Blind - drarry

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Published: December 23, 2020

Updated: September 30, 2021

Harry helped him pick out appropriate garb for Christmas brunch at the Weasleys and somehow managed to convince him not to wear a jumper or robes, which he hadn't been willing to do last night. He was terrified at what the Weasleys would say about it, but they didn't even bring it up. A few of them did taunt him about their "snogfest" last night and asking who was sore. Draco ignored them and sat next to Harry at the table. Mrs. Weasley patted his head and poured second and third helpings on his plate as her husband asked Harry about mobiles.

After Harry guided him through the "house of a million things to run into", they sat together on a roughly sewn couch. What Draco didn't realize, until people started ladening him with wrapped gifts, was that they were exchanging presents.

"Harry," he whispered, embarrassed and a little angry. "You didn't tell me that... I didn't bring anything! I don't have anything." He knew his face was red. How could Harry not say anything? he thought, resisting the urge to cry.

"Draco, no, don't worry, it's all okay. They didn't spend anything on them, I promise!" he rushed. "No more than five knuts, okay? They knew that you couldn't give them anything. I told them just to give you homemade stuff... things they had. Don't be embarrassed, please! I didn't want to leave you alone, and I didn't want you to be sitting here with no presents on Christmas. I'm sorry, but I couldn't do that!"

Draco took a deep breath and nodded. "But I didn't bring them anything."

"Yeah, you did."

"You bringing gifts for me, doesn't count."

"No, they're from you, made by you."

"What?"

"Remember all those cookies and cakes we made and decorated? We didn't eat them all. I put them under stasis spells and packed them into gift boxes for you."

"You did?" he said, surprised and touched. "Those probably looked terrible, though."

"They tasted wonderful, though, and it's the thought that counts."

"But I didn't think about it."

"Well, I can take back all their presents, if you want," Harry offered.

"Of course not!" he hissed.

"Then you're thinking about them," Harry declared.

Draco sighed, but put on a friendly smile as the rest of the Weasleys had joined them. The gift-opening was fairly uneventful for him. Harry verbally said what everyone got, and they thanked him for his gifts.

Whenever it was his turn, Harry let him tear off the wrapping paper and explained his presents and who they were from. Mrs. Weasley knitted him a Christmas jumper with a D on it. He received some muggle electronic things from Mr. Weasley. Ron got him some more muggle games that he could play, and the rest of the Weasleys gave him an assortment of clothes, hair potions and a fuzzy towel. George Weasley gave him some joke stuff to "mess with people", including a hand buzzer.

Hermione brought hers over directly and placed a heavy present in his hands. "You're going to need this."

"Okay?" he said and tore off the paper. It was a book. "Hermione? I can't... read."

She laughed. "Yeah, you can. Blind muggles can read. It's called Braille. It is a tactile lettering system that will help you read by running your finger across a two by three cell of raised dots. You can read, again, once you learn braille letters, numbers and punctuation. This book will help teach you."