After Helena got looked over by Healer Morn, Anthony took him outside and talked to the Healer beyond a silenced door. All that was left for Hermione to do was play I Spy with Helena, a very muggle game but what else was there to do with an incredibly bored, frustrated and exhausted four year old. After Anthony and the Healer returned into the exam room and Healer Morn proceeded to apologize for anything his interns might have done that he was unaware of. He as the head of the department wished to apologize on behalf of all of his staff.

Hermione thanked him for the apology but she didn't feel any better. Her daughter had cancer, leukaemia. Although it was one of the most common childhood cancers it was still incurable even in the wizarding world. That was one thing that if discovered would not be kept from the muggles. Everyone, no matter their race, gender or abilities should have to suffer from such a merciless killer. Whoever put an end to it's rampages, wizard or muggle alike would be hailed as the next saviour.

It appeared that there would be little rest for the two Granger's as they were instantly thrown into the battle saving little Helena. After a thorough consultation with the oncologist in the hospital Hermione learned that Helena's type of cancer was called Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia commonly referred to ALL. It was the most common type of childhood leukaemia over its counter part Acute Myeloid Leukaemia or AML. Initially that gave Hermione a hint of relief, then she felt guilty. She shouldn't be happy at a time like this and when she mentioned this to the man sitting before her, he said it was perfectly natural. After all she'd just be burdened with something no human being should have to deal with so it was only natural that she tried to find comfort in little things. It made sense to her. After all if Helena had the most common form of cancer it would mean that the Healers had played witness to it more often, knew what to expect and hopefully had some better treatments to get her daughter in to remission.

In a matter of a couple of hours Hermione learned more about everything medical than she had ever wanted to learn since their last stay in hospital. Something she had never wanted to repeat. If only it was her who was ill and not her precious innocent daughter. The world was a cruel place where it allowed children with their whole lives ahead of them to have to spend even an afternoon in a hospital ward.

Two days later Helena began her first treatment. A mixture of potions, spells and just plain muggle medicine, primarily chemotherapy. The one thing Hermione was dreading most. The magical remedies had been treated with an anti-side effect spell and so they would work towards keeping Helena acting and feeling normal. Chemo on the other hand would tear everything that Hermione knew about her daughter apart. She would become increasing tired, physically sick-something that made Hermione sick to her stomach to think of her baby that ill- and eventually the loss of her gorgeous white blond ringleted hair. That was selfishly probably one of the worst things Hermione could think to happen. The poor child didn't have to go through enough but to loose her beautiful locks. To have them just fall out, strand by strand at first but then rapidly transitioning into clumps. Leaving grotesque patches hair and ultimately nothing.

When the day came that Hermione had to decide over patches or shaving her daughters head the decision was not made by her. Instead her daughter piped up after seeing the clump of hair that Hermione had tried to discreetly pull off her babies pillow without her noticing after she got up to go into the children's common room that she didn't want it anymore. It could all leave, right then.

Twenty minutes later with Helena sitting on the counter in the small adjoining bathroom, Hermione pulled out her wand and took a deep breath. Helena wanted this, she had to remind herself over and over again as she flicked her wand across her daughters head. It didn't take all of two minutes for the gorgeous curls that Hermione wished she had to fall to the floor. Without looking she muttered a clean up spell and the hair disappeared before she gave it a second of consideration. Once done Helena turned around and looked into the mirror. A look of fear briefly crossed her face but then she quickly masked it with a smile, "Thanks Mommy."

Those two words were all it took for a lump to rise in Hermione's throat and she had to stifle a sob. Her baby was so strong, there was no way she could break down now, "Do you want me to find you a scarf or a hat?" she gulped.

"No, I'm going to go show Hayden," she squirmed off the counter and then thought better of running out of the room. Her energy to put it simply wasn't what it just to be, "Can I Mom?"

"Sure honey, tell Hayden hi for me will you?"

Helena nodded and made her way out into the corridor and two doors down to young Hayden who was mature beyond his six years. Cancer had a way of doing that to children. It seemed that the children had accepted what was happening long before their parents ever would. Some would say, including Hermione only a few months before that it was only because they didn't understand. Now Hermione knew that that wasn't true. These beautiful children understood completely. They knew what the consequence was of not taking their medication and understood the medical jargon better at 5 then any second year intern did. These kids could accept what was happening. They didn't understand why it had to be them but they never questioned why they had been chosen to bear such a heavy burden.

Hayden was no exception. Hermione had learned that Hayden had been given less than a month to live a week ago. She as a mother had tried to gently sever Helena's ties with her little friend while they still could and Hermione desperately tried to keep the harsh news of Hayden's prognosis a secret but Helena quickly found out. It had only drawn her closer to the bed ridden boy. By the fourth day Hermione had to admit defeat and allow Helena to make the most of her last days with Hayden. After all they were numbered. The worse thing for Hermione was that she didn't want Helena to have to go through the loss of a good friend but when she discussed that with the Healers they comforted her and told her it was just how things work here. Some kids didn't make it and it would hurt the children more who survived and those that didn't if they were segregated and abandoned by the others.

And so Helena showed off her newly shaved head with a grin to the frail Hayden who looked to small in his adult issue bed. They laughed and joked because that was all that Hayden had left. His humour he had not allowed to be taken from him as he fought his two year battle. Even up until his last evening he was still cracking jokes and making fun of the Healers who came in at regular intervals to increase his meds as his last hours drifted to a close. It was getting late but Hermione was unable to pry Helena away from her friends bedside and the Healers weren't enforcing their usual curfew for the young patient. They knew that the end was there.

At a quarter past ten Hayden whispered to Helena to come closer and she obliged. And now out of earshot of any adults he whispered something into the ears of another child who had the misfortune to suffer the ravaging disease. As Hermione carried Helena back to her room a little after midnight she couldn't hold back the tears. Helena noticed her mother's sadness and wrapped her arms around her neck and without a hint of a tear murmured, "Mommy, he had to go. This was not the life for him."

As much as Helena's words had been meant as a comfort they were exactly the opposite, "Did he tell you that baby?"

"Yes."

"What else did he tell you?"

"Just something a friend of his once told him. It's okay Mommy."

After tucking the child into bed Hermione sighed, she was getting smaller every day. Outside in the corridor Hermione clicked the door close and sank down the wall and only then did she cry. For the loss of such an amazing little guy who should have experienced life more than just his 6 years, 2 of which were spent in and out of hospital. She also cried for her daughters well being, Helena's strength which she could only wish she had part of and the stark truth that nobody was safe. Everybody's day came at some point that they had to leave this world, to go where nobody knew but that should only happen when you were old, grey and had enjoyed everything you could dream of. Not when you hadn't even received your first wand. There was so much for these children to live for. They would and could have everything they wanted, if only life hadn't dealt them a fatal hand.

xxx.:.x.

a/n So this chappie jumps forward in time a bit, hope you aren't to confused or emotion for that matter. Thanks for all the reviews I love them. Please keep them up :)