Chapter 1: Diagnosis - Prognosis
"So you can treat me?"
"No, Miss Granger. We can BUT we won't. While I am sure that our healers could treat your condition...although how successful that would be, I am not sure...but we will not. Purebloods are our bread and butter and if they see and/or hear of a muggleborn being treated in our hospital, at best they will consider us to be "tainted" and they will go elsewhere. And that includes their money. So no, Miss Granger, we can do nothing to help you."
Hermione stayed silent for a moment before arising and saying, "Thank you very much for speaking with me. I didn't intend for your facility to run into any problems because of me so I am most grateful that you were honest and explained the situation to me. Have a good day!" And with that, she walked out the door, through the hospital, and out into muggle London.
"Shit...one down...one to go!" And then she was gone.
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"So, doctor," Hermione queried. "Do you know what is wrong with me and more importantly, can you fix it?"
"Well, Miss Granger," he replied. "After all the tests and examinations, we are sure you have a form of cancer but we do not understand its origination, nor can we cure it. It "appears" to be related to that purple scar you have across your chest and abdomen. We do not know though why or how you got it or what exactly it is. And because of that, we cannot cure you. We can, however, extend your life as much as possible."
"How long?" Hermione interrupted. "How long can you extend it?"
"Well now, it's hard to say," the doctor replied. "Since we don't know its origin, nor the exact kind of cancer we are dealing with, all we can do is treat the symptoms as they occur. Further, we can base treatment on what has worked for the extension of life in other cancers..."
Hermione interrupted again. "How long do I have? Please, doctor..."
The doctor thought for a moment and then he said, "Well, Miss Granger, one thing we have is that you are young and other than for this, in good health. Also, you came to be seen as soon as this problem presented itself. Based on what I know of other cancers and your symptoms, you have between six months and three years. Most likely though, I think you have about 18-24 months, max."
He really hated having to tell young people that they were going to die... "So, Miss Granger, are you interested in extending what time you have left or would you prefer to just be made comfortable for the foreseeable future?"
"I want whatever time you can give me, please. I know that some would choose quality over quantity, but I am young and life is sweet...I am in no hurry to cross over! That, and I have had quite a rough life...I seriously doubt that life-extending treatment could be worse than what I have already overcome."
Continuing she said, "And besides, although you don't have a name for the kind of cancer I have, there is always the possibility that with time, you will discover what exactly is wrong and how to cure me. That wouldn't be possible if I just chose to be made "comfortable".
"What a refreshing outlook, Miss Granger. It will be a pleasure to work with you...and as you said, with enough time, perhaps we can determine what kind of cancer you have and hopefully cure it. Now let's make an appointment for next week so I can introduce you to the rest of my team and we can plot out a treatment plan for you."
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