The day had run longer than usual, sitting in hard chairs at the Healers', submitting to endless testing and probing. Of course, they all had cold hands. It seemed like forever before they pronounced him fit, and best of all, clean, and guided him upstairs to where the vision specialists waited.
They all agreed on the usual. Dark Magic gone. Scars healing nicely. Eyes perfectly healthy.
"Then why can't I see?"
There were no answers. Only silence.
~~~~
Alex let himself in through the side door after a detour through the Alley, fingers unerringly finding the handrail and feet taking the first step without falter, even through the haze of potion that left him numb. He wanted to be numb. To feel disconnected and calm.
Voices greeted him when he came through the door and he tossed the parchment with the test results in their general direction and headed into his room to change.
Fortunately, they gave him space, and he spent the minutes he needed to change, to breathe, to regroup.
~~~~
It was quiet in the sitting room when he returned and Alex wasn't sure at first who was there until George spoke. "About time you come out. Wondering if I'd have to send Fred in to drag your arse out here. Or Mona," he added, then laughed.
Alex shrugged, pausing in the doorway.
"What did they say about your eyes?"
Another shrug. "Same shit." He was glad again for the potion that let him say it so calmly.