Hermione had not been at school for three weeks now, and Ron and Harry were starting to worry.
"She has ALL, how bad could the relapse be?" Harry asked. Ron just shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. He had been very quiet ever since Hermione relapsed. On their way to the Tower, Madam Pomfrey stopped.
"Boys, I just got an owl from Healer Wolfe, you can see Miss Granger now" Madam Pomfrey said. Ron and Harry flooed to St. Mungo's and found that Hermione wasn't her usual room.
"Healer Wolfe?" Ron asked.
"Oh, hello boys" Wolfe said.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Um, you boys better come with me" Wolfe said. Ron could sense worry in her voice. They walked down a long hallway away from the Children's Wing and entered the Intensive Care Unit.
'Why would Mione be here?' Ron thought to himself. They stopped at Hermione's room.
"I warn you boys, this might be a bit freighting to see" Wolfe said. As soon as they entered the room, Ron immediately broke down. Hermione laid there in a hospital bed, eyes closed and hooked up to all these different machines. A breathing tube and a feeding tube and an EKG to look for brain activity; there was none. The usual bag of chemo was there with Newton lying beside her.
"HERMIONE! NO! OH GOD NO!" Ron shouted in hysterically.
"Harry you need to take Ron out of here. This is too upsetting for him" Harry nodded through his own tears and grabbed Ron by the shoulders.
"Ron, come on, mate you can see her again when you've calmed down" Harry said.
"No! I can't leave her! I can't!" Ron cried.
"Mate, you're in a hospital and need to be quieter" Harry tried to say gently. Ron pulled up a chair beside her and took her frail little hands.
"Mione, baby, its me, its Ron. Please wake up, sweetheart, please! I need you, baby, please don't leave me! I love you!" Ron sobbed. One of male nurses picked up Hermione and put her in Ron's arms.
"Hold her head, Ron" the nurse said.
"My poor sweetie, my poor, poor Hermione; why did this happen to you? You're a good girl, you never hurt anyone" Ron's voice shook as he spoke and stroked Hermione's cheek. Harry's heart broke as he saw Ron rock Hermione back and fourth, continually kissing her cheek and forehead. The EKG was making a beeping sound and what once read 0/100 now read 100/100 for brain activity and Hermione slowly opened her eyes.
"Hermione? Oh my God, baby, you're ok!" Ron said holding Hermione tightly. Hermione made a squeak of protest which made Ron realize he was hugging her too tight.
"It's a miracle" Wolfe said.
"No, its magic" Ron said.
"Looks like she has a redheaded angel looking out for her" Harry said.
"Hermione, do you know who this is?" Wolfe asked. Hermione nodded slowly.
"Can you say his name or no?" Wolfe asked. Hermione tried to find her voice but her brain couldn't make any connections.
"This is what I was afraid of; she's a mute" Wolfe said.
"No, she'll be able talk again, she can have speech therapy" Ron said. Hermione looked up at Ron with her big chocolate eyes and he knew she was frightened.
"Don't worry, babe, I'll help you, you'll be able to talk again" Ron smiled at her. Harry took her hand and smiled at her too.
"I think it might be a good idea if all of you learn BSL. You boys can communicate with Hermione until she gets her voice back" Wolfe said.
"What's BSL?" Ron asked.
"It's British Sign Language. It's usually used by deaf people in Britain, mute people can use it too" Wolfe said.
"You mean Sign Language isn't universal?" Harry asked.
"Oh Heavens no; in American Sign it's not even universal among the individual states" Wolfe said.
"She might have some mental challenges too, the meds and potions we gave her were some pretty heavy-duty stuff" Wolfe said.
"Mental challenges? What you mean?" Ron asked.
"I'm not saying will have this, but there is a good chance it could happen. She might have the mind of a child sometimes which could cause her to have some behavioral issues, might not express herself in appropriate manner too. For example if she is frustrated in a class and she gets angry she might through a book or lash out at other students. We'd have to do an MRI to make sure, but I'm warning you, I have seen this in other teenaged patients" Wolfe said. Ron noticed something shiny under Hermione's hospital gown that was two sizes too big for her and Ron's eyes started to water again. From Hermione's knee down there was not flesh, but metal replacing it.
"We had to do it, Ron. She would have died" Wolfe said. All though she could not speak, Hermione found a way to comfort her boyfriend by kissing him on the cheek and hugging him while stroking his hair. Hermione was making little babbling sounds as if she were trying say: "its ok, angel". Ron stopped crying and smiled at his sweet girlfriend.
"Thank you, baby; that's just what I needed" Ron said. Hermione smiled and nuzzled her way into Ron's neck. Healer Johnson, who was the head of the ICU, came to Hermione's room once he heard Hermione had woken up.
"This young lady is quite the trooper isn't she? We can move her to an institution as soon as possible" Healer Johnson said.
"Institution? She doesn't need to go to one of those" Ron said, angrily.
"Dear boy, you don't expect her to go back to Hogwarts in her condition do you?" Johnson said.
"So you're going to let her riot in a bed in some asylum not even allowing her to try to get better!" Ron said, no furious.
"She needs a primary caregiver and"
"I"LL BE HER PREMARY CAREGIVER! SHE'S MY GIRLFRIEND AND I LOVE HER!" Ron shouted. Hermione covered her ears with her hands and began to cry.
"Hermione what's wrong, sweetie? Why are you crying? Ron stop shouting, Hermione's in pain" Harry asked trying to pry Hermione's hands from her ears. Ron looked down at his girlfriend who was rocking back and forth in his lap while her hands were cemented to her ears.
"Mione, sweetheart, what's wrong? What hurts?" Ron asked softly. Hermione pointed to her ears then pointed to Ron.
"Oh, did your ears hurt when I shouted, baby?" Ron asked guilty. Hermione sniffed and nodded. Ron held Hermione tenderly and kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, I was very angry because I don't want you to go to an institution. I'll be your caregiver ok? I'll teach to talk and to walk ok, baby? I'm going to take care of you" Ron said.
"Ron, in order to be her caregiver, you'll need to be tested and certified. Don't worry I'll help you with that" Wolfe said.
"Laurie, this boy can not take on such a big responsibility" Johnson said.
"How do you know? Besides he's wonderful young man and he's very good with Hermione. He gets her to her appointments on time and holds her hand during her spinal taps. He also gets her meds filled when she's running low. I think Ron would make an excellent caregiver. Ok Ron first thing you need know the difference between these two tubes; trust me you do not want get these mixed up. You will have to flush them every morning incase fluid gets in them, especially her breathing tube" Wolfe explained. Ron went through three weeks of intensive training to become a caregiver for Hermione. He was determined to become her caregiver. At the same time The Trio would take Sign Language classes at the hospital. They had the British alphabet down, and some basic signs and now they were learning to finger spell their names, and they were very fast.
"Ok Hermione, let's see you do your name again, sweetie" Deanne said.
Deanne is a deaf witch who went to Hogwarts and now is teaches Sign Language in the Wizarding world.
'H-E-R-M-I-O-N-E J-A-N-E G-R-A-N-G-E-R' Hermione signed.
"Very good, honey," 'Good Job' Deanne said and signed at the same time.
"Ok Ron, your turn, hon" Deanne said.
'R-O-N-L-A-D B-I-L-L-U-S W-E-A-S-E-L-Y' Ron signed.
"Very good, Ron. Ok Harry let's see you" Deanne said.
'H-A-R-R-Y J-A-M-E-S P-O-T-T-E-R' Harry signed.
"That's excellent, you guys, you must have been practicing. Now how is a very basic phrase; point to yourself that's 'I'. Then cross your arms and bring them to your chest, that's 'love' and then point back out and that's 'love'. So that's 'I love you' " Deanne said. Hermione turned to Ron and signed 'I love you, R-O-N'.
"I love you to M-I-O-N-E" Ron said and signed.
'Good job' Deanne signed to Hermione. Ron looked at his watch and grabbed hold of Hermione's chair and signed 'Thank you' to Deanne.
"Time to go to PT, love" Ron said. Hermione hated physical therapy and she put up a fight about not wanting to go.
"Come on, love, do want to learn to walk again?" Ron said softly. Hermione was getting very confused, she couldn't say: "I'm angry and I don't like going to PT because it hurts" verbally, so she lashed out at Ron and almost punched him in the face.
"Hermione! What the bloody hell?" Ron said, very frightened by his girlfriend's behavior.
"What happened mate?" Harry asked coming out of the BSL room fro masking Deanne a question.
"She tried to punch me! She took a hard swing at me after I told we're going to PT" Ron said. Hermione had tears I her eyes when she realized she had done something wrong.
'I'm sorry' Hermione signed.
"Oh Ron, this is for you, I think you'll like it" Wolfe said. Ron was handed a certificate and a medical card. The certificate read: This is to certify that Ronald Billus Weasely is the Primary Caregiver to Hermione Jane Granger.
Signed, Elizabeth Ann Young, Head of St. Mungo's Hospital.
"These are your test results" Wolfe said.
"A perfect score! I never get a perfect score on any test!" Ron said.
"This was one test you obviously cared about. Now, you need to keep this card with at all times. You are the one who helps her with her medical decisions, her parents can offer suggestion, but you get have the final say. You will attend her I.E. P meetings and you will have to write a page so it will go into her I.E.P. for any medical improvements she's making" Wolfe said.
"Um Healer Wolfe, Hermione just tried to punch me, I don't know if that's the behavioral thing you mentioned before" Ron said.
"Well, funny thing you asked. I just got her MRIs and nero psyches back and there is evidence some mild mental challenges and behavioral problems. Take this; it's her tests and things you can do if she's not behaving properly" Wolfe said.
"Thank you, Healer Wolfe. Ok love we're going to physical therapy. I know it hurts, but you need to start walking again" Ron said. Ron bent down beside Hermione and made her look him in the eye.
"Sweetie, why did you try to punch me?" Ron asked gently.
'I don't know' Hermione signed.
'I think you do' Ron signed back.
'I was angry about going to PT because it hurts, and you were taking so I thought you wanted to hurt me' Hermione signed.
"Oh sweetie, I would never hurt you, I want to help you" Ron said, kissing her forehead.
'I'm sorry' Hermione said, biting her lip to keep from crying.
'It's ok, baby, just promise me you won't do it again' Ron signed back.
'I'll try' Hermione signed.
"That's my girl" Ron said.
"Hello Hermione, how are doing today?" Pam, Hermione's Physical Therapist asked.
"Still not talking yet? Its ok, you'll get there when you get there. Oh and I see you brought these nice young men with you again" Pam smiled.
"It is ok if we're here with her right?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry, you and Ron can take a seat right over there" Pam said.
"Hermione, have you been practicing standing-up?" Pam asked. Hermione nodded.
"Can you take my hands and try to stand-up for me?" Pam asked kindly. Hermione took the TP's hands and slowly stood up. Ron and Harry were amazed at how much progress Hermione has made in just a two months.
"Oh wow, you're one determined witch aren't you? Can you try and walk with me?" Pam asked. Even though it took her a little while, Hermione managed to put her one foot unsteadily in front of the other and very slowly started to walk.
"Oh my God, Harry, she's walking!" Ron whispered. Pam had Hermione sit until Pam brought Hermione her own walker.
"This is going be your new best friend. I knew you'll need to use your chair sometimes, but I need you to use this to keep those beautiful legs moving" Pam smiled.
'Thank you, so much' Hermione said hugging her physical therapist.
"You're welcome, sweetie. Keep practicing, and remember you have these lovely men to help you" Pam said.
'R-O-N, I can walk! I can walk!' Hermione said, happily. Ron picked up Hermione and held her tightly.
"I'm so proud of you" Ron said, softly.
'Me too' Harry signed to her.
"Just for such a good job, love, Harry and I are going to take you to dinner tonight" Ron as he put Hermione on his shoulders.
'But I'm still hooked up to my breathing tube and everything, and its hard me to eat solid food still' Hermione signed.
"Don't worry about that, baby, we have it all figured out. Besides, you haven't left this hospital in such a long time" Ron said. Hermione hugged Ron's neck and rested her head in his soft red hair. Ron and Harry were used to Hermione physically affections by now, and each one had a different meaning. A hug meant "Thank you" or "I forgive you" or "I'm sorry" or "You're Welcome". A kiss usually meant "I love you" or she did that to comfort another person. When they all got back to Hermione's room Ginny, Neville, Dean, Parvati and Lavender were waiting to see their fellow Gryffindor. Hermione suddenly got shy when she saw all the people in her room. Ron put Hermione down and helped her grab the handles of her walker with his hands over hers to help her walk.
"Oh my God, Hermione you're walking! I'm so proud of you" Ginny said hugging her older friend.
'Thank you' Hermione signed quickly before grabbing her walker again.
"What she say, Ron?" Ginny asked.
"Thank you" Ron said.
"What's you're welcome?" Ginny asked. Ron brought his two hands from his chest to out in front of him with both hands flat.
"Can she talk at all yet?" Dean asked.
"Not yet, she's trying really hard though. We think she almost said "cat" the other day" Harry said.
"Her speech therapist told us to use lots and lots of repetition and eventually something will click" Ron said.
"We are very proud of you, Hermione, and we think you're very brave so we all got you this" Ginny said opening a small jewelry box to reveal a sliver pin of the Gryffindor Lion with her name engraved in a banner across the lion. Hermione squeaked happily and gave everyone hug grateful hug.
"She's saying thank you" Ron said when he saw the look on everyone's face when Hermione was hugging them.
"You're welcome, honey, when are you coming back to school?" Parvati asked. Hermione looked at Ron for help because she didn't know the answer.
"The healers said she'd only have to be here three more weeks" Ron said.
Once everyone else left, Ron helped Hermione get changed out the hospital gowns she'd been wearing and into a pink skirt and light blue top to go to dinner. Her hair had started to come in a little bit; it at least covered her head and some was trailing the back of her neck.
"Why Miss Granger don't you look lovely this evening" Harry said. Hermione giggled and signed 'Thank you' to Harry.
"Where would you like to go to dinner, sweetie?" Ron asked.
'I don't care anything to get out of this hospital' Hermione signed.
"How about a seafood place? We know you like fish" Harry said. Hermione nodded. Ron had to bundle Hermione very well because it was so cold outside and she could afford to get any more sick. Lucky the first restaurant they found was a seafood restaurant and handicapped-friendly.
"Ok sweetheart, just get you walker on the ramp, Harry and me are right behind you" Ron said.
"You got it sweetie, go slow we're not in a race" Ron said. Hermione began whimpering and stopped on the ramp.
"What's wrong, darling? Are you legs tired?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded.
"Ok I'll help you, baby" Ron said. Ron got behind Hermione and put his hands on her waist to help her push up the ramp.
"Good girl, my love, good job" Ron said.
"Good job, Herms, you did it" Harry said. Hermione's shaky legs couldn't even make it other step as her legs almost gave way before Ron caught her. He enlarged her wheelchair and put her in it. Hermione looked upset with silent tears streaming down her pale face.
"Hey, you did a great job, babe, you were very brave. Harry and are both very proud of you ok? We love you very much" Ron said kissing her forehead. Once they arrived inside Hermione became very uncomfortable with the eyes of the strangers in the restaurant looking at her.
"Baby what's wrong?" Ron asked.
'Everyone is staring at me' Hermione signed.
"Don't pay them any mind, sweetheart. They don't know what you're going through" Ron said. The host came and brought them to table.
"Miss, I'm going to have to ask you to remove your bandana" the host said. Hermione looked at Ron again for help; she was embarrassed to take it off.
"My girlfriend has leukemia and she's on chemo, can make an expectation for her?" Ron asked.
"I'm very sorry, sir, its restaurant policy" the host said.
'You need to take it off, sweetie. It's the rule' Ron signed to her. Hermione nodded and Ron helped her remove the bandana from her head.
"Thank you, miss, your server will be here in a minute" the host said.
"You look very pretty, Hermione. You're a beautiful girl so don't let these other people bother you ok?" Harry said. Hermione smiled and nodded.
"Hello, my name is Tom and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you with something to drink?" the waiter asked politely.
"What would you like, sweetie?" Ron asked. Hermione signed 'pumpkin juice please' to Ron.
"May she have pumpkin juice please?" Ron said. The boys had the same thing as Hermione. As they finished their meals and were waiting for the check, one of waitresses dropped a bunch dishes and glasses to the ground making a very loud sound. Hermione screamed and started to cry loudly and covered her ears.
"Ron you take her outside, I'll wait for the check" Harry said.
"Ok, love, ok, come on we're going outside" Ron said.
"Its ok, baby, you're alright, shhh" Ron said hugging his girlfriend.
'It was so loud. It hurt my ears' Hermione said.
"Its alright baby, it's quiet now. We'll go back to the hospital when Harry comes back" Ron said softly. Harry arrived back outside to find Ron hold a crying Hermione.
"Are you ok, Hermione?" Harry asked stroking Hermione's hair.
'I don't like loud noises' Hermione signed.
"Its ok, love, its quiet out here" Harry said. Once at the hospital, Ron got Hermione ready for bed. This meant brushing her teeth for her, washing her face, putting her pajamas on, flushing her catheter and her breathing tube and giving her a nightly med. Ron put on some latex gloves and un-twisted part of her breathing to flush fluid from the tube and Hermione's throat.
"Good girl, Hermione, good girl, this is almost done" Ron said as put a tube down Hermione's throat. Harry had never seen this done before and it was making a little squeamish. He had never seen Hermione so helpless before; she had never been helpless before, ever. She was always the one helping him and Ron, and those roles are reversed, and it was strange.
"Ok, love, there we are, good job" Ron said, kissing her cheek.
"I lo-ve y-ou, R-on" Hermione said. Ron and Harry stared at her, wide-eyed and in shock.
"You talked love, you talked! Oh my you talked! You haven't said a word in two months! Oh my God I'm so proud of you!" Ron said and gently kissed Hermione on the lips. Healer Wolfe heard the screaming from her office and ran to Hermione's room.
"What's the matter, Ron, what happened?" Wolfe asked.
"Hermione talked! She said four words!" Ron said.
"What she say?" Wolfe asked.
"I love you, Ron" Hermione said with more fluency.
"I love you too, sweetheart" Ron said with happy tears streaming down his face.
"I can't believe it only took her two months to talk again" Wolfe said.
"This Hermione we're talking about. When she's wants to do something, she'll stop at nothing until she's done it" Harry said, hugging his best female friend.
"I think she can go back to school sooner than I thought" Wolfe said.
"When?" Ron asked.
"Next week I think" Wolfe said.
"Wait if she can talk does that mean she can breathe on her own too?" Ron asked.
"Well let's see" Wolfe said. Wolfe untwisted the breathing tube and it usually made a beeping sound if it came undone, but it wasn't making any sounds; Hermione's chest was rising and falling on its own just fine.
"I c-an bre-at-he" Hermione said. Hermione turned to Ron and hugged his waist.
"My an-ge-l" said.
"Attention everyone, Madam Pomfrey has some information she'd like to share with you" Dumbledore said.
"We just got word from St. Mungo's that Miss Granger will be returning to school today" Pomfrey said. Everyone in the Great Hall cheered.
"But I must tell you about her condition so you won't be so shocked when you see her at dinner. She is slowly learning to walk; she is on a walker but she uses her wheelchair sometimes too. She can speak in broken sentences, but she mostly uses British Sign Language to communicate. Mr. Weasely or Mr. Potter can translate for you what she's saying. She has mild mental challenges and behavioral issues as well; this does not mean she is retarded or feeble-minded; she just will not act her age sometimes
She has trouble chewing tough foods also, so she'll have different meals than the rest of you at meal times. Mr. Weasely is her caregiver so he will need to be with her during most of the day. Last and this is very important. Her ears are very sensitive and she can not handle loud noises. I ask you to please keep your voices down when she gets here for she wants to be part of this school and she can if we are all patient with Miss Granger and help accommodate her needs as she recovers. I know the Gryffindors have already done this. She is very brave to want to come back here in her condition, so please give her respect and kindness. She is not the same Miss Granger we know I'm afraid" Pomfrey said.
"Ready to go in, sweetheart?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded as she death-gripped her walker. Ron stroked her back in comfort helping Hermione take some deep breaths.
"You can do it, love, I'll be right here beside you" Ron said. The students in the Great Hall turned their heads once they saw the doors open and Hermione slowly came waddling through them with Ron close beside her; a hand pressed lightly on her back incase she started to fall. Most of the kids were in shock when they saw her, some of the young ones, like the first and second years were a bit frightened when they saw a large scar going down her neck. Harry wanted to clap for her, but he knew a lot of clapping would loud and hurt Hermione's ears, so he stood up and started snapping for her and the other kids and the teachers followed. Hermione smiled when she saw everyone cheering for her, she felt like she belonged there.
N/A. This is what happened to my friend. She relapsed and got a worse of cancer than she had before. The meds she received made her lose more brain cells than she had before. When she came back to camp the next summer we saw that she was very clingy to her boyfriend because he took care of her most the time because her parents were business trips a lot and they couldn't take care of her. She was on a walker and spoke in broken sentences and used American Sign Language as a form of communication most of the time. She has the mental challenges and behavior problems that Hermione does also. Mind you this is a camp for kids and young adults who have cancer or had cancer. My friend is doing much better now; she can walk on her own and speak fine and she's going to college soon too, I'm very proud of her.