A/N: I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to post this, I just started school again and I've been kind of lazy... So again I am soooooooo sorry for the long wait on this chapter I will try to do better in the future. Secondly I hope you will enjoy this chapter... and please review!!!
A/N: I would like to say thanks to... EngShin, louisemills1, Angie, Sailor Universe, Sundari Harmony, Talion, downtoearthangl85, Patty, heather, atlantis-rob, and all the anonymous people for reviewing my last chapter. And also a big thanks to my beta-reader Trutonks!!!!
I'd also like to say Happy Birthday to my best friend Emily!!!!
Alright sorry for holding everything up on to the show!!!!
Taking Action
Harry simply looked stunned while Ron looked bewildered.
"What's Leukemia?" asked Ron.
No one answered him.
Hermione got up, tears flowing down her face. She had only used the wheel chair because Madam Pomfrey insisted upon it.
She then ran out of the room.
Harry started to follow her, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder,
"give her time to cool down," said Dumbledore, his face grim, "She just needs some time to sort things
out."
"Alright," said Harry almost mechanically, "I think I'll just go to the
library then..."
"That's fine Harry," said Dumbledore as Harry left his office. He then
turned back to Ron to explain what Leukemia was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Harry got to the library he immediately began looking up books when he had acquired all the books he need he sat down at a table in the back of the room to read from one of the large books at the top of the stack called Muggle Diseases as They Apply to Wizards by Dr. Arnold Sabnor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione seemed to be back to normal a few days later and did her best to avoid talking about the reason she fainted with anyone. Harry and Ron tried not to push her, well, Harry tried not to push her, Ron was a different story.
After many hints about what had happened a couple nights ago Hermione seemed ready to burst. As soon as Potions class was over, she dragged Ron into an empty classroom, shut the door, and put a silencing charm around the room. Harry stood outside and waited, this was between Hermione and Ron. After a few minutes, Harry saw Hermione come out with tears coming down her cheeks, but looking very pleased with herself. "See you in charms, Harry," she said and walked off. Harry peered into the room and saw Ron cowering against the wall looking quite frightened. Harry pushed him out of the class room towards their next class. Whatever Hermione had done seemed to work on Ron because he didn't say anything else about it all day.
That night Harry went to talk to Hermione. He hadn't seen her at dinner and was beginning to get a little worried. He got his Marauder's map out from under the bed searching all the dots for the one with her name beside it. She was sitting up in the astronomy tower, most likely doing homework.
He grabbed his invisibility cloak and headed out of the common room towards the astronomy tower. To his surprise, when he got there he saw her lying down on her back, looking up at the stars.
Harry stepped into the large room pulling off his invisibility cloak. He
walked silently over to where she was lying. When he got about three feet away Hermione seemed to sense his presence.
She turned around just enough to see him and then turned back to the stars. He laid down beside her, looking up at the
sky, too. They just laid there a few minutes, content just to be in each others company.
Then Harry spoke, "Hermione do you believe in fate?" he asked quietly,
turning slightly to look at her.
She seemed to ponder the question a while before answering, "I don't know. I'd like to believe I'm in
charge of my own destiny, but I think some things are fated to happen eventually."
"I know what you mean..."
"Do you?" she asked, interrupting him. "I mean, there's the whole thing with the prophecy, but do you really think you're going to die?"
"Sometimes I wish he would just kill me, then I wouldn't have to deal with being the 'boy who lived' anymore."
"I know what that feels like. knowing you're going to die...well, of course you're not going to die..."
Tears were falling silently down her cheeks now as she continued to look at him.
"Neither are you," he replied, sitting up looking down at her his eyes intense.
"I accepted my fate a long time ago when they stopped the treatments. I'm just trying to live the life I have left to the fullest..."
"I've accepted that I either have to become a murderer or be killed, isn't that the same thing?"
"No... you can fight your fate," she said as she sat up and then switched her gaze to her lap, "I can't."
Harry leaned over and tipped up her chin, looking straight into her eyes, "You're not going to die..." he said leaning in more so that his lips were inches from hers. "You can't," he finished before brushing his lips against hers. When she didn't protest as he deepened the kiss putting all the emotion he was feeling behind it. She returned his kiss, lifting her arms so she could put them around his neck as his rested on her hips.
Finally they broke away in need of air. He rested his forehead on hers,
breathing hard, before shifting so he could hold her in his arms. No words were necessary they just sat there until she
fell asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After depositing Hermione in her room, Harry hurried to Professor
Dumbledore's office where he found him looking over some papers at his desk. "Hello Harry," said
Dumbledore as soon as he came in, "I can't say that I wasn't suspecting a visit from you today."
""Professor I've been doing some research on leukemia and how it applies to wizards and I'd like to hire Dr. Arnold Sabnor to take care of Hermione. It said in a few books that I read that he might have come up with a possible cure for leukemia and other cancers. I was wondering if I could set up a meeting with him at the next Hogwarts trip."
"I think that's a wonderful idea Harry. He was an old friend of mine, in fact he went to school with your
parents. If you would like I could give
him a call and set something up sooner than next weekend. He isn't very busy at the moment since it is very rare
for a witch or wizard to get any type of cancer. I'm sure he would be more than happy to help."
"That would be wonderful Professor, thank you."
"No problem at all, Mr. Potter."
With that Harry left to go back to the Gryffindor common room.
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling as he got up from his desk and headed over to the fireplace to call up an old
friend.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Classes went by as normal the next day. Neville's cauldron exploded, again. It was a miracle he had gotten into NEWT potions. Hermione excelled in everything, though she looked really tired, and now that Harry thought of it, she hadn't been eating much the last few weeks either. She had dark circles around her eyes and wore her heavy robe all the time.
Harry's letter from Dumbledore arrived during Divination class. Seeing
Professor Dumbledore's eagle owl fly into the room, Professor Trelawney exclaimed, "Ahh, yes I knew you were
going to get an owl from... Professor Dumbledore today, read it quickly." Lavender and Parvati looked amazed, Ron
snorted. Professor Trelawney simply continued with their lesson on reading tea leaves, as she thought they needed to
cover it one last time before their NEWTS. Harry grabbed the letter from the owl and quickly read it.
Harry,
Dr. Sabnor has agreed to meet with you today as soon as possible, he has just flooed to my office and we are both awaiting your arrival.
Professor Dumbledore
Harry quickly showed the letter to Professor Trelawney who said she had foreseen this as well and to get the homework from Mister Weasley later in the evening. Harry then headed down to Professor Dumbledore's office where he hoped there was someone who could help Hermione.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Upon entering Dumbledore's office, Harry saw a short chubby man with mousy brown hair and a huge smile on his face.
The man immediately got up and shook Harry's hand enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you Mr. Potter, I'm Dr. Sabnor, but you can call me Arnold. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to finally meet you. Too bad we couldn't have met in better circumstances. Dumbledore has told me all about your friend, Miss Granger is it?
Harry nodded. "Yes, Hermione Granger. I'm willing to offer you this much," he said pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket and handing it to Arnold, "to do all you can. Plus all the money you need to experiment. I understand you might have found a cure?" he asked looking at Arnold's stunned face that was still looking at the paper.
"Y-y-yes, yes Mr. Potter," he stuttered finally looking up from the paper.
"Yes of course, Harry, I have found a cure, but I lacked the funds to test it. Are you sure you can afford
this?" he asked looking back at the paper again.
"Yes, I assure you I can afford it," said Harry smiling slightly. "My
parents saved up quite a bit for me before they died."
"Then I accept this is a most generous amount. I will set to work right
away. Is there somewhere I could set everything up, an empty classroom perhaps?"
"I understand there is a spacious Laboratory down in the dungeons. I
could show it to you, I'm sure it will suffice. Harry, I do believe lunch
shall be starting any time now." said Dumbledore.
Harry, recognizing the dismissal, exited the room leaving Dr. Sabnor and Dumbledore to arrange everything.
A/N: Hope you liked it, please review!!!
Happy b-day, Emily!!!!
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