Author's note: Here it is, guys!The next chapter to Till We Meet Again! This one's longer than the first chapter. I hope you like this one as well! Enjoy!
The usual Disclaimer: JKR still gets paid for Harry Potter TT_TT
ooOXOoo
Weeks have passed since that day the Healer told him 4 simple words that he was determined to prove wrong. He did his best to forget all about it and continue his life as if that afternoon never happened.
Sometimes though, the words would suddenly echo through his mind, causing him to be angry at himself for even thinking about it. He would then find himself making efforts to keep busy and focus on whatever he was doing.
Weeks ago, he was told that he was dying.
It's weird how people change once they're told that their time here on earth was running out. That it was time to go and leave this world behind. People find themselves doing everything they can so that they would have nothing to regret. Hugging and kissing their spouses at every opportunity they found. Telling their family how much they love them. The thought of dying makes men appreciate the little things in their lives. They try to live life to the fullest. With joy and passion.
Harry Potter found himself in this situation. Although he still didn't believe in what the young woman had told him, he subconsciously began doing all the things that dying men and women do.
ooOXOoo
The moment he arrived at his house that afternoon many weeks ago, he had immediately rushed to hug and kiss Ginny who was waiting for him in the front yard.
"Harry? What's wrong? Did something happen?" she panicked as he hugged her close to him.
For a few seconds, he wasn't able to answer her. Realizing, though, that she was panicking, he leaned back and stared into the eyes of his beautiful wife. She looked so worried.
"I love you... You know that, right?" he asked her with a voice full of tenderness and love.
"Why are you suddenly saying this to me? Did something happen?" she asked again, panic still echoing in her voice.
"Nothing... nothing bad happened... I just... wanted to make sure that you know this...," he whispered.
"I love you, too, Harry. And, of course I know that you love me. But I know that there's something you're not telling me. So, tell me, right now," she demanded.
He couldn't help but chuckle at the look on her face. It was a mixture of stubbornness, concern and slight panic. He stopped chuckling, however, when he thought of what to tell her. Surely, he can't tell her the truth. Well, it's not really the truth since he was going to prove it wrong. Even if it wasn't true, telling her that he was told he was dying (even in his thoughts, he hissed the word) would just make her worry and panic.
He sighed. Ginny was still looking at him, waiting for an answer. She has always been stubborn and lying to her has always been something hard to do since she knew him too well, not that he lied to her a lot. He decided to go with part of the things that happened to him that afternoon.
"A man at St. Mungo's was crying... the Healers said that he... his wife just... died... so I... I thought about..." He closed his eyes, trying to fight back the vivid images of the man, face clenched with so much agony, that was flashing through his mind. He remembered the longing he felt to see Ginny when he saw him at a corner, loud, desperate sobs racking through his whole body. He wanted to see her as soon as possible, to hold her in his arms just to make sure that she was still there. That she won't be taken away from him.
A single tear made its way down his cheek at the thought of losing Ginny. He simply cannot live without her.
In the next moment, he was being held tightly by his wife as he rubbed his eye with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up, Harry... I... Don't worry, love. I'm here. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," she continuously whispered these reassurances to him.
He kissed her hair, her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and her lips, as if making sure that what she was saying was true. They held each other for a long time, finding peace in each other's arms.
When they broke apart, holding hands, Ginny had forgotten a little about the worry she felt earlier. She smiled gently at him and tugged him towards the house. He returned the smile a little timidly.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, trying to change the subject, as she led him towards the kitchen.
"A little," he replied. He sat down on the kitchen chair as she reheated the teapot and began making sandwiches.
There was a moment of peaceful silence as she prepared his food, her back facing him.
After a while, she spoke again. "Umm... so? What happened in your check – up today?" Her voice was filled with curiosity and a little wariness.
He grimaced a little. He really didn't want to think about this afternoon. Ginny, facing away from him, was silent as she waited for an answer.
She glanced at him, and then hurriedly said. "Sorry. I was just curious. You don't have to tell me if the topic still makes you uncomfortable..." She looked back at what she was doing as he sighed. He really needed to do something to make her feel that there was nothing to worry about.
So, silently, he got up and walked behind her. He placed his arms around her waist, startling her a little, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"It's fine. After I saw the man, nothing special happened," he whispered in her ear.
She leaned her head against his chest and held his hands. "Oh..." was all she could say.
"They told me something, though..." he said in a grave tone, his eyes slightly glinting with mischief.
This made her panicky again as she whirled around to look at her husband's face. "What?" she asked.
He smirked. "I'm getting old." And, as if to prove his statement, his bones cracked a little as he straightened up.
She snorted and laughed so hard as she hugged him once again. He joined in after a few moments. "Hey!" he said, "If I'm getting old, then so are you!" She stopped laughing and stuck out her tongue at him. He kissed her nose and hugged her once again as both of them snickered at the thought. With that, they didn't bring up the topic again.
.
ooOXOoo
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He stared at the report he was reading. He couldn't concentrate well on what he was doing. The words written weren't making any sense to him. He tried to focus again but his head hurt terribly. He closed his eyes and began massaging his temples. He sighed. He's been having a lot of headaches, chest aches and fatigues lately.
A knock on his office door interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he said to whoever it was.
Ron's head appeared in the doorway.
"You don't have to knock, Ron," he smiled to his best mate. "Didn't I tell you that before?"
"Well, yeah. But I'm trying to set an example for our subordinates," he smirked, walking towards him. "It's almost lunch, sir," he mocked. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah, yeah," Harry rolled his eyes. "Just let me fix these," he pointed to the pile of reports scattered on his table. Ron laughed.
"Okay. But hurry up. I'm starving." He turned to leave. "I'll wait for you at the-"
His sentence was cut short as Harry suddenly gasped for air, his head hurting more than ever.
Then, there was darkness.
ooOXOoo
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