For Herbology over at Hogwarts using the prompts someone must kiss someone, broken, next-gen, 2020, Teddy/Victoire, I just feel awful, and summer vacation,

the Opposite Day challenge doing angst,

the Snakes and Ladders challenge using Teddy Lupin,

the As Strong as We Are United comp using the prompt sun,

the Setting Boot Camp challenge using things will get better,

and DADA at the Modly Comp.

Modly Comp:

House: Gryffindor

Magical status: Muggleborn witch

Option: C

Wand: TBA

Words: 627

.,.,.,.,.

"What... what if I don't make it?"

The grass ghosts across their feet in the little wind that passes by them. A shadow casted by the towering Burrow behind them shields them from the light of the slowly setting summer sun. Their knees touch, but he can barely make out her words in the low whisper he knows she cannot bare speaking above.

With the gentlest touch, he cradles her hand in his, lacing their fingers together before saying, "You will make it Vic. Don't talk like that."

Victoire's whole body collapsed into his, her nose settling in the crook of his neck. "It's just... I just feel awful. I don't want to do anything anymore. I feel like the whole world is constricting my lungs and one day I'm just not going to breathe anymore. I don't... I don't want to be like this anymore Ted. Whatever this is, I just want it to stop," her voice trembles and cracks and reminds him of a tree in an earthquake.

It is all Teddy can do to hold her and brush his lips across her forehead. "I know this isn't easy, but you've got to try. Don't let it become you."

"You say that like I'm strong enough to."

"You are. I know you are."

She laughs in that hollow way that makes his chest ache terribly before whispering, "Just because I'm a Gryffindor doesn't mean I'm brave."

Behind the cracking whisper, in the hopeless way it tumbles past her lips, it comes off as if she's saying it to herself more than Teddy. Like it's been haunting Victoire for her entire life.

"You don't need to fight dragons or be able to get on a broomstick to be strong when it counts."

"I'm not seven years old anymore. This isn't a dragon! This is cancer. I can't fight it, Ted. It's eating me from the inside out, don't you understand?"

With cold, desperate hands he take hers into them. "I can't understand how it's making you feel, I never will, but I love you. I just want to help you get better. You can't if you keep running away before seeing the Healers. This isn't helping anything, Vic. Running doesn't solve everything," his voice breaks harshly on the last word.

Without so much as blinking, she murmurs, "I'm not running from the Healers. I'm running from the cold hard fact. I'm going to die, and it's not going to be in a sweet old cottage by the sea at ninety-seven with you by my side as I drift away in my sleep. It's going to be in a scratchy hospital bed at eighteen with you having had enough of me as I finally face that I never got to live before I died."

It's a few moments before he says, "I'm never leaving you. If anything, it'll be you leaving me in that salty cottage at ninety-seven."

"You'll get sick of me and my brokenness my dying and realize that you've still got time, why are you wasting it on a dying girl?"

"You've known me all your life, and have I ever given up on you? You're a fighter, you've always been."

With a sigh she muttered, "This is a battle I don't think I'm going to win."

He hummed into her hair, "If you say so, love."

"You're the most stubborn person I've ever known."

"And you're the bravest," he answered. "Always."

The sun dipped below the horizon. Teddy could only hope the sunrise predicted better results.

Victoire didn't.