A Short Story Is A Love Affair

“Tell me where you are so I can murder you.” Granger scowled. She was sitting cross legged in a chair, and clearly had no intentions of moving, but Draco was pleased to see that none of her fire had been extinguished in the accident

“I’d been under the impression that your other senses become sharper after you lose one. Can you not use echolocation now?” He replied sarcastically, the winter sun glinting off the wheels of his chair. 

“I could start throwing things in the general direction of your irritating voice? I’d hit you eventually.”

He smiled. “The closest things to you are your precious books, Granger. You wouldn’t throw those, even if it was guaranteed that you’d break my nose again.”

“I’m not giving you another injury to be pathetic about, Malfoy. I’m almost glad I don’t have to watch you flirting with the nurses, just listening is bad enough.” She spat. He idly wondered if that was jealousy he heard.

“It’s hardly my fault that I’m the nicest thing to look at on this floor. It’s rather cruel, you know, that you’re so close to the wonders of my face, and yet, still so far.”

“If I wasn’t already blind, I would have gouged my eyes out so I wouldn’t have to sit and look at you for quite as long.”

“Thousands would pay for this opportunity.” He pointed out. 

“I’m sure they would. A shame, then, that you’re stuck with someone so ungrateful.” She sneered, an expression she’d definitely learned from him, he was proud to observe.

The mission had gone disastrously wrong right from the start. It was mostly a blur, but Draco remembered the explosion with painful clarity. He’d thrown himself over Granger without a second thought, taking the brunt of the force into his back. The healers weren’t sure if he’d ever walk again. They were, however, quite confident that Granger’s blindness was only temporary, and so he supposed he could live with the knowledge that he had, at least, saved her with his act of heroic stupidity. Despite their unique brand of banter, which the uninformed might mistake for loathing, it was Granger that had asked for them to be placed together in Mungo’s. Draco knew the reason without her having to articulate it. She didn’t trust anyone else to have her back whilst she couldn’t see. She knew now for certain that he’d die before he allowed her to be harmed, and that was the certainty she needed right now. Now that she respected him, albeit begrudgingly, the next step in his plan was getting her to like him back. He supposed it was good that he was a patient man.

“Granger, I’m going to read a book now. Would you like me to go to the trouble of reading it out loud?” He asked, a smug smile very much in place. 

“Yes.” She all but growled. He beamed back at her, even if she couldn’t see it, before starting the story.