Chapter 23:

Hermione felt like she was drifting on the open sea. She couldn't make out anything due to her closed eyes, but the warmth she felt seemed like the sun as she rocked on the waves. As the rhythm continued and she reluctantly regained consciousness, the floating feeling slowly slipped away as soon as she felt a mattress beneath her and warm blankets covering her.

She attempted to open her eyes but felt them bound shut and frowned. She moved to sit up, but whimpered at the effort and sunk back down quickly. Everything in her body hurt, now that she paid attention to it. A voice nearby snorted and she wiggled her fingers in the direction of the sound. She heard an "oomph" and grinned.

A familiar voice said, "Really V, was that necessary?" She sensed her father's presence and recognized Lucius Malfoy's as well.

"Yes it was. Tell Lucius not to laugh without a warning; I might have passed out again due to shock. Now explain to me why I can't open my eyes and why I feel like I got hit by a bloody train."

She felt a shock of remembrance run through her and before anyone could answer her first statement, she questioned, "Is everyone ok? Who did we lose? Who's missing? How's Harry? Where's Draco? … Oh my god Father, I didn't …?" She was working herself into a frenzy.

She felt a soothing hand cover hers and a calm reply of, "No, darling you didn't. You will be fine; you were hit by a conjunctivitis curse which has caused you to lose your sight for a fair amount of time. Madame Pomfrey also said that the assortment of hexes and curses you had been subjected to overtaxed your pain tolerance, and you should be resting the next few months." She huffed at him and he grinned.

"Aaaand?"

"And what dear?" He dodged a slap, "Fine. Harry will recover, but lost a lot of strength due to the Dark Lord's death. The Ministry is having a field day with the Death Eaters and Draco left your side for the first time a little bit ago to take your mother up to bed. You were out for," he paused," about three days, 5 hours, 10 minutes, and 57 seconds to be exact."

She growled at him slightly and he laughed, "I'm … we're dealing with the Ministry. We're doing well, V. You'd be proud of what the Order and we have accomplished."

She nodded, "And you and mother made it out ok?"

She heard him sigh slightly, "I did just fine. Your mother is not the witch she used to be and she was hit during the fight by the Longbottom boy." He growled and Hermione waited, "the boy cast a Crucio on her, but was interrupted when a stray spell hit him and he fell."

She sighed and nodded, then yawned, "I think I need a naa…" She drifted back into the comfortable floating feeling.

She awoke a few hours later, the same darkness surrounding her. Her eyes were freed now, but the darkness didn't change. She sensed Draco's presence next to her, but judged him to be asleep by his deep and even breathing.

She was so thankful that he, her family, Harry, had made it out alive; but there were so many others that she didn't know anything about. She wondered about Tonks and Lupin or Moody and the Weasleys. She cursed herself for being so weak and stuck in a bed unable to see. If only she could move around and make herself useful.

A thought slipped into her active mind, You know darling, it wouldn't hurt to just be cared for, for a few days at least. It would save me a lot of worrying. What you did was so stupid! Why on earth would you ever jump in front of me like that, V?!

She heard Draco rustling around next to her and felt his hands caressing her damp cheeks.

She hadn't realised she was crying. You honestly don't know? I couldn't let you go like that Draco! I didn't even think. One moment I was watching it all happen, letting you fight and the next I was intercepting something I knew might kill you.

A cold hand clutched her wrist tightly and she heard a something akin to a hiss come out of his mouth, But you could have died too! V, I couldn't have done it without you, and I'm touched that you care enough about me to jump in front of an unknown curse, but I would. Not. Have. Lived. If you had died that night.

She ran her hand softly over his face, trying to memorize its texture and outline. She felt his body quiver and the wetness on his cheeks. Draco, I think 'care' is a bit of a mis-nomer. He stiffened. I more than care. Dammit, I love you, you prat. I wouldn't have been out of my mind with worry the whole battle if I only 'cared!' Can't you see that?! And we thought I was the blind one.

He gave a dry chuckle, You love me?

How can you even ask? Everything I did was so we could be together. I pulled you and your father away in an elaborate scheme that did not have to happen. I knew he meant more to you than the world. I know I can't compete with many of the other gorgeous witches out there, but Draco I love you more than life, magic, hell even my books. She turned her face towards his own and searched with her hands, guiding his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

Your books, huh. I guess that means that if I told you, that you make my world spin on a different axis, I would have no foundation without you in my life, and I love you from the bottom of my very screwed up heart, that you wouldn't hit me?

She nibbled his lip lightly and thought back, No, I doubt that I would hit you if you were to say that.

He licked her lips and thought, Well good to know then, glad I asked.

She giggled and smacked his hand lightly, You git!

They sat there, in the darkness, thinking over how the battle had gone and who the war had claimed. All of the Weasleys had come out unscathed, except for Ginny, who had been found outside of the Ministry raving like a lunatic about "bat-bogeys" and a "stark white room."

Hermione had a feeling the boys took some of her muggle forms of torture to heart. Ginny Weasley was institutionalized and would be for a long time.

The Order had lost few of its older members; most of its casualties were younger recruits who had not been ready. Most of the Death Eaters had been rounded up, but there were still rumors of vagabonds leaving the country to settle and seethe in far-away lands. Hermione wasn't too worried about them quite yet. She knew that in time, they would be brought to justice, whether human or natural, it didn't really matter.

The two stayed up until the sun rose, Draco sharing thoughts of the beautiful sunset, until Hermione could almost see it through his eyes.

Two months later showed a still mostly blind V, cane in hand, making her way to the Minister's office. She was a well-known figure in the Ministry and most knew to stay out of her way for fear of a sharp tap with her walking cane. Rumors were that Lucius Malfoy, her fiancée's father, had taught her the use of a cane himself. Somehow, they mused, she always manages to know where we are.

She burst into the Minister's office, barely nodding to the smirking Undersecretary Susan Bones, and said in a deathly calm voice, "What in Hecate's name do you think you're doing Kingsley?! I will not stand for it! You've heard my testimony and Harry's for each and every one of the rebel Death Eater's that you plan on 'questioning.' They. Are. Innocent."

The Minister stood and attempted to interrupt, "Miss Lestrange, …"

"Don't you even try that on me! I saved your arse Shacklebolt; don't make me regret it. Without them you wouldn't even be alive! Give up the mad hunt and let us be at peace! Pay some of this attention to the new bills being passed in the Wizengamut each day. Get the people to participate!" She paused to catch her breath and calm her swirling hair.

She heard the Minister sigh and respond quietly, "Alright 'Mi. I'll stop the Aurors today."

She bowed her head slightly and walked back out the door, saying loudly, "Stop smirking Malfoy or you get no dinner from me!" She heard Kingsley's deep booming laugh and walked back to the Apparition Hall.

A few hours later, she was swaying to the music, working in her study by dictating a new idea to her quill and parchment, when she felt two strong arms encircle her waist. She grinned and turned her face up for a kiss.

She felt Draco frown slightly, "How do you always bloody know?"

She giggled, "Because your right shoe squeaks slightly and you tap your fingers when you are waiting to talk."

He snorted and replied, "Hmm, I'll have to look into that. What are you working on now, love?" He pulled her into a light dance step, following the classical music that flowed through the room.

"Nothing really, just a few sketches of ideas." She laid her head on his shoulder and let him lead her completely - him knowing that it was practically her biggest show of faith, letting him lead her. "I heard you were successful at the Ministry today after I left you with the Minister - Susan flooed me up after I got home and gave me a summary," she said in respose to his raised eyebrows.

She rambled, "Did you hear that Susan is taking up with Blaise? And apparently Luna and Harry have been seen out in public, in a few rather intimate positions. I always thought her lightness would ease him up a little. Not that I approve, mind you, but there you are. Oh! The Weasley's invited us over to supper on Saturday, I think Molly's taken a bit of a shine to you and your father. Probably thinks you're underfed. Oh and darling did I mention I'm pregnant? Now, what would you like for me to whip up for tonight? It's just you and me."

Her only response was a loud thump as Draco hit the floor in a dead faint.