Tell Us Again, Please!

"Okay, Hermione, take hold of my arm again." Luna's hand took Hermione's right hand and placed it on Luna's left elbow. Then Hermione listened as Luna began to explain.

"We've just Apparated inside the front gate in the front yard at the home of my friend I want you to meet-"

"Friend? What?" Hermione asked anxiously. Luna had said nothing about Hermione having to meet someone.

"Relax, Hermione. It'll be fine. Now, listen. This is a new place for you, so try to make a mental image. We're standing on a stone walkway facing the house. Just behind us is a short iron gate, waist high." Luna took Hermione's hand and led it to feel the gate, then led her hand down to the stone walkway, forcing her to bend down. Hermione felt the textured path briefly before they stood up again.

"Okay, now, use your feet to find the width of the walkway." Hermione shuffled around her feet, finally feeling a difference in levels, which she guessed indicated grass. The path was about three feet across.

"On either side of the path is lush green grass. On the left are tall, towering trees, but not like Christmas trees. All around their base are bright colored flowers, every kind you can imagine. They weave a curved garden around the side of the yard, across the front of the house, and continue along the other side of the yard. There's a bird bath on the right side with two birds splashing and chirping away."

"Yeah, I can hear them!"

"The house in front of us is rather small, but it looks like a Muggle version of the Burrow; it's not outlandish enough for neighbours to think much, other than it being odd. There's a front porch, and two steps leading up to it. The front door is on the right side of the porch, near the middle of the house, but it's not facing us. There are two windows on either side of the house, both with very large shutters. Oh, and a crooked stone chimney is coming out of the roof. All right, now we're going to go up to the house. Don't forget to count steps. Always count."

Hermione was in awe, but tried not to let it distract her from counting. Fourteen steps later, they heard a new voice.

"Who's there?!" It sounded agitated and suspicious, but it no doubt belonged to a woman, probably in her middle ages.

"It's me, Ms. Trillhuckle!" Luna happily called out.

"Luna, dear!" the voice immediately became soft and warm. "You've come to see me!"

"Yes, Ms. Trillhuckle, and I've also brought a friend."

"A friend?" The suspicion was back. Hermione heard the door open and two steps sound on the porch. Luna guided Hermione up the first step to the porch.

"Ms. Trillhuckle, I'd like you to meet Hermione Granger. Hermione, meet Ms. Trillhuckle."

"Hi," Hermione offered weakly, somewhat intimidated by this new person. She was surprised as she felt Luna's hand grab her wrist and guide it to shake Ms. Trillhuckle's hand.

"Ah, Hermione's blind." Ms. Trillhuckle's voice was softer again, but kindly in its matter of fact-ness.

So she could tell. The whole world must be able to see that Hermione couldn't.

"Yes. Ms. Trillhuckle's blind, too," Luna stated in her odd and usual way she had in saying things that were often awkwardly true.

"You're blind, too? But... how could you tell I was blind?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Well, dear, normally the person I shake hands with can see my hand, and take it. It's only necessary for Luna to guide our hands if we're both blind," Ms. Trillhuckle stated kindly.

"Hermione's only been blind for a few weeks," Luna declared the awkward truth. It would normally be Hermione's story to tell, but Luna had a way of saying things which others might hide, delay, or diminish. Hermione didn't mind at the moment.

"Ah, there's still a lot for you to learn. And am I right in thinking you are a witch?" Hermione was a little surprised at the question.

"Yes, ma'am," she answered.

"She was the top of her class at Hogwarts," Luna interjected.

"Well, come in, come in! Have a spot of tea!"

Probably for the first time in her life, Hermione was overjoyed that Luna was sticking by Hermione's side. While Ms. Trillhuckle seemed kind enough, Hermione wasn't keen on being set alone with a new stranger whom she knew nothing about. However, already a million questions were racing through her head to ask. Could it really be - another blind witch?

"All right, dear, tell me your story," Ms. Trillhuckle requested cordially, after she had poured them all some hot tea. Luna had to help direct Hermione's hands to the teacup. After a small sip of tea, Hermione relayed her entire story, at least what she knew of it, and Ms. Trillhuckle listened silently. Hermione mentioned fighting in the battle, but conveniently left out the prominent positions she, Ron, and Harry had held in the ending of Voldemort's reign.

"Well, Hermione, dear, you must have so many questions!" Ms. Trillhuckle stated.

"How did you become blind, Ms. Trillhuckle?" Hermione asked.

"Ah, it happened in no spectacular way. I'm afraid I can't claim such a noble or valorous catastrophe that blinded me. In fact, it was a Muggle accident. You see, I'm Muggleborn. And, Muggles drive cars all the time, you know that of course, dear?" Ms. Trillhuckle paused.

"Yes, I'm Muggleborn, too," Hermione confessed, though she had said it with pride.

"Well, it seems we have many things in common." Ms. Trillhuckle sounded like she was smiling, though Hermione couldn't be certain because she had never seen Ms. Trillhuckle, so she didn't entirely know which tone of voice went with her smile. But Hermione guessed that the smile was there.

"Anyway, one summer I went home to take a holiday with my family. I had been out of school for awhile. We were going to drive up to the coast and enjoy a weekend. On the way back, my entire life changed. To make a terrible story shorter, before we could be rescued from the car, which had rolled several times, the gas line and tank had cracked, and I received eye-fulls of the blinding substance. It couldn't be helped though. We were trapped for awhile. Ah, but as you can tell, they did finally get us out of the car, and there were no other major problems, besides my losing my eyesight. But can you really call that a terrible problem?" Hermione heard Ms. Trillhuckle take a sip of her tea. Hermione wondered if she had purposely let the silent moment pass in order to let her last statement sink in.

Can you really call blindness a terrible problem? Hermione frowned at the question. Could she? Of course she could. Could she really?

"What's gas, and the gas line, and tank?" Luna asked out of the blue.

"It's part of what makes a Muggle car run," Hermione answered without thinking. Any Muggle would know something like that.

"Ms. Trillhuckle, can you still do magic?" Hermione bluntly asked the question that had been bothering her for weeks. Would she have to give up being a witch? Would she have to return to the Muggle world, and forget her entire magical existence?

"Of course!" Ms. Trillhuckle instantly answered as though it were obvious.

"But, how?" Hermione instantly returned. "I can't see people who attack me, and I can't tell where to aim my spells. I can't see places to Apparate to, or see the colour of potions I'm making. So much of it all depends on sight!" Hermione had passionately built her case for why a blind witch couldn't do magic any more.

"My dear, so much of it all depends on sight because we let it depend on sight. Because we depend on sight. But not you and I. And so, you will learn magic without needing vision. There are few witches or wizards in the world who can do magic without their eyesight. Quite frankly, I believe it makes you an even greater witch. If you can manage magic, there will be little you can not do." Hermione sat dumbfounded. If she had her vision, she was sure she would have been staring.

"But... but how?" she questioned feebly.

"It's easy, dear! Or at least, it will be easy. First, let's begin with how you can fight. I think the world is quite safe now that some very brave souls conquered You-Know-Who, but even so, there are still dark witches and wizards. Suppose you are attacked. How are you going to know you're being attacked?"

Hermione thought for a moment.

"I don't know! That's the problem!"

"Think, girl!" Ms. Trillhuckle commanded, but her voice was demanding and strong. Hermione was taken aback at the change. She had sounded so kind and gentle, but suddenly the voice was commanding, as though telling Hermione that she was not trying hard enough and there was a lot more expected of her.

"How did you know I was coming out to meet you today?" Ms. Trillhuckle asked, impatiently prompting Hermione.

"I, er..." Hermione paused, recalling the scenario of her mind when she had first known Ms. Trillhuckle was there. "I heard you. A door opened, and there were two footsteps. And then speaking."

"Good." Ms. Trillhuckle's voice softened again. "Now, it's really quite simple. Don't make it harder than it should be. You will fight and cast spells mostly by sound, now. All of your senses will begin to make up for the one you have lost, and in time you will see that you have hardly lost anything. I am not suggesting that if you started casing spells right now that they would magically find their mark without you doing anything to aim. This would be wonderful magic to have, whether blind or seeing. But I am saying that with practice, training, and concentration, you will be able to see everything you need to, without needing eyesight. Your ears, your sense of smell, even your sense of touch - they will all begin to fill in the gaps. You will hear your attacker coming long before your seeing friend can see them. You will smell the attacker, before others notice their presence. And you will most likely learn to feel them. You will sense changes in warmth, in proximity, and in atmosphere. What you must do now is sharpen your senses. Pay attention and soon enough your skills will be better than they ever were when you could see."

Hermione sat silent. This couldn't be real. She never thought being blind would make her a better witch.

"What about Apparating?" Hermione asked.

"Too simple, dear. If you'd like to Apparate to any place you've been before, you simply envision it just like you always have, and you'll get there just fine! If you come to a new place, it is not much more difficult. You must construct a mental image of this new place. This is important, so don't forget to do it. And then, envision the place when you want to Apparate there." Ms. Trillhuckle had spoken as though it were the easiest thing in the world.

"But, but I can't see the new places I visit. How do I know I've got the right... mental images?" Hermione was still confused.

"Didn't I say not to make it harder than it is? Your mental image need not be an accurate depiction. It simply must be an image you've put together, either from your senses and your experience, or from someone's description. And, obviously, it can certainly be a combination of the two."

That doesn't seem very difficult, Hermione thought.

"Now, I'm guessing that Luna gave you a wonderful idea of what my front yard looks like?"

"Y-yes," Hermione stuttered, struggling to put the image back together again.

"Well, then, simply imagine your mental image of my front yard next time you want to pop over for a visit." Ms. Trillhuckle sounded like she was smiling again. Hermione heard tea being sipped next to her, and was reminded that Luna was there. Luna had remained quiet during most of the conversation.

"And... and potions?" Hermione figured there was as easy an explanation for potions as there had been for everything else.

"My dear, we rely upon colours of potions because we let ourselves be so dependent upon our vision. Most potions can be learned by smell, or simply confidence in potion-making. You'll soon enough learn to tell what any potion is solely from its smell. And naturally if you taste it, you'll know also, but I'd suggest knowing the smells first, so you don't have to taste them!" Ms. Trillhuckle laughed. Hermione did not want to have to taste potions to be able to differentiate between them. She could only imagine the disasters!

"I know you're worried my dear, but try not to worry. It may seem frustrating at first, but you'll learn to live just fine. And you'll be a sufficient witch yet." Hermione imagined Ms. Trillhuckle winking at her, if both of them could actually see.

"Find yourself some witches and wizards to help you as you begin your new life as a blind witch. They can help you practice. You can brew potions together, practice Apparating, and a few duels would do you some good too. Trust in yourself and your ability, and do not let your blindness bring doubt to what you can do. Truly, if you become skilled at this, your spells will not easily miss."

Hermione let the thoughts sink in.

"Oh dear, we're out of tea.... Would you girls like some more?" Ms. Trillhuckle's voice was warmly pleasant.

"Just a little, thank you." Luna spoke up, nearly shocking Hermione. She kept forgetting that Luna was still there.

"Thank you." Hermione accepted the tea and sipped at the hot liquid.

"Ms. Trillhuckle?" Hermione asked.

"Hm?" she responded over the sound of tea pouring into her teacup.

"Were you ever married? Do you have any children or a family?" Hermione was very curious about this blind witch and could envision herself sitting and having tea, talking with her for hours and still wanting to come back for more.

"That is a sad tale," Ms. Trillhuckle began, "I'm not sure you want to hear it." Hermione was thoughtful for a moment.

"I would."

"Me. too," Luna echoed. Hermione heard Ms. Trillhuckle let a calming breath out.

"I was in love once," Ms. Trillhuckle began. Her voice was soft and slow, and sounded very much like a story teller's voice. "He was a handsome boy, and I never thought that one day he would return my love for him. But he did. We were happy and in love for many months. He was a talented wizard. He had been successful at school and in finding a good job. He was daring and brave, even reckless at times. But he loved to laugh, and he loved to make mischief. And I loved laughing with him and sitting together on cool evenings, gazing into each other's eyes. I knew him before I was blind, you see. I truly loved him, and I believed he loved me. The months turned into years. He was planning to come on holiday with me to visit my family. I really had it in my mind that he meant to propose marriage. But something came up at work, and he had to stay behind while I went to spend the weekend with my family.

"That was the weekend of the car accident. The next time he saw me, I could no longer see him. I was terrified that he wouldn't be able to love a blind girl, but he assured me that it didn't matter if I was blind. He said nothing would change his love for me. But I suppose he was wrong. It was only a couple of months before he broke off the relationship. Less than a year later he was getting married to a beautiful girl we had both gone to school with. She was not blind, of course.

"And so, ever since then, I've been on my own. I never did get married, and I never had children. My family comes to visit at times, but mostly I keep to myself. But I do have wonderful, dear people in my life like Luna here, who come by and visit me, and make my days a little brighter." Hermione knew without a doubt that she heard a smile in Ms. Trillhuckle's voice as she spoke the last sentence. But Hermione was not smiling.

Luna and Ms. Trillhuckle were talking now, but it faded into the background of Hermione's mind as she thought about Ms. Trillhuckle's story. The boy she loved had left her because she was blind. She had been alone for the rest of her life. How could anyone be so low as to stop loving someone because they were blind? But it had happened. Fear, doubt, and dismay filled Hermione's mind. Hermione was now blind just like Ms. Trillhuckle. Would she have the same fate? Would Hermione ever be loved, now that she was so different? More importantly, would the boy she had loved for years now still return her love, even though she might never learn to see again? Would he want something or someone better?