The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
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You might want to get the tissues.
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Harry shooed Ginny off to change for bed while he cleaned up the kitchen. It took Harry longer than he planned and when he finished and entered the bedroom he found a miserably tired Ginny trying to wrestle a sleeping Jamie into his pajamas. Tears slid down Ginny's face as she tried to slip the jersey over Jamie's head. It took to much strength to lift the tiny boy up and she was frustrated and in pain.
Harry took over the job and Ginny gratefully let him. Jamie was quickly sorted out and Ginny changed into her jersey and sank down into the pillows next to Jamie. Harry just stood next to the bed and watched the two. Ginny noticed a look of longing in Harry's eyes. The sofa was too short and too lumpy to have been comfortable.
"There is plenty of room for you here. Jamie can sleep in the middle." Ginny could tell he was tempted. "Harry, no strings I promise."
When Harry saw how deeply Jamie was sleeping he wanted nothing more than to join them. His head was pounding and his back was miserable.
"You don't mind?" Ginny shook her head.
Harry pulled on his pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt before getting in on his side of the bed. His body relaxed for the first time since Ginny arrived. Turning on his side to face Ginny, he looked down at the sleeping face of his son.
"He looks like an angel when he sleeps," whispered Ginny.
Harry grinned. "He is amazing. Thank you Ginny. Thank you for giving me a son." Without thinking he stretched over and kissed Ginny. Ginny tried not to make too much of it. Looking down she mumbled, "Goodnight Poppa!"
Harry opened an eye, it was too early and something was different. Looking next to him was Ginny. She was snuggled up to his side. Where was Jamie? Opening the other eye Harry looked around the room. The boy was not there. Quietly getting out of bed, Harry tiptoed into the living room, he thought he heard humming. Jamie was lying on his back in front of the fireplace and he was making his play cars circle in the air above his head. Once again Harry was taken back by how powerful his son was.
Harry decided to leave well enough alone and headed back to bed. Slipping in next to Ginny, he pulled her close to him snuggling his nose into her short-cropped hair. His heart prayed, "Please let this last for a while."
Hours later Ginny stirred and stretched. She had slept better than she had in years. She looked down Harry's hands were on her hips. "Where is Jamie?"
Harry was groggy. "Playing in the living room."
Ginny nodded and Harry pulled her closer. "Pretend we are still sleeping okay?"
Ginny smiled into her pillow. "Just for a few minutes before Mr. Energy comes bounding in."
Jamie bounced on top of Harry. "Poppa! Gram is here!"
Harry looked at the clock on the bedside table, they had overslept. "Ginny wake up! We need to get started."
Ginny started to get out of bed but was stopped by the crippling pain in her abdomen. She winched and took as deep a breath as she panted until the pain subsided. Everyday the pain got a little bit worse and harder to endure. Ginny's eyes welled; this is when she was graphically reminded that she was fighting a losing battle. Harry was already up and kneeling next to her "You okay? What can I do?"
Ginny leaned into Harry, her forehead resting on his shoulder. "It just always surprises me how much it hurts." Harry wrapped his arms around his Ginny as Jamie continued to jump on the bed. "Gram is making pancakes!"
"Jamie why don't you go let Gram that Mum and I will be there is just a moment. Can you do that for me?" Harry was hoping to distract the boy from his mother's distress.
Jamie jumped hard and the bed jolted making Ginny groaned. Jamie was so proud of his jumping ability he did not notice his mother's struggle to maintain her composure. Harry waited until Jamie was out of the room before he focused on Ginny. "Do you want to leave now for the healers?"
Ginny tried to stand and with Harry's help she succeeded. "Mum is making pancakes didn't you hear? I will be okay just as soon as I take my medicine. It will take a while but I will be okay."
Molly had the platter of pancakes in the center of the table and was helping Jamie cut his up. "There you are! Do you want one or two Ginny?"
Ginny sat next to her son. "Actually, I wound love a cup of tea." She was searching her satchel for the correct bottle of pills.
Harry filled an empty plate with pancakes and kept up a conversation between bites. He noticed Ginny's face relax after a cup of tea and her medicine. In that instant, Harry made a decision that required him to run an errand before their scheduled appointment. He swallowed the last of his pancakes and washed it down with his tea before he stood up.
"I have to go out for a bit this morning. I will be back before we need to leave for the appointment. I shouldn't be long." Harry looked at Ginny.
Ginny smiled as she reached for Jamie's plate. She started picking at the remaining pancakes. "I will be ready."
Harry apparated into his office. His appearance did not cause a pause in the scurrying and organized chaos of the office. Harry checked for his messages and made his way to his boss's office. The door to Kingsley's office was ajar and Harry knocked as he walked in.
"Harry? I got your owl requesting today off I am surprised to see you here." Kingsley came from behind his desk to greet his best employee. "I heard that Ginny is back." He directed Harry to join him sitting in chairs next to the fireplace.
Harry was surprised. Kingsley smiled and clarified for him. "Arthur is thrilled to have her back."
Harry sat across from his boss. "That's why I am here sir."
Kingsley laughed. "We have been friends for long enough for you to call me Kingsley."
Of course thought Harry. "What exactly did Arthur tell you?"
Kingsley looked a little embarrassed. "He was raving about Jamie. Congratulations Harry."
Harry grinned. "Me a dad? Imagine!"
Harry cleared his throat, "Kingsley right, well the thing is I need to tender my resignation from the force."
"What? What ever for?" Kingsley was stunned.
"It is Ginny, she sick…very sick in fact." Harry was twisting his hands; "I am taking her to St. Mungo's this morning. We are hoping the healers there will be able to help her. The Muggle doctors in the States told her she only had a couple of months. So you see I have to, I want to spend all the time she has left with her and Jamie."
The news obviously shocked his boss and it took quite a few minutes before either of them made a sound. Kingsley sighed. "Okay, I won't try to talk you out of your decision as much as I hate to lose you, I understand. But Harry if in the future if you want to reconsider my door is always open."
Harry stood and walked to the door. "Thank you sir, Kingsley, thank you for understanding."
Kingsley put his hand on the door. "Harry you are a great auror, I know you will be an even better father."
Ginny was worried, the pain was getting worse despite the medicine and it was making it hard to concentrate. She needed to try and focus there was still so much she wanted to do and say, Jamie needed her.
Harry noticed the pain etched on her face when he returned. She was distracted, she was looking out into the room and it took a couple of attempts before she responded to his call. Jamie was still playing with his cars and Molly had finished tiding up the kitchen from breakfast.
"Ginny are you ready?" Harry was concerned.
Ginny looked at him. "Promise me something okay?"
Harry sat next to her. "Sure if I can what?"
Ginny's eyes were red. "Promise me you won't let me die alone in a hospital. I want to be home with family, not in a cold foreign bed with no one. Please, Harry promise me."
It took Harry a few seconds to choke back his tears. "Ginny, I promise. Why are you bringing this up now?"
Ginny looked out to the room again. "The pain is worse. I am losing the battle Harry." She slumped against Harry. "I am scared…not of dying but of the pain. I want to remember everything not be lost in a fog of pain."
Harry was stroking her hair his tears falling where his hands had just been. They were silent.
"Momma! Gram is going to a D alley. What is a D alley?"
Ginny looked at her son puzzled. Molly walked up behind Jamie. "Diagon Alley…for a little shopping…if that is okay?"
Harry smiled. "Jamie, you promise to hold Gram's hand to keep her safe?"
"Yes, Poppa I promise!" Jamie was bouncing next to his grandmother.
"Have fun son and thank you Molly. Ginny lets go." Harry was holding out his hands to help Ginny stand.
Harry looked at Jamie and Molly. "I will let you know"
Harry could not believe the number of questions the information desk asked before they were directed to the correct floor. Ginny was quite. She appeared to be somewhere in her mind. Harry kept his arm around her waist guiding her through the corridors. As they arrived at the correct department, Ginny was asked more questions. Harry just sat next to her listening. He was startled out of his stupor when the healer requested Ginny the follow him to the examination room.
Harry began to follow behind when the healer asked him, "Are you her husband?"
Harry shook his head.
"Next of kin?"
Again Harry answered no.
The healer announced, "Only husbands or next of kin allowed in the examination rooms."
Ginny smiled weakly. "I will be okay…wait?"
Harry nodded. "I will be right here."
His mind was churning, 'I should be in there, I should have insisted!'
A little voice in the back of his head spoke. 'you never married her, she did everything for you, waited for you, went against her family and lived with you…even left you so she could give you a son and did you ever think to marry her?'
Harry realized this was truly all his fault, he had always assumed they would get married but never got up the courage to ask. Ginny would have been with him all this time if he had just done the right thing. Harry was horrified, she was going to leave him and he hadn't done the one he always meant to do.
If he asked her now she would think it was out of sympathy. Harry debated with himself; did he want to marry Ginny? And if he did was he doing it out of pity? Harry just pondered. He waited for what seemed like hours for Ginny to come back and with each minute that passed he was more and more certain, he wanted to be her husband, he wanted to be next to her, he wanted Ginny not because she was dying but because she was his Ginny.
Harry stood up as Ginny came toward him. "The healer wants to talk to me in his office. I said only if you come with me."
Harry smiled and put his arm around her. "I would not be anywhere else."
Healer Carter opened the door for them to his office. "Ms. Weasley and …"
Ginny offered, "This is Harry, Harry Potter, he is the father of my son Jamie."
"Yes, right, Mr. Potter please, if both of you would take a seat." Healer Carter was indicating the unoccupied chairs in front of his desk.
"Ms. Weasley the results of our test confirm what you have told us; your cancer is advanced." Healer Carter was consulting numerous files on his desk.
Ginny nodded, she hadn't expected any miracles.
"But," the healer continued, "we can offer options."
Harry's heart had flipped when he heard the term options, "What do you mean options?"
Healer Carter turned the files over and looked earnestly at the couple. "There have been advancements in containment potions; really exciting work actually."
Harry pushed for more. "What are containment potions?"
Ginny was listening intently.
"Containment potions are cutting edge in medical magic. The magically enhanced potion actually contains the aggressive cancer and restricts its growth. The clinical trials have produced every encouraging results, prolonged life expectancy by on average six months some time a year."
Ginny looked up maybe there was a glimmer. "What about the pain?"
Healer Carter smiled, "That is another great thing about the containment potion; it completely contains the cancer and therefore blocking vast majority of pain. Now the outcome has been different for each patient but overall it has made the difference."
Ginny grinned at Harry and then asked Healer Carter, "Do I qualify as a possible participant for the trial?"
Healer Carter smiled and nodded as he stood to pick up a wooden box that was sitting on top of a stack of books next to his desk. Coming around the desk he handed Ginny the box.
"These are yours. The green murky ones are the containment potions you will take one of them twice a day and the others are various assorted restorative potions that will be taken as per the schedule in the box. I will want to see you every other week here at St. Mungo's."
Healer Carter reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of sliver liquid. "This is the initial containment potion. If you want to you can get started now."
Ginny did not hesitate she took the offered vial and swallowed the contents is one gulp. It wasn't horrible; she could gladly swallow that twice a day if it meant that she could have hope.
"This box should last for two weeks and like I said the instructions are inside. Your pain should diminish over the next day or so as you take more potions. Looking at your face I am assuming this is welcome news." Healer Carter was beaming.
Ginny was grinning and Harry was ecstatic any extra time was welcome. Standing up Harry shook Healer Carter's hand. "Thank you very much! Yes it is great news for us!"
Ginny took Harry's arm and together they walked out of the office and in the hallway Ginny squealed of delight. Harry took the box from Ginny and with a flick sent it back to his flat. As they walked into the daylight hand in hand Harry could not help himself, he pulled Ginny into his arms and kissed her.
"We have more time did you hear? We have more time!" He whispered in her ear. Ginny was laughing, "Yes time!"
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This is what I wished I could have done for my sister-in-law. She died from pancreatic cancer in '04. I just wanted to take away the pain.
