AN: I want to say thank you to my readers, I appreciate you keeping with this fanfic, so thank you. Also, I want to apologise to those readers I disappoint, I understand the annoyance of reading a fanfic that just doesn't read as you wish, so I'm sorry if it's not great for you. But please constructively criticism and not just pick out the flaws, thank you.

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Song suggestion: Army, Ellie Goulding.

Chapter Twenty Seven: Presenting Challenges.

"How do you mark me, Malfoy?" Hermione smiled, her wand still holding steady and pointing at the Wizard in question. She herself was very pleased with her abilities. If only she could practice, learn how to fight blind, she was of use and could fight her cause. This was the best news she'd had for so long, her mind jumped eagerly at the new challenge.

"E." He replied simply and she scowled. Hermione Granger did not accept anything less than an O. Infuriated, she fired off to two spells in quick succession, to which he easily defended himself from, "E." Draco took pleasure in grading Hermione's performance, particularly her reaction to the grade.

While she clearly exceeded expectations, he knew in a duel she would not fare so well. Any dueller would take advantage of the blindness and slightly delayed reacts due to having to track the attacker through hearing. She began to fling spell after spell at him as he moved slowly around the room again. He noticed she reacted quicker when he didn't concentrate on not being tracked, as his movements were easier to hear. Though, even he could admit, he found it harder to defend himself when he was watching her, trying to move silently, and always have a defensive spell at the ready. Once or twice she nearly caught him off guard, as he attempted to navigate the room soundlessly.

Suddenly, her wand switched from him, to the filing cabinet by the desk. She flicked her wand and it moved to topple whether Draco stood. As he quickly turned to right it, he felt his wand ripped from his grasp. Shoving the filing cabinet back into place, he turned to glare at Granger. But he couldn't scold her when he saw her brightly smile. She twirled his wand delicately in her hands in satisfaction.

"O." Hermione smiled in his direction and raised her brow as if to dare him to object.

"O." He huffed in agreement and reclaimed his wand. She gasped as it left her fingers, surprised at his use of wandless magic.

"You can do wandless magic?" She frowned.

"Yes. Why? Is it not in your supposedly superior magical capabilities?" Malfoy chuckled, "Have I finally beaten the know-it-all Hermione Granger academically?"

"No. I have been practicing wandless magic too." Her quick retort made him smirk. Never would Hermione Granger allow Draco Malfoy to better her, "I was just surprised you had been studying too."

"We're at war Granger; we have to learn the skills that will keep us alive."

"I agree." She nodded, "That is why I must learn to fight, to defend myself in the very least." He sighed at her insistence, but could rationalise her reasoning, "There is going to be a final battle, everyone knows that, and soon. I have to know how to defend myself and fight for the cause. Malfoy, if we lose this war, I will be killed. If I can defend myself, I might survive this. Don't tell me you've saved me from Bellatrix, only to be murder later?"

"Even if we go to battle, you won't be going. You're blind." He drawled the obvious, "It would be idiotic to send you into battle; you would be killed instantly."

"Haven't I just proven that I am more than capable for duelling?" The curly haired Witch pointed out, "I know I need to practice more before I can take on Death Eaters, but I want to learn."

"And what about your legs, Granger?"

"You said yourself that you can heal me. I know it was take a while and it's not going to be easy, but would you really condemn me to be an invalid all my life? Unable to even defend myself?"

"I think you're more than capable of defending yourself, when you need to." Draco was reluctant to admit to her, fearing it would only feed her hope to go to battle. He knew if she thought for a moment she could pull a Gryffindor and run into battle a hero, even if it meant she would surely die, he knew she would. All in the name of bravery and courage, not at all considering self-preservation. As a Slytherin, he could not believe her stupidity not to realise the death trap going into battle blind would be, but she was a Gryffindor who loved to play heroine.

"Then help me, Malfoy. I need to fight my own battles." He could see her desperation not to be helpless and dependant in her voice. The little tremble of uncertainty, the inkling of hope, and the slippery tone of persuasion eating at his pity for her. If the situation was reversed, he would never want to remain in a hospital bed and need others constantly to function.

It was ridiculous to even consider her fighting. To be blind and battling Death Eaters, who are trained and vicious killers? For her to stand on shaking legs and fling spells into the blackness of her world, hoping to be of use? Allowing her to think she was capable of surviving this war as a warrior? It was so absurd a thought; he could barely withhold his disbelieving laughter in the face of her wishes.

Yet, he knew if anyone could overcome her injuries, it was Granger. She was brilliant, and stubborn, enough to throw everyone's expectations to the wind and fight to show her competency. Isn't that exactly what she was doing fighting this war? Fighting to show her worth as a Witch? He'd seen her determination first hand at Hogwarts to excel at everything, why would the barriers of being crippled and blind be any different to her? Hermione Granger was a law unto herself and she would succeed given the chance. Even if no one thought she could, even through the agonising pain of recovery, and even though it would be nearly impossible. She would be more than capable of the challenge in his mind. And he'd be damned if he didn't accept this challenge to recuperate her and create a warrior out of her, show the Order they underestimate too much. The challenge was too great to object to.

"Alright Granger, challenge accepted."