Just thought I'd post this story because it is what I had to go through three months ago. I had scoliosis surgery three weeks before Christmas. I am still recovering, but it made me realize just how much your friends' support can mean to you. Confused? Don't worry, I'll explain what scoliosis is later in the story.

Disclaimer: Do I even need to say it? I don't own Harry Potter, blah, blah, blah, JK Rowling does…

Hospitals.

Ugh.

She hated them. Both muggle and wizarding. It made no difference to her. Hospitals were just a sign of sadness and despair. That, and their perfection…utter perfection. With their sterile white hallways and their unexplainable cleanliness a person couldn't help but feel nervous inside them.

Unfortunately, Hermione Granger had gotten the pleasure of spending four hours in her parents' favorite muggle hospital. She had gone in expecting her annual appointment to take less than an hour. However, nothing was ever just simple for Hermione…

It was a bright winter day, about three weeks before Christmas, when Hermione's world came crashing down around her. She'd been sitting in the waiting room in her physician's office after having a few X-rays done. Her doctor came out of the lab and told her that she had scoliosis.

Hermione didn't know exactly what scoliosis was, but when her physician brought up the fact that surgery was necessary, she realized just how severe it really was. She couldn't help but let a small sob escape her lips as tears began to form in the corners of her chocolate brown eyes. Come on! She thought to herself, You've been through worse than this! You've been through VOLDEMORT, for Merlin's sake! You can handle a little surgery!

She had to get a few more X-rays taken and her parents scheduled her for surgery…in one week! The thought of it was terrifying, especially right before Christmas, but she knew she had to be strong…if not only so she could recover quickly and spend Christmas with Ron...

After leaving the hospital, Hermione wanted nothing more than to apparate directly to the Burrow to see Ron, but her parents had insisted that she drive home with them first and then she could floo over to Ron's. Although she didn't particularly like the idea, she reluctantly agreed.

Seconds after she got home, she rushed over to the fireplace, said a quick goodbye to her parents, and stepped into the emerald flames, yelling, "The Burrow!"

She came whirling out of the Weasley's fireplace quickly and found herself face-to-face with Mrs. Weasley. Her face turned red and she muttered a quick hello to her before running up the stairs to Ron's bedroom. By this time, she had tears running down her panic-stricken face.

Ron had been in his room, sleeping, after returning from a rather draining night at Auror training. He was wearing nothing but a pair of Chudley Cannons boxers and had been sleeping quite peacefully, that is, until Hermione burst into his room and jumped on top of him, urgently pressing her lips to his.

His eyes snapped open as he felt her body pressed up against his. He could get used to waking up like this everyday. He responded eagerly, entwining his tongue with hers. He wrapped one hand around the small of her back and the other reached up to her curly, brown hair.

"Merlin, Mione! What a way to wake a bloke up!" laughed Ron, jokingly, as he pulled away from the kiss. The smile quickly dropped off his face when he saw that she was crying. "Mione! Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Her red, puffy eyes met his sparkling blues ones as she tried to talk. "Ron- it's just- oh, Ron!" she cried. He sat up and pulled her close to him, forgetting to be embarrassed that he was half-naked in front of her.

"Shhh…Mione, s'okay. I'm here. I'll always be here for you. What's wrong, sweetheart?" He gave her a minute just to cry into his chest. He knew at that moment, as he had for several years, that he loved her and needed her, even if he hadn't told her that yet.

He gently wiped her tears away and kissed her softlyon the forehead. This was the side of him that Hermione truly loved…the side that would just be there for her…forever.

"R-Ron, I-I have t-t-to have surgery! Back surgery, Ron! I'm just so-so s-scared!" she finally choked out.

"Mione, it's okay. Nothing's going to happen to you. I'll be right by your side the whole time. Anything you need me to do for you…I'll do it. I'm here for you, luv," he whispered, taking her small hand in his.

After a few minutes of silence, Hermione asked, "Ron, do you-er, do you think I could sleep with you? I know it's almost noon, but I'm exceptionally tired. You don't think your mum will mind, do you? I-I just want to feel safe in your arms…"

"Of course, Mione," he said. He pulled back the Chudley Cannons quilt that covered his bed, allowing her to get in. She quickly slid her trainers off and snuggled up to his side.

"Thank you, Ronald."

The next day, Hermione was sitting in the corner of Ron's room, much like she was before they had left on the Horcrux hunt. She and Ron had decided that the best way to get over her nerves was to learn about what scoliosis actually was, so she had been reading through several different medical books that she had borrowed from the muggle library.

"So, er, Hermione," Ron began. It was quite easy to tell that he was nervous about what he was about to ask her. "Can you- I mean, what- what exactly is scoliosis? I mean…what happened, why do you have to- er- you know, have surgery? I don't like the way those muggles think…honestly, who would ever want to cut open a person?"

"Well, from what I've found out so far…scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curve to the vertebral column."

"Er…what?"

"When your spine goes all curvy, Ronald." She said exasperatedly. She pulled her jumper off, exposing her back to him. She was wearing just a thin camisole, and it wasn't hiding much. Ron blushed and started to get a mild reaction- just from looking at her back like that! He did his best to cover his "annoying little problem" and looked at her back with a polite curiosity.

She bent slightly forward and then he could see it. The entire right side of her back was a good 5 centimeters higher than the left. He couldn't help but let out a small gasp. "Does- does it hurt?"

"No, that's just it, I didn't even realize it was there," she said, pulling her jumper back over her head. "That's why it got so bad. I have a 70 degree curve in my back. According to this book…any curve that is over 20 degrees requires medical attention. Ron, I'm just so terrified. There's a 10 percent chance of me getting paralyzed and never being able to walk again. What if that happens to me? What if something goes wrong? What if-"

He silenced her with a kiss. "Everything will be fine, Hermione. These healers know what they're doing. Don't worry."

"Ron, how can I not be worried about someone putting 2 18-inch titanium rods in my back! That's awful!"

He pulled her back onto his bed and into a hug. "I'll be there with you next week…I'll never leave your side."

The rest of the week flew by, Hermione's nerves growing each day. When the day of her surgery was upon them at last, she and her parents drove to the hospital along with Ron, who was gripping her hand tightly and whispering comforting words to her the whole way there.

They entered the hospital and went up to the seventh floor, where Hermione's surgery would take place. Her parents signed some last-minute forms, and then they entered Hermione's hospital room. Her nurse came in and gave Hermione a hospital gown to put on. The nurse then scrubbed Hermione's back with some foul-smelling, orange soap. Hermione was then put on an IV (at this point, Ron had to look away) and then it was time for her to be led down to surgery.

Just before they wheeled Hermione away, she gave each of her parents a kiss on the cheek. She then turned to Ron and gave him a kiss full of passion. Who cared if her parent were watching? She loved him, and that is just what she said. "I love you, Ron."

"I love you too, Mione."

And with that, she was wheeled off to surgery.

Pretty Please Review!! I should have the next chapter posted in a couple days, depends on the response I get!

Thanks for Reading!