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 4: Time to Forgive

The next morning, both Hermione and Draco were woken up and told that they would be moving into their separate bedrooms today. Their belongings had, of course, already been sent to their rooms so all they had to do was get dressed and go back to their house dormitories. They took turns going into the Hospital Wing bathroom and individually freshened up and got dressed into their uniforms. Draco noticed that Hermione didn't take that much longer than him, and silently he was impressed. She had obviously learnt to look after herself and was able to function as a normal person, apart from a few things that even sometimes people with perfect vision have trouble with. I wonder if she can read and write? He wondered. There are so many questions that I want to ask her but she has to trust me first. Otherwise she won't answer them will she? I'll have to do something about that.

When they were both ready to go Hermione surprised Draco. "Malfoy, I'm sorry to ask but um…would you?…could you please take me to my dorm?" She took a deep breath, obviously embarrassed. "I…I haven't had the chance to get to know my way there from the Hospital Wing." She stood there, head facing towards him but eyes unfocused. So as usual he told her everything that she needed to know.

"Sure." He replied "But you'll have to tell me where it is, because I don't make a habit of going to the Gryffindor dorm. Obviously."

"Oh! Of course. I was expecting you to say no! I was already making up a speech to make you feel bad about it. It was rather good I thought... oh well. Thank you." Hermione sighed and chuckled with relief.

"Do you want to take my arm?" Questioned Draco with a smile as he found it wonderful to hear her laugh. It was something he hadn't seen her do much since they had been around each other.

"Uhh…sure. It would certainly make it easier…with my err…condition and all." Hermione answered, placing a tentative hand on his lower right arm. Draco noticed a blush had tinted her cheeks. She looks so gorge…wait…ahem. He stopped that train of thought quickly. They both strode out the door, Hermione directing. "You have to go down the 2 flights of stairs by the suit of armor that has a gas problem…"

A few minutes later Draco, with Hermione on his arm, was making his way up the last flight of stairs to the portrait hole for Gryffindor. He was just about to turn and say to her that there was only five steps left when he heard two people yelling and thundering up the stairs. Just as he turned to see who was making all the racket he was shoved roughly down the stairs, banging his head at the bottom. As pain shot through his body he found himself lying on his back trying to remember how to breathe.

"Ouch…!" Draco groaned as the back of his head throbbed. "What the hell was that for?" He opened his eyes to see none other than Golden Boy and Weasel standing either side of a confused looking Hermione. He smirked and said "Ah. I see."

" Don't mess with her, Malfoy!" Ron Weasley said, trying to sound as menacing as possible but Draco could help but think that his little sister did a better job in that area. "She is our friend and I won't let you hurt her!"

"Ron! He was just helping me back to the dorm! There was absolutely no reason for you to hurt him!" Hermione exclaimed, finding her voice finally. "Did you throw him down the stairs? Malfoy? Are you all right? Harry are to you there too?" By now she looked ready to have a breakdown of some sort.

"I'm alright, Granger. And yes, Potter is on your left." Then, he sat up, placed his hands on the cold marble floor and pushed himself into standing position. Reaching up to the back of his head his fingers ran over a bump that was just threatening to turn very nasty. He slowing examined his condition under the glaring eyes of the Glory Brothers and brushed himself off. Then he looked up with an ice-stare. "Well. I thought Gryffindor's were all for doing good. Ex-cuse me for trying to help someone. I can see she is in-" He cleared his throat. "-good hands. I shall not 'burden' you with my presence any longer." And with that he turned on his heal and made to walk away but not before throwing over his shoulder. "Oh by the way Weasel, I would work on that menacing glare. It makes you look like you're about to crap your pants. See you later Granger." He smirked as he heard a scuffle of Potter trying to stop Weasley from running after him. Ah. Life was good.

The first day of school was never fun, but Draco did like getting back into routine. He was especially pleased to see that he had potions as his very first class. During this lesson he was happily paired with Blaise Zabini (possibly the only Slytherin with any talent for the subject) and spent the rest of the time answering Professor Snape's difficult theory questions. Yes, he knew he was a suck up but…psh. Whatever. You only live once. It was when he saw Hermione's grateful smile when Potter handed her a bit of paper she had dropped that he remembered that he was supposed to have a meeting with her that night, as it was Monday. When did she go from Granger to Hermione? Draco thought in a distressed manner. All this change is giving me a headache. He gave up pondering and decided to go and get a headache potion from Madame Pomfrey at recess.

At 9.30, after finishing his homework, he went to Gryffindor Tower again, remembering the route from earlier that day, and hesitantly knocked on the portrait door. A head of wild red hair popped out and the girl smiled cheerfully. When she saw who it was she went pale and almost fell out the doorway.

"Ah…Wea- I mean…Miss. Weasley." Draco stated with what he hoped was not much malice. "I would like to speak to Hermione about head duties. Is she in by any chance?"

"Er…um…well…" Draco could see she was struggling to recover from shock. "Yes. Um. She told me to tell you that she would be in the library if you came but I didn't think you- well. Bye." And with that she shut the portrait hole.

Draco shook his head. "Gryffindors." He muttered. Spinning on his heel he turned and walked briskly towards the library.

Hermione was sitting peacefully in the library, running her finger-tips delicately over the Braille on the page in front of her. Dumbledore had turned all her class books into Braille books for her so she could study easier. She did know a spell to make the book speak the words to her but she found it much more fascinating to read them and work out what it is saying. This particular book was 'The History of Ancient Dark Curses'. She was trying to find something that might help Harry because he was having problems with his scar lately. Small twinges in class and other odd occurrences. She suspected Voldemort was angry because she was loose and posing a threat to his plans. They knew they could count on Hermione, when in doubt- go to the library. And that is just what she did. Unfortunately she had not found anything useful and she had no idea what time it was.

When she heard some even, graceful footsteps coming towards her she said aloud "Good evening Malfoy." And she heard the footsteps stop suddenly, but she continued to read, her fingers dancing in complicated, practiced steps across the parchment.

"How did you know it was me?" Came a curious, but very distinctive voice.

"You walk very smoothly. It isn't hard to tell." She said simply, finishing her page and closing the book carefully. She then placed her hands stiffly in her lap and said "Come. Sit down. I think we have a lot to discuss."

She heard the scraping sound of the chair as he sat down. "Ok. So we have the Halloween dinner in about 2 months and we should see if there is anything that we will need to order or ask permission about now." She took a deep breath and reached out for her Braille-typewriter. To her frustration she couldn't find it, brushing her hands around her when suddenly she felt a soft, strong hand on hers. She marveled at how absolutely wonderful Malfoy's hand felt on hers, guiding it over to her typewriter. She wished he wouldn't let go, that he would continue to engulf her hand in tenderness and warmth.

"Er…thank you Malf-" But she was interrupted when he interjected. "It's Draco."

"Um…ok. Thank you Draco." She took her hand out from under his and drew a shuddering breath in. Then continued. "So. Ideas. What would make this an unforgettable Halloween?"

Her hand was poised over the typewriter as she waited expectantly.

"Ok. Well maybe we should have a band come and play. The Weird Sisters were quite popular at the Yule Ball and maybe we can hire a karaoke machine for later. You know, to get the students more involved." Draco suggested finally.

"Excellent idea!" Hermione exclaimed in approval as her fingers whizzed over the keys. She then added. "I also think that we should also say that everyone has to dress up as something. No excuses. And there should be prizes for different categories. Like…scariest, most original, most daring…most Slytherin…whatever. I think people like that sort of thing."

"Yes, that sounds great. We've got to have a bit of competition somewhere in there. Maybe we should have prizes for the karaoke too." Draco replied.

"How about a cauldron cake eating competition?" Hermione suggested. "I'm sure Crabbe and Goyle will enjoy that."

Draco grimaced as he muttered, "Yes, I bet they will."

This caused Hermione to explode into a fit of giggles, much to Draco's delight. He watched in wonder, as everything around her seemed to smile as she completely lost herself. Covering her mouth was a delicate hand, her other arm curled around her stomach, and her whole body shook. He noticed though that her grin did not spread to her eyes, which were left empty, devoid of any emotion except sadness and pain. Even so, it was a delightful sight to behold and Draco couldn't help but join her.

"Watching that is going to be disgusting!" Hermione gasped out through her laughter. Suddenly they both leaned forward at the same time and banged foreheads. Hermione immediately stopped giggling and slapped a hand to her brow. Shocked, Draco did the same.

"Did I…what did I just hit?" Hermione stuttered. Draco couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "What? What's so funny!"

"We-we…we banged foreheads!" Draco chuckled, eventually Hermione joined him too.

After a good 5 minutes of laughter, they both sat back breathing heavily and nursing their sore stomachs. Hermione, Draco noticed, had a thoughtful look on her face.

"I can't believe I just had a laughing fit with Draco Malfoy of all people." Hermione said hesitantly.

"Yea, well, just don't tell my father. 'It is unbecoming for a Malfoy to succumb to such a common activity of amusement'." He replied with an aristocratic accent.

It was when Hermione said "You know, Draco? You're not so bad." that the most pure, real smile spread across Draco's face.

A/N: Hey, I am sooo sorry for the huge wait. I am also sorry if there are any mistakes in the text, as I haven't had it Betaed and I have been sick for a long long time. I am still a bit out of it. I hope it is okay and please review! I will try to make it sooner next time!

Loves

Delly