Just To See You
Chapter 3: Reluctant Reunion
Harry opened the door, peering into the softly lit room. He moved closer to the bed and examined the sleeping man. He had a pale, pointed face that seemed vaguely familiar. White-blond locks of hair fell gently onto his face. Harry was just about to put a hand on the man's shoulder to wake him up when the man's eyes flickered open. Harry gasped as recognition shot through him like a bullet and he wondered why he didn't recognize him before. Harry stood rooted on the spot, barely breathing. Harry seemed to be paralyzed by the flickering gaze.
"Hello?" asked the man, angrily. "Is there someone there, or not?" His unseeing eyes danced around the room. Then he seemed to pause, listening.
"Uh..." Harry did not know what to say. Draco Malfoy is sitting in my hospital, blind! "What happened to you?" Harry blurted.
Draco knew this man's voice it seemed slightly deeper, but he knew it just the same. If this was a Death Eater, they would've killed me already. "Who are you? What do you want?" He demanded, though fear crept into his voice.
"I...I'm here to help you," Harry replied, nervously. He ignored the first question.
"Yeah, well, I don't need your help!" Draco snapped.
"Uh, yeah, you do! You're blind, Malfoy!" The last word seemed to resonate through the room.
"Who are you! How do you know my name?" Draco yelled, fear evident in his voice. He had no way to protect himself.
"Uh..." Harry was unsure how Malfoy would take this. "Harry...Harry Potter..." he whispered.
Something in Malfoy's lean frame seemed to sink with the last whispered words. He closed his eyes and Harry realized how sickly Malfoy looked. There were the normal faint scars from their clash in the bathroom. He had large bags under his eyes and his lips were chapped. Draco opened his silver eyes, which were missing some of their luster; he looked in Harry's general direction.
"Get out."
Harry knew that being who he was put more stress on Malfoy then any other thing that happened. He turned to leave. At the door, Harry said, "All right, but you do need my help."
"Get out."
These words echoed in Harry's head. They were filled with sadness, rage and pain. They showed that Malfoy was indeed a man. A man that could feel, even though he hid it deep down. Harry wanted to help him. But he's a Death Eater, he argued with himself. Maybe he knows where Voldemort is? Well, that's unlikely; it was probably the Death Eaters that beat him in the first place! Draco Malfoy is blind. There is no denying that. And he desperately needs help. But why do I want to give it to him? Well, I don't need a reason to help people. Why should there be a reason? Will he even accept my help? Harry decided to make that choice for Malfoy.
Harry returned to the hospital the next day, after deciding not to mention anything to Hermione or Ron. He knew they wouldn't take it as well as him not to mention that Ron would try cart Malfoy off to the authorities and Malfoy would need time to recover, to learn how to live again.
"Hey Sandra, how do you teach a blind person to live again?" Harry asked at the secretary's desk.
"Well, dear, you just do. It's like teaching a child. They all progress at different speeds. It really depends on if they want to... Are you thinking of teaching that man? It's a long, difficult journey for both of you," Sandra replied.
I know all about long, difficult journeys and no one should have to do it alone. "How do you even start something like that? What do you do first?" asked Harry.
"Well, why don't you...start by teaching him to eat again? Everyone has to do that eventually! He will when he's hungry enough! He's been refusing to eat the hospital food...can't say I blame him, though!" Sandra shivered at the memory.
Harry turned to leave the hospital. Operation Live Again, commence...
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DarkMeadow
