AUTHOR'S NOTES: As I said early on in this story I was going to try and pair Draco and Ginny. Well, I did. Let me know how it works.

In this chapter we get a glimpse of some of the reactions to Harry's situation.

Read, review, and show your love!

Chapter 12


It was afternoon when Harry started waking up from the anesthesia. Blinking, he saw 10 blurry people standing around his bed.

"Harry, you okay?" Molly Weasley said, as she handed him his glasses.

"Fine," Harry muttered as Petunia helped him sit up a bit. Looking down he noticed that his right leg was gone about 4 inches higher than left.

"They had to go above where the tumor was," Hermione explained as she tried not to look at what was left of Harry's legs.

Harry nodded and noticed that Ron and Ginny were looking edgy about being around him. "Ginny, I guess you're the seeker now."

"Harry, you can still…"

Harry shook his head. "Ron, maybe when I was just missing one leg, but now… Besides… this is just the first part."

When Harry yawned, Molly turned to the rest of the large group and shooed everyone but Petunia out of the room. "You'll be here for the next two days," Petunia said, sitting next to Harry and taking his hand. "Then we'll take you back to Hogwarts and you can start treatment."

"Are there… any side effects I should know about?" Harry asked his aunt.

Molly shook her head. "Magical chemotherapy isn't as hard on the body as the muggle version. But it will make you tired so Petunia will be staying with you off and on until you finish the treatments."

--

After leaving Harry's room, Ron wasn't surprised that Hermione had vanished. Nor was he surprised to find her in the hospital's medical library in front of a pile of books. "Harry's going to be okay," Ron said as he joined her. "How'd you get in here anyway?"

"I told the librarian the truth," Hermione said, not looking up from her book. "My friend has cancer and has now lost both his legs. And if I can't do research on his illness I'm going to lose my mind and have a total meltdown."

Ron took the book from his friend and despite her protests he closed it before pulling her into a hug. "Hermione, the world isn't going to fall apart if you don't research something."

"Promise?" Hermione sniffled, as she hugged him back.

--

On a rainy Wednesday morning Dumbledore was sitting in his office with McGonagall, Snape, Tonks, Sirius, Ron, Hermione, Angelina Johnson, and Madame Pomfrey before his desk. "As you all have been informed Harry Potter will be returning this evening from the hospital where he underwent surgery due to cancer."

"Mr. Potter will not be in classes," Pomfrey added. "Due in combination to low energy and the fact that he will be undergoing chemotherapy treatments. A healer named Anna Rion will be arriving with Harry to supervise his treatment."

"What about classes?" McGonagall inquired. "How will Potter be able to keep up with his schoolwork?"

"I-I'll help Harry keep up with homework," Hermione replied.

"And… and I'm taking over for Harry in Quidditch," Ginny said.

"If I may ask, headmaster," Snape said, quietly. "What specifically is Potter's treatment?"

Dumbledore shuffled a few papers and finally handed over the details of Harry's chemo.

Snape looked over everything before looking up. "This combination can cause some minor side effects: mild rashes, stomach irritation. I'll prepare the appropriate counter-potions."

"Um… Professor? Do you think…? You know… we should inform the entire school?" Tonks asked, hesitantly.

"It might make Harry a target for Death Eaters," Sirius replied. "I say we try not to make much of a fuss."

"The other Gryffindors should know, though," Tonks countered.

"I think we should not maintain a wall of silence about Harry's illness," Dumbledore replied. "But tell only who you must."

"Is Harry going to be able to get around or…?" Ron asked, curious.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Weasley," Pomfrey replied. "Unless a visit to the hospital wing is needed, Mr. Potter will be in his suite through the duration of his treatment."

--

It was good to be back in Hogwarts, Harry thought as Petunia helped him from the wheelchair he'd arrived in to his bed. Once he had several pillows behind him propping him up, Anna Rion brought over the IV and before Harry knew it, she'd hooked the IV to Harry's arm. "Two of these bags per treatment," Anna explained to Harry. "And you'll have one treatment every three days for three weeks."

Harry nodded and sighed. "I still can't believe this is happening to me."

"Harry, with the tumor gone and the chemo you have every chance of beating this," Anna said, brightly.

"Yeah, but then I have to learn how to walk… again," Harry replied. "Now that I've lost both legs." Seeing Petunia heading for the door he said, "That hard to be around me?"

"I want to make sure Dudley's okay. He wanted to be here with you," Petunia replied. "He's having a hard time with this and wasn't too happy about going back to school."


Arriving by Knight Bus at #4 Privet Drive, Petunia was shocked to see her son sitting on the front step, his clothes a mess and a bruise forming around his right eye. "Dudders!" Petunia shrieked, dashing to her son. "What happened?!"

"Gotinafight," Dudley muttered. Seeing his mother's bemused look he said, "Piers Polkiss and I… got in a fight. I guess he found out Harry was in the hospital." Balling his fists up and gritting his teeth, Dudley went on. "He congratulated me on trying to… He thought I'd beaten up Harry so badly I'd really hurt him. I took a swing at him. Then another one… then Piers hit me." After a few moments he added, "Then three other blokes came at me. Headmaster suspended them… sent me home early. I… I told them Harry was sick." After a pause, Dudley hugged his mother. "I'm sorry."

Petunia gave a choked laugh. "I'm proud of you, Dudley. For standing up for Harry."

"Since he can't stand up for himself just now," Dudley muttered. "Sorry… I shouldn't have…"

"Come on," Petunia said, helping him to his feet. "We'll go inside and have a bite to eat before Harry's headmaster comes to get us."


Ghosts couldn't be bribed.

Mischievous poltergeists, on the other hand, could.

Draco Malfoy'd had to promise Peeves a week's supply of dungbombs and other joke items before the devilish sprite would tell him where Harry Potter had been whisked away to about 5 days ago.

It made sense now why Hermione Granger was missing classes, not showing up to meals anymore, and practically living in the library.

Also why Snape had given Pansy Parkinson detention for making fun of Potter that morning in Potions class.

And why the only Weasley daughter was always looking like the next person to speak to her would be hexed into oblivion.

Draco was no stranger to severe illness. And cancer was one of those rare diseases that would strike muggles and wizards alike with equal force. His great aunt had died from… he believed it was called lymphoma. Still, she had been old and Potter was just a kid.

Even Draco had to admit that The Boy Who Lived had been given a shitty hand.

Not really paying attention to where he was walking, Draco then bumped into Ginny Weasley knocking both of them to the ground. "Bit preoccupied, Miss Weasley?" Draco asked, standing up and offering a hand to help her up.

Ginny stared at Malfoy's offered hand and after a long pause, she tentatively took it. "Sorry."

"Think nothing of—" Draco broke off when Ginny had suddenly thrown her arms around his neck and was now crying on his shoulder. For a long while he didn't know what to do. Slowly and hesitantly, he put his around her and patted her on the back. "I know about Potter," he said, quietly. "The ghosts are tight lipped but Peeves sure isn't."

"I love him like a brother," Ginny sobbed. "And now he's…"

Draco pulled away and looked sharply at the girl. "Potter's not terminal, is he?"

Ginny shook her head, still crying. "He had a tumor in his other leg. And… and the s-surgeon had to… to…"

Draco sighed. "They took his other leg."

Ginny nodded as she started crying loudly again.

Draco pulled her to him and she again wound her arms around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. Stroking her hair, he said, "It'll be okay, Weas—Ginny. If… if the most evil wizard in history can't kill Potter I doubt he'll succumb to cancer."

Ginny sniffled as she looked up into Draco's gray eyes. "You… you think so?"

Draco nodded and gently kissed her forehead. "I may have put Potter down in the past but I have to admit he's tougher than I give him credit for." Looking into Ginny's brown eyes he had a sudden urge to kiss her lips. To help her forget—just for a moment—about Harry's illness. Leaning closer, he was momentarily surprised when Ginny stood on tiptoes and kissed him first.

The kiss was soft, gentle, and spoke of a need for comfort and solace.

Ginny's brain screamed against what she was doing, but somehow it felt like the most perfect, natural thing in the world. And right… Maybe she'd just never given him a chance to be a nice guy…

--

"Who gave you the black eye, Dud?" Harry asked when his cousin came into the bedroom.

Dudley smirked. "Piers, actually."

Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought he was your best mate?"

"'Was' being the keyword," Dudley replied. "So… how are you feeling?"

Harry shrugged. "Fine, I guess." Scooting further back towards the headboard of his bed, Harry added, "My right leg still hurts. Dr. Rion gave me something for pain a little bit ago. And Snape gave me a few potions to help counter any side effects of the chemo." Watching as Dudley sat on the foot of the bed Harry asked, "What were you and Piers fighting about?"

Dudley looked away. "He… thought I was the one that put you in the hospital. One of the girls at school… her mother is a nurse. That must be how he found out."

"Did you get in trouble?"

"They sent me home early," Dudley replied, shrugging.

"Why is it always me?" Harry asked, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling. "First year I nearly die, second year I lost all the bones in my right arm and almost died from a basilisk fang, third year I almost had my soul sucked out by a dementor, and last year I saw a friend die and Voldemort come back. This year I've lost both legs and was diagnosed with cancer. That's… about par for my life."

"Harry?"

Harry looked up and saw Luna gliding towards him. "Hey, Luna."

She sat next to him and her fingers lightly brushed the IV in his left arm. "Does it hurt?"

Harry shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. "No. No, its… its fine."

Dudley chuckled as he stood up. "I'll just leave the two of you alone."

Once the door to the bedroom closed, Luna slid closer to Harry, lightly running her fingers through his bangs. "I'm glad you're going to be okay, Harry."

"I'm just peachy," Harry said, taking her and pulling her into a kiss.

"I think you're in love, Harry Potter," Luna replied, smiling serenely.

"I know I am," Harry whispered, holding Luna close.

Luna smiled as she sat next to Harry. "And I care just as deeply for you."

--

In the kitchen of #12 Grimmauld Place, Sirius Black sat at the table, a butterbeer half-finished before him. When he first saw Harry after all those years in Azkaban he had so many dreams of finding Pettigrew and finally being with his godson.

But Sirius had never imagined this. Finding out that Harry had cancer… a tumor that had cost the teenager his other leg… How would they get through this? Even if the medicines worked, that didn't change the fact that Harry'd lost both his legs. He'd probably be unable to play Quidditch anymore… and even with top-notch prosthetics Harry would likely be using the cane indefinitely. This wasn't fair! What had Harry done to deserve all that he'd been through?

"I thought you'd still be awake," Molly Weasley said, coming into the kitchen. "I couldn't sleep either."

"I know Anna said Harry would be okay, but…"

"No one ever expects to hear they've got cancer," Molly said, sitting opposite Sirius.

"I thought once we got over Harry's cutting habit it would be okay," Sirius said, taking a drink of his butterbeer. "I wish we could go back to when that was our biggest problem."

"Harry will get through this," Molly said, reaching across the table for Sirius's hand. "He's like a son to me."

"Me, too. I look back at when James and Lily died… If I had just stuck with the plan and stayed the secret keeper… Hell, if I had just told Dumbledore about Wormtail…" Sirius sighed. "I just wish I could be with Harry through this."

"Well," Molly said, squeezing Sirius's hand. "I'm going to see Harry tomorrow. I'm sure we could smuggle you in somehow."

"Yeah," Sirius replied. "I just… I need to see him. I need to know that he's going to be okay."

--

"You have any bloody idea what you're putting 'Mione through?" Ron asked Harry the next morning. "McGonagall found her asleep in the library this morning."

"Ron, you think I wanted all this to happen?" Harry asked as Anna Rion came in to change the IV bag. "Are… Ron, are you and Hermione…?"

Ron's ears turned red. "We just… I know it's hardest on you, Harry. We're just… trying to help each other deal with this."

Harry chuckled. "Good for you, Ron. Most of Gryffindor Tower knew you two should get together. I wish it hadn't taken me getting sick to bring the two of you together."

"You're all set, Harry," Anna said as she adjusted the flow on his IV. "One down…"

"Six to go," Harry sighed. "What's the point? You got the tumor."

Anna sighed. "Because your blood tests showed that you still had malignant cells in your system. We got rid of the source but without the chemo you could get really sick."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Okay." Hearing a knock on the bedroom door Harry said, "Ron, could you…?"

Ron opened the door and saw—"Mum. Sirius. What are you doing here?"

"Just wanted to check on Harry," Molly said as Sirius went to sit with Harry. As she looked at her youngest son, Molly asked, "How are you doing, son?"

Ron shrugged. "I'm the worst bloody friend in the world," he finally said. "I didn't believe Harry last year… I didn't support him this summer… Why the hell does Harry want to hang around someone like me?"

Molly hugged her son. "Because you're the first friend he ever had. And once Harry knew who he was you never liked him for the fame."

On the other side of the room, Harry tried to focus on what Sirius was saying about Voldemort but he was feeling tired. After two deep yawns, Harry said, "I need a nap."

"Okay, Prongslet," Sirius said and once Harry was settled and his glasses were on the nightstand Sirius waited until Harry had fallen asleep before going to the door. "When… when Harry was a baby… nothing wore him out."

"Harry will be fine," Molly said, trying to look confident. "Once this is over… he'll be okay."

"I can't lose him," Sirius murmured. "I lost James… Lily…"

"Mum's right," Ron said, glancing at Harry. "Harry's going to beat this. Because I'm not losing my best friend. Whether I deserve him or not."