Chapter 10:
An Outing and a Surprise
A/N: Okay, so things are definitely going to be getting more emotional. Just a warning. This story is really important to me, though, so I'm gonna keep on keeping on. I saw a picture last weekend of the real Matthew when he first started having treatments for his cancer, and it was almost scary how much he looked like my descriptions. Remember, this is based off of a true story, and Matthew really lived.
Disclaimer: I don't own HP, and I don't own you, my dear Matthew, even though you have taken complete possession of something of mine.
Hermione awoke the next morning to an empty bed. Immediately her mother instinct kicked in and she jumped out of bed, knowing in her heart that Matthew was out of his bed and Harry wasn't with her. She went out to the kitchen and walked slowly into the den to find the patio door open. Hermione's heart leaped in her throat and she walked cautiously outside to find Harry fast asleep in the hammock with Matthew fast asleep on his stomach. A soft, fleece blanket was stretched across both of them. Hermione sighed, unable to get angry at such a cute picture. She walked over to the super large hammock and crawled into it beside Harry. He woke up and looked at her.
"Oops. Sorry we were out here all night."
Hermione smiled and leaned onto his chest. "It's okay," she whispered. Matthew rolled over onto Hermione's stomach, leaving debris of hair behind on Harry's chest. Hermione sighed and took his hair gingerly, her heart breaking at the fact that his hair was falling out despite the fact that she tried to adamantly deny it. It had been falling out more frequently since the Relay for Life, and Hermione knew that it was just a matter of time before it was completely gone. She leaned over and touched her husband's hair, the hair so like their son's. He nodded knowingly and patted her hand gently.
The small family lay together on the hammock for a while until they heard the flooing alarm on their fireplace go off. Harry jumped up quickly, careful not to disturb Matthew, and ran inside to find Ron's head among the flames in their fireplace.
"Ron? What are you doing calling so early in the morning?"
Ron smiled as the flames tickled his cheeks. "Well, I haven't seen my best friend in a while, and I just wanted to pop in and ask you guys to join me and Luna and the kids for an outing to go see the Cannons play against Puddlemere in a scrimmage. So, what do you say?"
Harry shrugged. "I really don't know. It depends on how Matthew's feeling when he wakes up."
Ron sighed. "Can't you just give him some kind of potion to make him feel better? Me and Luna really miss being able to be around you guys, mate."
"Ron, a potion wouldn't help him any. Listen, I'd love to go with you guys, but we'll have to decide after Matthew wakes up whether he's up for an adventure or not."
"Right," Ron said, with a skeptical tone of voice. "Listen, we're going to get the kids ready and we'll stop by your place. If you guys aren't going to go, we'll just leave from there. Does that sound good?"
Harry nodded and touched his forehead in mock salute. "Later, Ron."
"Later." His head popped out of the fireplace, leaving Harry to watch the flames. As he stood by the hearth, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Matthew with his hair askew, standing forlornly. He was blinking his eyes, obviously having just woken up. He rubbed his eyes with little balled up fists and stepped towards Harry.
"Good morning, Daddy." Matthew stretched his arms upward and Harry picked him up gingerly.
"Good morning, sleepyhead son! Did you enjoy looking at the stars last night?"
Matthew nodded. "After you fell asleep, I looked up and I saw a falling star."
"Really? Wow, that's amazing!"
"Uh-huh. I think it was Jerrod."
Harry's smile disappeared slowly and he softly touched the thinning black hair of the three year old in his arms. "I'm glad you got to see that. I know yesterday's funeral was probably hard for you, but I am so proud of how well you handled it. You're my brave little warrior, and you're the best son a guy could ever have." Matthew smiled sweetly. "Now, son, how are you honestly feeling today?"
Matthew shrugged. "I dunno. I feel okay."
"Are you tired or hurting anywhere?"
"No." He shook his head and a strand of hair pulled away from his skull. Hermione came in and smiled at the sight of the two loves of her life before the fire.
"Are you guys having a party in here without me?" She gave a tantalizing smile and walked over to their sides.
"Daddy was asking me if I felt good."
"And do you?"
He nodded and squirmed out of Harry's arms over to his mother. "Why were you asking?"
Harry smiled and walked to the fireplace. "Well, Uncle Ron flooed, and he was wondering if the three of us would like to go see a Quidditch scrimmage."
"YAY! When do we get to go? Are Scarlett and Rhett coming? Are you gonna fly again?"
Harry laughed. "Take it easy, Matthew, it's okay. Ron and Luna and the kids should be coming by in about an hour. And no, I'm not flying with Puddlemere, because I retired from the team when you were born." Matthew squealed in excitement and tugged gently on Hermione's hair.
"Can we go get ready, Mommy? Please?"
Hermione laughed and headed towards the staircase. "We can do that." She nodded to Harry and headed upstairs with the excited, wriggling boy. Harry chuckled and headed towards the kitchen to pour a glass of orange juice. The owl from the Daily Prophet tapped on the plate glass window and Harry took it in exchange for a Knut. He skimmed through it quickly, laughing as he saw that the front-page news was all about the drop in skateboard sales. As he drained the last of his juice, he heard Matthew gallop down the stairs. This was how life was supposed to be, perfectly normal and disease free. He flitted that thought out of his mind and went in the front hallway to find his son sitting on the bottom steps fidgeting, wearing a little Puddlemere jersey. Harry smiled and went to sit beside him.
"Hey, little man. Nice jersey." The name `Potter' with Harry's old number was emblazoned on the back.
"Thanks. Mommy let me wear it today."
"We're going to have a lot of fun today. And you'll get to see Scarlett and Rhett. You've missed them, haven't you?"
Matthew nodded somberly. "I miss them."
"Me too, little man, me too." Harry rubbed Matthew's back softly and heard Hermione coming down the stairs behind them. She joined her little family and they walked towards the kitchen so Matthew and Hermione could get something to eat. When Matthew was finished eating his cereal, a chime rang from the den, announcing a visitor via the floo network. Harry went to the fireplace and found Luna and Ron there, little Scarlett and Rhett standing nervously in front of them.
"Harry, mate! Good to see you!"
"Ron, Luna, little Weasleys… We'll be ready to go as soon as Matthew's done eating and…"
"I'm ready, Daddy." Matthew toddled in from the kitchen. "Hi, Unca Ron, Auntie Luna! I've missed you!"
"Uh, same to you, dear," Luna said too cheerily, looking at Matthew's hair. Hermione came out and greeted the family, noticing quite unhappily the stares that Matthew was receiving from Scarlett, Rhett, and Luna. Ron either forced himself to not stare or was blissfully unaware of his surroundings as usual. Ron went to the fireplace, threw in some floo powder, and shouted out the name of the stadium they were heading towards. He took Scarlett in his arms and jumped in the fire; Luna followed with Rhett. Hermione and Matthew went next, followed by Harry.
When the little party emerged, they found themselves in a huge plaza underneath the stadium seats. Excited fans with huge flashing banners walked about everywhere, and Hermione put her hands over Matthew's eyes as a scantily clad women walked past, orange paint in all the places that weren't covered up by the little clothing she possessed. Ron jumped about in excitement.
"This is exciting, you guys! Cannons all the way!"
"I like Puddlemere." Matthew said persuadingly. "Daddy played for them."
"Yes, you're Daddy was a very good Seeker." Luna smiled. "But I like the Cannons, because that's where you're Unca Ron and I had our first date."
"Where?"
"Near the grocery store." Matthew frowned at the weird response and walked over to Hermione, who patted his head gently.
"Shall we find our seats?" Harry suggested. Ron nodded and took them to a stairwell that led to the very top box.
"This is a free event, so let's see how high up we can go. I really want to get some good seats. Come on, Rhett, Scarlett…" He took their hands to keep them from flitting about and began to head towards the steps. Matthew showed a huge display of gusto as he hopped up the steps, following the other children's lead. There were 14 levels in all, all of which Rhett and Scarlett were planning to bunny hop up. Near the eighth floor, Matthew's hops began to get smaller and his blackened head began to droop. Hermione gave a motherly smile and leaned down to her son.
"Matthew, you're getting tired, aren't you?" Matthew began to shake his head, but seeing Hermione's iron stare, he slowly nodded. "That's what I thought. Why don't you let Daddy or me carry you?" He nodded wearily and extended his arms to Hermione. She lifted him up like a sack of potatoes and let him sit on her shoulders. Scarlett came over to them and looked up at Matthew cautiously.
"Why aren't you hopping, Matthew?"
"He's tried, Scarlett, dear. You go on and hop with your brother, me and Matthew are going to take our own pace."
"Mommy, why's he tired? Rhett's his age, and he's not tired. Is Matthew just a baby?" Scarlett's insulting words traveled from her position way ahead to Matthew's ears. He shut his eyes tightly and stuck his head in his mother's bushy head. Hermione reached up and patted Matthew's hand.
"Dear, she didn't mean that. She just doesn't know that you're sick…"
"I'm tired of being sick, Mommy." His words were so simply said that it seemed as though he was discussing the weather or a cartoon show.
"I know, Matthew. It's gonna be hard." Matthew nodded and was silent for the rest of the climb to the 12th floor. They situated in 4 seats, the children sitting on their parent's laps. Matthew was joking around with Scarlett and Rhett, obviously having forgotten Scarlett's lashing words. Both families showed a great deal of enthusiasm as the game began, Matthew jumping up and screaming adorably ever time Puddlemere scored. Luna learned a little spell that put face paint in the shape of each child's favorite team on their left cheek. Matthew was ecstatic at finally seeing professional Quidditch teams playing. But as the match went on, he began to tire, and sometime during the 4th timeout, he fell promptly asleep on Harry's chest. Luna and the kids had made a trip to the bathroom, leaving the trio and Matthew alone in each other's company. Harry watched the game intently, keeping very still so he would not awake his son. Ron watched Harry for a moment before shaking his head.
"It's really amazing, you know?"
Harry turned his head to his friend. "What is?"
"The second our kid is born, we fall hopelessly in love."
Harry grinned and looked down at the very loved Matthew.
"Is Matthew doing okay, overall?"
Hermione shrugged and nodded. "He's doing pretty good so far. We've just had to adjust our lives around treatment so he can get the best care possible."
Ron nodded, not really hearing her words as the Cannons scored. He turned to her and smiled. "Why don't you guys just give Matthew a blood replenishing potion? That would heal him, and you two would be free for some more alone time and time with your old pals."
Harry sighed. "Ron, we've told you that wouldn't work. Matthew's so little that it would probably kill him. The best way to heal him is continue with the muggle therapy."
"Whatever you say, mate. I think you guys are doing the wrong thing, trusting muggles with something so important.
"Ronald," Hermione said, her temper flaring. "We are doing what is best for him. If we left it to the wizarding doctors, he would die. You an Luna would do the same thing if little Rhett had a possibly fatal disease."
"Yeah, sure, whatever. Hey, Puddlemere's seeker is diving, diving, and…" Here Ron uttered words that made Harry stick his hands over Matthew's ears even though he was sleeping. "Cannons lost!" Harry nudged Matthew awake so he could see Puddlemere's victory lap. Instead of being excited though, he was angry.
"Did I sleep through it?"
"Yes, dear, I'm sorry."
"Figures," piped up Scarlett. "Little baby slept through all the excitement!"
Ron chided Scarlett and told her to apologize. She did it half-heartedly; expecting Harry to say it was all right.
Harry didn't know what to say, so he just patted Matthew's head.
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After the scrimmage, the Potters barely saw the Weasleys again. Matthew was nonplussed by the attitude of Scarlett. He lived for Thursday meetings and was always so excited when he was able to go. As the months went on, Matthew's bald spot grew a little bit more. It bothered him for the first time a week after the Quidditch match when he looked in the mirror and saw the shining spot and asked Hermione if Scarlett's words were true.
In November, a Thursday meeting was planned on Thanksgiving Day in the evening. "After all," Jeremiah had claimed. "We all have a lot to be thankful for." Harry and Hermione prepared a dish to take and put the wriggling, excited Matthew in his little car seat so they could go to the hospital. When they reached the meeting room, they found Missy Lyn already there with her grandmother. She actually talked to Matthew, much to her grandmother's surprise. As Matthew talked to Missy Lyn, he heard the door creak open behind him. He paid no attention to it until he heard his mother gasp. He turned and saw Jeremiah in the doorway.
"Oh, Jeremiah…"Hermione gasped.
And she had good reason to stare open mouthed. Jeremiah was completely bald; all his hair had been shaved away.
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to put out, but I really didn't like this chapter, it was just necessary to tie up some old strings and create new ones. Also, I'm sorry if some of my descriptions of cancer aren't exactly correct, I've never actually seen treatment happen, and the real life Matthew has never really told me any details of his leukemia. So all my writing is coming directly from research and an out-of-control imagination. Another reason that this chapter was so slow in coming is b/c I got bored and wrote chapter 18 when I should have been working on this. Oops. Plus, a lot of my time has been spent with the real life Matthew.
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