Goodbye For Now
A/N: This is my 1st fic, hope you like it! Please review when you're done!
17 year old Hermione Granger stepped onto the Hogwarts Express, holding a deep secret within her. A secret so terrible that no one knew, not even her parents or her friends.
Flashback
Hermione sat in the waiting room of St. Mungo's, awaiting the results of her examination. She had been feeling extremely tired the past few weeks and had begun vomiting last week, so she decided to get a checkup. She knew she certainly wasn't pregnant, so she wondered what was wrong with her.
"Ms. Granger?" A motherly-looking healer entered the room, looking solemn.
"Yes, that would be me," Hermione replied. "Do you have the results?"
"Yes, I need to speak to you in private about that," the healer said. "Follow me."
Hermione stood up and followed the healer to another room a few halls down. The healer opened the door for her and she entered, sitting down on an armchair by the healer's desk. The healer sat down behind her desk and cleared her throat.
"Ms. Granger, you have an extremely rare wizard disease called catonen," the healer began. "Do you have a pet cat or kitten?"
"Yes, but I've had him for 4 years already,"Hermione replied, confused.
"Well, your cat also has catonen, which is a rare bacteria found in only 1 out of 150 cats, and when a person comes in contact with an infected cat, they also get the bacteria, but in a worse form. It slowly takes over your body's systems,"the healer explained.
"But why did I only begin getting the symptoms recently?"Hermione asked.
"It takes a long, slow time for the bacteria to infect your body, so even though you might've gotten it years ago, it only began showing up a few weeks ago,"the healer said, and she began looking extremely sad.
"Well, what's the cure for it?"Hermione asked, slightly worried at the healer's expression.
The healer bit her lip, not responding.
"What's wrong? I mean, there must be a cure, right?" Hermione asked, becoming more worried every second.
The healer took a long, deep breath. "There...is no cure."
Hermione gasped. "That can't be! There must be a cure!"she exclaimed, gripping the side of the desk so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"I'm terribly sorry,"the healer said quietly.
Hermione burst into tears. "How can this be? What do I do?"she sobbed. The healer was crying too since she also lost her daughter to this horrible disease. She stood up and walked around the desk to Hermione. She bent down and hugged her gently, remembering the way she hugged her daughter when her daughter found out about the disease.
"I'm sorry to break down like this," Hermione said after a few minutes, when she calmed down a bit.
"Don't say that dear, you have every right to cry,"the healer said.
"How much longer do I have to live?"Hermione asked quietly.
"About 6 months, but you have to live here for those 6 months,"the healer replied.
"I see,"Hermione said. "But can I just go to Hogwarts one last time on September 1st?"
"Well...I'm not perfectly sure, but I suppose you can,"the healer replied.
"Thank you so much for everything,"Hermione said. "I'll be going now."
"All right, goodbye,"the healer said, but she seemed to be thinking of something else, so Hermione apparated out of the room and back to her apartment.
End Flashback
"Hey Hermione over here!"a familiar voicecalled to her and she turned her head to the source of the voice. Ron Weasley waved to her from the other entrance of the train and she waved back, making her way over there. Ron, who was 6 foot 3, could be easily spotted anywhere, so Hermione got there shortly even though the train was extremely crowded.
They went into their usual compartment with Ginny, who had also grown a lot since the last time they saw each other, so now she stood half a head taller than Hermione, who was 5 foot 5.
Hermione noticed that Harry Potter wasn't there, so she asked Ron, "Is Harry coming?"
"I don't know, I didn't see him at the station,"he replied. Hermione felt disappointed that she couldn't see Harry one last time, since she had something for him.
Suddenly, the door opened and Harry stepped in, looking as though he'd just gotten into a fight with someone. His glasses were broken, his hair messier than ever, and his robes were dirty.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were shocked at the sight of him, but Hermione was the first to react, saying, "What on earth happened to you?"
Harry, who was trying to clean his robes, looked up at Hermione's voice and he gaped at how pretty she'd become, since he hadn't seen her or any of them all summer, thanks to his uncle. He noticed that her hair was no longer bushy, but smooth and shiny, and her teeth were all perfectly even. Ron and Ginny had the same reaction when she visited them at the Burrow over the summer, but now they were quite used to her new look. Harry, though, was absolutely amazed at her new look, even though he had a crush on her for so long already, ever since they rode on Buckbeak together in their 3rd year.
"Er...Harry, you might want to close your mouth before flies zoom in,"Ron said, trying to keep a straight face, since he already knew about Harry's crush on Hermione and he thought Harry was extremely dumb not to see that Hermione also liked him back.
"Hi Hermione, nothing happened to me, my uncle was just trying to keep me from going back to Hogwarts," Harry replied when he could finally speak again. "Er...what's that spell for my glasses again?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and took out her wand. "Oculus Reparo," she flicked her wand and fixed his glasses. "And I'll just fix your robes also. Dustivlo Removus," and his robes became sparkling clean.
"Thanks Hermione,"Harry saidHermione looked at him and smiled. "Don't worry about it. Just be more careful next time."
She's probably only saying that as a friend, Harry thought, disappointed. But this year, I'll tell her.
The food trolley came, and they bought everything on it, from Cauldron Cakes to Pumpkin Pasties. Ron immediately began stuffing himself, and Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes, but Hermione felt like crying, remembering the first time that they met in 1st year, and Ron was also stuffing himself like this.
This'll be the last time I see him like this, Hermione thought sadly, and a few tears started rolling down her cheeks, but she quickly brushed them away, hoping that nobody noticed, but Harry did see it, and he decided to talk to her later on, when no one was around.
The train soon stopped at the Hogsmeade station and the 4 of them boarded a thestral-drawn carriage to Hogwarts. Hermione's plan was this: she would eat the feast with the rest of the students, go to Dumbledore's office to tell him about her situation, then somehow give Harry the gift before she got her belongings and left the grounds so she could apparate to St. Mungo's.
Ron and Ginny began arguing about who should keep Pig after Hogwarts, and Harry started sorting out his wizard cards from the Chocolate Frogs, but Hermione stayed silent, her hands clasped on her lap. Harry glanced at her every once in a while, but when she met his gaze, he turned away, blushing.
Soon, the carriages reached the entrance to the castle, so they went into the Great Hall for the Sorting and the feast. Ron gazed longingly at the empty plates, and the other 3 snickered, pulling him to his seat.
The first years entered not long after, looking extremely nervous and tripping on their robes. They were all sorted, from Adveron, Jamie to Zuroski, Bella. Then, Dumbledore made his usual welcoming speech, but Harry wasn't listening, he was scribbling a note to Hermione on a small piece of parchment. When he finished, he tucked it into his pocket, since Colin Creevey was watching him curiously. They all dug in when the food appeared, but Hermione hardly ate at all, she just had to take in the friendly air of the Great Hall one last time. She was also trying to figure out how and when to give Harry the gift.
When the feast was done, the prefects began leading the 1st years to their dormitories, so Harry had to get to Hermione before it got too crowded. He spotted her leaving the Great Hall behind a group of loud, chatty 5th year Hufflepuffs. He caught up to her and said, "Here, read this later" stuffing the paper into her hand, then he went to find Ron, leaving a startled Hermione standing there. She made her way to Dumbledore's office, but when she got there, she realized that she didn't know the password.
"Er...pumpkin pasty?"she tried. The statue remained still. She tried several different candy names before she heard her name being called. She turned around and saw Dumbledore walking towards her.
"Hello, Miss Granger, what can I do for you?"he asked pleasantly.
"Well, um...I need to talk to you about something,"she said uncertainly.
"Very well, we can talk in my office,"he turned around and said, "Reeses Pieces." Hermione was surprised that the password was a muggle candy. As they went up the stairs, Dumbledore said, "I seem to be getting attached to muggle candies these days." Hermione nodded, and they entered into the room.
"Would you like anything to drink, Miss Granger?"Dumbledore asked as soon as Hermione had settled down in an armchair that she had conjured up.
"No thank you,"she said politely. "I just need to talk to you about something."
"Ah, yes. What is it?"Dumbledore asked.
"Well, I'm not sure where to begin, but..."she stopped and took a long, deep breath, tears threatening to trickle down her pale cheeks. "I have catonen and I.....I have to live in St. Mungo's for the remaining time."
Dumbledore looked at her sadly. "I see, Miss Granger. Well, will you be leaving tonight?" Hermione nodded silently. Dumbledore stood up and went over to Fawkes.
"Please take Miss Granger outside of the grounds when the clock strikes 12,"he said quietly. Then, he turned back to Hermione. "I'm sorry this had to happen to the brightest witch in Hogwarts." Suddenly, Fawkes nipped his shoulder.
"What is it Fawkes?"he asked patiently. Fawkes flew over to the bookcase and pulled out an old, blue book, then flew over to Dumbledore's desk, laying it open on a page. Dumbledore walked over quickly. His deep eyes scanned the page quickly, while Hermione watched in confusion.
"Ah, yes Fawkes, you are a most clever phoenix,"he said when he finished skimming over it.
"Sorry Professor, but what is that?"Hermione asked.
"This may help you with your disease,"Dumbledore replied. Hermione's eyes widened. "Wh-what?"
"Yes, come here and I will explain."Dumbledore beckoned to her. Hermione went over to the desk.
"You see, your disease has no cure, but you may live for several more years depending on how this procedure turns out,"Dumbledore explained.
"But how is that possible?"Hermione was almost in hysterics.
"Well, I will reduce years of my life and give them to you. I have lived quite long already and you deserve to live also,"Dumbledore said.
Hermione gasped. "No you can't sir! The wizarding world needs you!"
Dumbledore laid a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Granger, as I said, I have lived quite well already, and since Voldemort is already gone, all will be well."
"But what if there are more dark wizards around? What will the wizarding world do then?"Hermione didn't want to die, but she felt that it would be better for Dumbledore to stay than her.
"I don't suppose they will come out of hiding anytime soon, so we are quite safe,"Dumbledore answered. "Why don't we read the steps for the spell? And then you can decide what you want."
Hermione nodded, but she knew that she could never say yes. She stepped forward and began reading.
The Life Exchanging Spell:
The life exchanging spell, otherwise known as lifotem extorus, will allow the giver to transfer years of his life to the recipient. This spell is usually used when the recipient has a serious, life-threatening illness or disease but wishes to continue living instead of going on. The spell should be cast at night in a large room containing both the giver and the recipient. For every 10 years reduced from the giver, the recipient gains 1 year of life. The incantation is lifenarus transferos and both the giver and the recipient should say it at the same time, then the giver flicks his wand once for every year that will be reduced from his life, and at the same time, the recipient flicks his wand for every year that he gains. If the giver wishes to see how many years of his life are left as long as nothing bad happens to him, such as any accidents or injuries, before he performs the spell, then he has to say lifenarus numbreus and point his wand at his heart, then the number will appear in front of him after several seconds. These spells should be performed with extreme caution because if there is a mistake, the consequences could be severe. Please do not perform unless both giver and recipient are very sure they would like to proceed.
Hermione stood there in silence, going through what she had just read. Professor Dumbledore watched her patiently, waiting for her decision.
After what seemed like hours, Hermione took a deep breath. "I...
A/N: I'm so sorry if this sucked, but please forgive me because like I said, this is my 1st fic ever. I was going to make it a one-shot, but I thought it might be too long and boring, so I'm stopping it here, and there will probably be 1 more chapter, 2 at the most. Please tell me on a scale of 1-10 how good or bad it is, 1 being horrible and 10 being excellent(although I know its not 10, I just hope its not that horrible). Thanks! I will continue this if its not too bad.