Notes: Like the HP series, I have no claim to the plot which was created by Erica. From Darkness begins after the final war in a time of rebuilding and regret. Hermione, blind and lost, struggles to find her place while many seem already secure in the new world. A story of hopelessness and hope, depression and happiness, solitude and companionship…DHr. For Erica, in hopes that this lives up to what you imagined.

Thank you to all those who reviewed!

From Darkness

By Rei (Of Reminiscence)

For Erica

Previously in From Darkness Chapter One: Light that is not Needed:

"I'm grateful to the Healers for what they've done but there is no cure. I didn't think I would survive the Cruciatus Ginny. I stepped in front of Harry because I knew that then he could kill Voldemort while the hybrid (Hermione spat out the slur) concentrated on killing me."

"We do know that Voldemort's spell over you helped Harry a great deal. It's why Mister Weasley and him were on such bad terms. You came out only in better condition than Voldemort… Severus worked with the Healers to repair your body before he retired to the countryside and since has been acquitted of all charges…" Dumbledore eyes twinkled, "including the charge of my murder."

Hermione tapped the floor with her cane, "Rufus—the light." After jumping onto a chair, Rufus flipped the switch and at last padded over to Hermione's feet where he laid down in a heap of yawns and the nightly ritual of scratching behind his ear. The apartment was now dark with the only light coming from outside through the window. "I don't need light I can't see."

Chapter Two: A Choice to Leave Ignorance

Hermione sat at the table as the storm outside raged on. She imagined a torrent of wind and lightning with currents of water to douse the streets. The sound was comforting and she was content to sit. Rufus whined and Hermione reached down to scratch him behind the ears. It was probably going to be a long night and Hermione was determined not to show up in a foul mood—a battle she was beginning to loose. The clock chimed the hour of nine and faintly she could hear to sharp crack of Ginny's arrival. Harry was against lowering the wards in the living room but agreed when Hermione reasoned that anyone could reach her simply by waiting out front.

"Hermione?"

Ginny's voice, she was coming to help… Tapping the floor drew Rufus's attention and with a quick lick, the middle aged dog scampered off to find the redhead. Hermione's lips curled up when Ginny pleasantly shrieked and promptly came in the room a minute later.

"Merlin's beard Hermione, you should at least leave a candle out for visitors." Ginny whispered Lumos and walked around with the wand extended before her until her found the light switch.

Hermione tilted her head, Ginny's arrival had drowned out the clatter of rain, "A candle would catch the apartment on fire Ginny and I couldn't see to put the fire out."

"Well I suppose that's something for muggle…" Ginny paused and carefully pronounced "electricity" before pulling Hermione up from the chair and down the hall to the bathroom. "I'm ready except for my clothes so lets get you cleaned up and ready to go."

Minutes later, Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand as she guided her into the tub of soapy water. The water was cooler than Hermione's preferred temperature but the feeling of the scratchy sponge cleaning her back and Ginny's fingers thoroughly cleaning her scalp wasn't one she was willing to give up. Afterwards, Hermione wiggled in her robe and remarked that she hadn't been so clean in ages.

"Mrs. Potter?"

Ginny paused from polishing the last of Hermione's nails and opened the bathroom door. She hissed at whoever was on the other side but the nervous giggle gave the person away as Dobby. Hermione heard Ginny's sigh and wondered what the younger woman was saying to have the house elf pop away in a squeak. A quick muttered charm and Hermione's hair was not only dry but completely straight.

"Ginny? Whats…"

"Not now Hermione." Flustered, Ginny pulled out a crumbled piece of paper and used the charms on it to design Hermione's hair and add makeup.

The rustle of fabric meant the dress was ready and Hermione obediently held up her arms. "Hold on…" The dress muffled her protests.

"We're running late." Ginny took the shoes, slid them onto Hermione's feet, and tied the strap. "That was Harry and Ron wondering where we were at." Taking a step back, Ginny took her own dress out of the box, and pulled it on. "We have to hurry."

"Ginny!"

Placing her hands on her friend's shoulders, Ginny drew Hermione into a hug. "We wanted to wait, but after months and you didn't get better, we decided to exchange vows and save the actual ceremony for later. Dumbledore told Harry we should tell you as soon as you were well but it never felt like the right time to tell you. Please say that you understand."

Hermione awkwardly patted Ginny's arms and withdrew from the hug, "Don't worry Gin, I already had my suspicions."

The moment of silence stretched between them until Ginny straightened and pulled her up. "Come on girl, we've a party to catch."

Rufus followed them at a distance, sneezing at the sharp smell of perfume, and whined at the girls. Hermione pulled from Ginny's grasp and bent down, "Be a good boy Rufus, I'll be home soon." She smiled and gave him a quick hug before reaching for her cane. Her hands continued reaching until Hermione realized that the object wasn't even in that area. "Ginny, my cane, do you see it?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. Harry said we'll be your eyes tonight."

"But Gin…" Hermione started as Ginny shoved a portkey into her hand. The sharp pull made her queasy and the only thing Hermione was thankful for was the fact Ginny that didn't let her fall. The floor was slippery and in her shoes, Hermione hardly felt comfortable to walk since she hadn't worn heels since before the war.

"Ron is going to take your arm. Don't worry we're inside the hall, Dad got special permission for this portkey."

Hermione opened her mouth to say she was more annoyed than anything else, but now they were walking upstairs. Hermione tried to count the stairs but Ron's fast pace made her concentrate on not falling on her face. The room felt vast and from all the people that approached them, Hermione could only assume it was. They mingled through the crowd with Ron's sweaty hand holding onto hers. Hermione smiled absently in the direction she heard each new voice, but when Ron whispered "It's Neville" she reached out a hand. "I'm to hear your doing so well Neville…Truly, I've missed you."

She heard Neville's sharp intake of breath and imagine him blushing down to his toes. His light touch on her hand caused something deep down to crack. Hermione grabbed his hand and furiously shook it, "Don't you dare be sad for me Neville, things could have been a lot worse…"

"Indeed."

Hermione dropped Neville's hand and turned toward the new voice "Professor Snape I wanted to—"

"No need Miss Granger, just keep Potter out of my stores and we'll be even."

She nodded her head and followed Ron's lead away from the professor and Neville not bothering to listen to her friend's complaints. A waiter took her hand then from Ron and guided her to the chair. She felt odd sitting in a chair that a strange man had guided her to and Ginny's reassurances didn't give her much comfort. So Ginny was sitting to her left but Hermione was at a loss who else was sitting at the table or where. Her hands gently touched the edge of the table and found out it was large and round.

While the other around the table talked, Hermione's fingertips touched the silverware and found (to her extreme disappointment) that there would be more than just a salad, main meal, and dessert. Hermione imagined the different forks glittering in the candlelight, thought back to the ball in Hogwarts, and delicately reached for her water glass. It was already filled already to the brim and Hermione had a hard time not spilling it. She sighed, it was going to be a long meal.

"It won't be so bad, after all, everyone will be too drunk before too long, and you'll be able to slip out the back without anyone the wiser.

Hermione swung her head to right as if then her eyesight would return and prove her suspicions wrong. Realizing how very of the people had said anything to him so far, Hermione knew it could be no one else. "Mr. Malfoy, I didn't realize you would be here."

"I doubt you would have come if you knew."

There was a shuffling around the table and she felt Ginny push a long piece of paper into her hands. The waiter served them all champagne and said he would take their orders in a few minutes. She took a long breath; on occasions like this, it was probably safe to ask for…

"On the menu it seems like the best option is duck… although the shrimp and scallop pasta is a close second. You know of course the appetizers have already been selected and include a salad, soup, bread, and fried ravioli."

Hermione turned, surprised by Draco's consideration. "Fried ravioli?"

"Its very good. The duck comes with cooked greens and a chive baked potato. The pasta comes with rosemary oil bread."

"The duck sounds fine…thank you." Hermione laid her useless menu down unopened and took another sip of water, "Could you tell me a bit more about this party?"

Draco paused uncertain what to say, "Since the war's end this is the first time the people have had a chance to relax. With the rush to rebuild the Ministry almost ignored many of the people involved in the war and probably they just now thought to give Potter a medal…Careful now the waiter is coming up to your left."

Hermione almost choked on her water from Draco's frankness but managed to clear her throat before waiter asked for her order.

"I see everyone is about to order, if I may start with you madam…what would you like?"

Hermione felt everyone's eyes on her and heard Ginny fumble with the menu. Her nervousness gave Ginny just the slightest opening…

"Oh, she'll have the shrimp scallop pasta…"

"Actually Ginny I would like the duck and extra chive on the potato…" Hermione bit back a smile as Ginny whispered her apologies and made her own order. Draco's own voice was a bit smug when he gave his order but Hermione couldn't care at that moment. Unlike the others, Draco had spared her from at least some embarrassment during this fiasco and that counted for something.

The conversation was a bit dull until Ron called for a toast to Harry—the Boy Who Lived. A few other had added to Ron's toast by the time Hermione safely had the champagne glass in hand. The quick sip when there was silence and the soft release of glasses onto the table said that she had gotten the timing right but Hermione felt sicker—she didn't even know where Harry was sitting!

A brush against her ear and Hermione realized that Draco was leaning quite close to her. She almost moved away but Draco's hand on her wrist made her stop. "what…"

"Ginny, Potter, Weasley, Lavender, Healer Brookheart, Gawain Robards, and yours truly." Draco leaned back and released her wrist, "The Healer woman keeps looking at you."

Hermione snorted, "Probably because she wants to know why I refused anymore help. I've tired of their hopeful cures…"

Whatever reply Draco might have had was silence by the arrival of soup. Hermione took a tentative sip of the soup and despite not knowing what it was ate a good portion of the bowl. The fresh bread and salad came next followed by long speeches of praise for all those present. Draco's snort at a few name received a stern "Malfoy" from Potter a few times, but overall Hermione gladly absorbed the information freely given. All speeches done the main courses came next and Draco softly murmured that the duck was to the top left, greens to the right, and the potato closest to her at the bottom.

The food was good, Hermione doubted that she had better, but as the conversation slowly fell silent, a sense of anticipation or foreboding came over her. "Ginny?" When she didn't answer Hermione twisted the cloth napkin on her lap. Draco's own inquiry to "Potter" made him curse to Harry's response and receive an admonition from Gawain.

A man on stage (Hermione thought) introduced the minister of magic and Hermione blankly applauded. The fact that Fudge's successor and her dog shared the same name was very amusing but when he started to speak…

"—We have waited for this day a long time. I regret that some could not be with us to celebrate, but their sacrifice won us this Golden Age. Among us tonight are some of the most talented wizards and witches I have ever know. We have all earned our wands many times over but there are those that rose above the occasion. Their age…"

Hermione's breath caught in her throat and she fumbled for some comfort.

"—for their contribution not only to the war but also to rebuilding would Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Draco Malfoy please…"

Hermione heard Harry and Ron already stand up and walk to the minister while Ginny's hiss fell on their deaf ears. Fumbling, Hermione pushed the chair back and stood up. Her first step forward after turning around wasn't accompanied with another one and her ears burned—surely everyone in the hall was staring at her now. A hand took her arm and placed it on her own and Hermione found herself being led to the front.

"Am I walking too fast?"

Hermione shook her head and gripped Draco's arm a bit harder. The whispered of '5 stairs' caught her attention and she took a tentative step up. Finally, she stood amongst her friends and Draco and accepted the minister's medal accompanied by the Order of Merlin First Class.

The flash of cameras flooded Hermione's ears and she smiled uncertainly. Minister Rufus called for the heroes to open the dance floor and instead of Draco releasing Hermione he pulled her closer. "Malfoy I can't…"

"Draco and surely you can. Remember the simple steps and I'll take care the rest."

The dance was pleasant and the torrent of camera flashes never seemed to end. Hermione wished she could see Draco's face but settled on the only question she could ask, "Why?"

"Because Potter had no business bringing you here if he wasn't going to take any responsibility. Every knew what happened to your eyesight but Potter insisted you didn't need help. I thought he told you this was also an award ceremony but the fool left that out too."

Hermione thought carefully over Draco's words before answering, "Ginny wouldn't let me bring my cane that's the reason why…"

Draco snorted, "There are other ways to see and if they choose to leave you in ignorance that's your problem." He spun Hermione and she could hear an increase in the flashes. "I don't hate you but I certainly don't write any overtures to your pale skin or shiny finger nails so I'm only going offer this once. I can teach you how to see without your eyes but leave Potter and the rest of your friends out of it. It won't be easy but then I expect you know that."

"Why do you offer me this?"

"I know I was cruel and maybe in some ways I still am. In this way I can pay back the meanness in our first year and show Potter he's nothing over me."

"So its revenge?"

Draco stopped as the music drew to a halt, "Consider revenge as an added bonus. Think about it—you know how to reach me."

Hermione withdrew from Draco's grasp, "I'll…"

The forceful yank on her arm threw Hermione against Harry. She scolded him for a minute but continued the dance only unconsciously noting that Harry was not as charitable in his dance leadership. The night ended early for Hermione when she asked Ginny to take her home. Hermione wasn't ready for Ginny to leave with Harry and Ron with Lavender (though Ron denied their relationship) and so she apologized for taking Gin away from the party. They arrived a moment later to Rufus's delight and soon Ginny left and they were alone again. Hermione could still hear the torrent of rain but had to imagine the flashes of lightning. The apartment was silent and she was alone like always but tonight seemed a little different.

"Lets go to bed Rufus."