I awake in Matt's arms and look around. Shock overtakes me again causing me to gasp when I realize that I am in the hospital. Matt awakes to my shock, and as he looks at me he begins to cry. I look up at him curiously.

"What's wrong, Matty?" I ask leaning against him again.

"W…well, Kels… i…I am afraid…"

He is interrupted by the door bursting open. I look at the people who have entered with interest and surprise. I smile as I see the gang standing there. Sirius, as always, was the first to step forward. He looks at me concerned, pauses at the foot of the bed, then runs to me and embraces me.

"S…Sirius, hun… you're killing me." I choke.

I feel him tense and then set me down. James, my untidy haired buddy, was the next to embrace me. His touch was gentle and caring. He looks at me solemnly and sighs, allowing Remus the next hug. I gasp, shocked.

"H…hi guys!" I state dumbly.

"Hey Kels!" they all say, practically in unison.

Finally, I spot my bestie in the back. Lily Evans, the very reason for my happiness, was just looking at me the way James had been. I wonder why they are looking at me this way, and turn to my brother for answers.

"Matt… what's going on?" I question.

"W…well… Kels… ummm… you have cancer, baby." Matt spits out, looking away from me, "I…its stage two, Hodgkin's Leukemia…"

Tears fill his eyes as he wraps me up in his arms. Once again, my body takes a moment to analyze this statement. My brain finally catching the seriousness, I begin to cry as well.

"M…matt… how?"

"Nobody knows, sis. I…I'm sorry."

"B…but?"

"The doctor says you'll probably live for a minimum of ten years, if we can't heal it." His statement is followed by more tears, "I… I don't want to lose you, Kels."

My body tenses and I begin to breathe heavily. The world seems to move more slowly. I don't realize it, until I am hyperventilating, but I was having a panic attack. I couldn't take all this news, all within a couple of days. I shut down, passing out, as the doctors swarm into my room.

"She'll be okay, guys. Just a minor panic attack." I hear a voice say.

"T…Thank you, Doctor." My brother says from one side of the room.

His voice is solemn and tearful. He sounds very far away though, almost as if he were leaving the room. I open my eyes and look around. Sure enough, Matt wasn't there. Where did he go? I ask myself, sitting up. I take in my surroundings, and slowly realize that I am not alone. Sitting in a chair on one side of the room is Sirius. He isn't looking at me, instead his head is down. As if detecting some type of motion, he looks up at me. Our eyes meet. His mysterious grey eyes look at me with a look of pain. I wonder why he is so pained, and why he stayed behind. Last time I remembered being with him, he wasn't interested in me. I look him over and smile solemnly at him, motioning for him to come and sit by me.

He sits on the bed beside me, taking me into his arms almost immediately, which takes me by surprise. His embrace is gentle and almost loving. He holds me to him, not speaking at first. The silence hangs thick in the air. I decide now was as good a time as any to speak.

"S…Sirius?" I look at his face, "Why do you suddenly seem to care?"

He back at me, his eyes sparkling, "Kels, we've been friends since first year. I…I didn't realize how much I really cared about you, until Professor Dumbledore said you were hurt. At that moment, my heart caught in my chest, and I wondered if you were going to be ok."

"R…really?" I look at him daring him to say he was kidding.

He chuckles, "Yes really, Kels! I don't know why I didn't realize it then, but you are the one girl I like."

I blush, thinking this over. I had never dated Sirius because we were friends. We had each other's back anytime something happened. I had had a crush on Sirius since second year when he started getting a little manlier, but I had never told him. That was, until last year, when I stated my feelings to him at a ball. We had decided to go together because he had no one and I was scared to ask anyone. He had smiled and hugged me then, saying he didn't want to ruin our friendship with a relationship. I knew this was a good reason and dropped it. Now, suddenly, he really did like me. My, how things have changed. I think smiling.

"So?" He looks me over.

I start, shaken out of my thoughts, I smile and kiss his cheek, "Well, I guess we can give a try."

I giggle and lean against him as he holds me close, "Good… cuz I don't know what I'd do if you had said no."

I look up at his face and smile, "Well, now you have me…"

I feel him smile and he lies back, still holding me to him, "You should get some rest, hun. I… I want you to get better fast so you can come back to school."

I smile and snuggle close to him. He begins to hum a tune I haven't heard before. It was soothing and kind. It also put me to sleep.