossed in the adventures of her friends. If only they knew what happened to me. She thought, totally exasperated as they complained that it rained most of the holidays.

A few minutes later Ginny joined them again, stating that Neville was the most boring boy to be stuck with, in a train, on the face of the earth. She sat down next to Hermione and squeezed her hand.

"Hey you okay?" She whispered so the boys couldn't hear. They were wrapped up thoroughly in a debate about Quidditch anyway.

"Oh, yea. I guess so. I'm hoping being at Hogwarts will help." She replied feebly.

"Hang inthere okay sweetie?" And with another squeeze of her hand she announced to the whole compartment "We need to change now. Boys. Out."

Ginny stood up and shooed them out of the cabin and then helped Hermione find her clothes. Yep. Thought Hermione This year is going to be veeery different.

Draco Malfoy sat grumpily in an empty compartment mulling over his thoughts. He couldn't understand why it bothered him that the mudblood was blind because the Dark Lord captured her. I mean it's not like I care about her. She's friends with Golden Boy! He thought in a frustrated manner But…I can't help feeling a little sorry for her…and a little guilty. I have never liked the way the Dark Lord does things…I wonder if she knows I turned down theDark Mark.He turned to look out the window and saw they were on a brige over a forest. It's funny. Everyone here treats people in other houses like trees in a forest. They never bother to look close enough to find out what makes each of them special. And yet…they all contribute to make a peaceful looking forest. Draco wondered if that train of thought had made any sense at all. In fact he was sure that if anyone had been able to hear his thoughts they would think he was a prize A weirdo. Maybe I'll leave poetry to other people…

When the train stopped and students started to file out Hermione said the two boys could go ahead as Ginny said she would help her get off the train. So as the boys raced off and Hermione and Ginny slowly made their way off the train. Once off Hermione could hear Hagrid's booming voice.

"I'll be fine from here Ginny. I can hear Hagrid. Thank you so much for helping me! I'll see you at the sorting." Ginny gave her a big hug and was off, leaving Hermione to make her way over to the big mans voice.

" 'Ello thar 'Ermione! Yer boat's this way." She felt a big hand on her back steering her forward. "Now yer boat's just thar. Do yer need help gettin' in? Ah, thar yer are Mr. Malfoy. Yer job is ter get both you and 'ermione 'ere inna boat." Hermione heard the man walk off.

She stood there helplessly "Um…can you just tell me exactly where the boat is?" she inquired.

"Hang on…" Came the Slytherin's voice "I'll just get in the boat…"

"Err…yea okay." She replied caustiously. Then suddenly she felt someone grab her hand. She gasped and snatched it away and she heard the boy's voice again.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to startle you! I was just going to help you in the boat!" Hermione took in a big breath and let it out to calm herself. Then she tentatively reached out her hand and let him take it. She put her foot out and lowered herself down, finally feeling the hard, wooden contents of the boat. She then put her other hand (that was not in Malfoy's tight grasp) on the ground and put her other foot in the boat. Then she went to stand up and found that Malfoy's other hand was on the opposite shoulder keeping her steady.

"You okay now?" He questioned "Sit down over here." He pushed boths her shoulders gently and she found herself sitting on a hard wooden bench. She sighed with relief and leaned back a bit, resting.

"Thanks." She said quietly.

"No problem." Came the reply.

After many minutes of silence they felt the boat begin to move. Hermione clutched the sides in fright at the sudden disturbance of the peace.

"It's okay. We're moving." She informed as the speed picked up.

"Oh…ok." She said back uncertainly. It was annoying always being in the dark.

"So…" She heard the boy try to come up with some form of conversation. Obvisously failing she heard no more from him for a few minutes.

"You know, just cause I am blind doesn't mean you have to treat me different. I haven't heard a mean thing out of you since McGonagall talked to you. What did she say?"

She heard him sigh "She told me I had to be a good boy and help you out. God knows why, you seem fine on your own." She pursed her lips.

" I don't mean to sound demanding but she was right. I do need help sometimes."

"What's that? You admit you can't do some things?" She heard the obnoxious boy sneer.

"Yes my ferrety friend. I admit that I cannot do some things for reasons out of my control. Even you can't say it's my fault I was captured and spelled because I am friends with people who may have some information that may be useful. There is no known cure for this except for me to go back to him. Are you happy that your fathers pal had decided to completely change my life so I can no longer be completely independent? Are you happy that I have to spend my foreseeable future in the dark? Well I have news for you. You go write to your precious father, who you would jump off a cliff for, and tell him that I won't give in. I will stay strong and get through this. Just because someone is blind does not mean they cannot see." Hermione took in a deep breath after that long speech andstarted to chewon her lip. She then turned her side to where she believed he was and they didn't speek for the rest of the ride.

A/N: OMG! I actually took a whole week to write this! I am not even sure I like it! I have been in a very, very uninspired mood lately. I'd like to thank neveralone89, a.r.lund and Pussin Boots for their very helpful comments.

Well…tell me what you think!

Delly