Author's Note: wow 205 reviews! Thank you so much! I treated myself to a tin of chocolate mints which I love! (They are so good!) 'Course after eating it all and dancing around my room in celebration, I felt sort of sick. Chocolate mints and burrito don't mix well together when shaken up, I have now discovered. I'm currently listening to Disney songs on my boombox named Louise. Louise is very temperamental and sensitive (she stops playing if you tap a finger on her.) She's crippled (broken antennae and "next song" button). When I get frustrated with her, I shout "Jeez Louise!" It's quite fun. Anyways, thank you so much to all the reviewers. Please do it again because it makes my day and gives me motivation! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Oh yeah. Today I found out that I got the science teacher from hell. Think Snape's attitude toward students, but totally incompetent. Please, make me feel better and review!

Snape was putting away potion ingredients when the youngest Weasley boy burst into the classroom frantically. Snape was about to make a scathing remark toward the boy, but stopped himself when he saw the extremely alarmed look on the redhead's face.

"Professor, please, it's Harry! Please, he needs help, now!" he pleaded with the Potions professor. Snape nodded worriedly and began to run after Ron through the halls.

"What happened, Mr. Weasley?" he demanded as they jogged along.

"He-he just collapsed. He's sick, really sick."

They finally approached an unconscious Harry Potter with Hermione Granger sobbing into his chest. Ron ran up next to Hermione, catching her attention. Snape quickly knelt by Harry and Hermione backed away a bit. Snape checked the boy's vitals: shallow breathing, weak pulse, his lips were turning slightly blue. His skin was clammy, but his forehead was burning.

"Tell me what you know," he ordered.

"He has cancer," Ron said staring in fright at his friend. Snape paused for a moment.

"The Muggle illness?'

Ron nodded. Snape shook his head.

"Impossible, Weasley."

"Trust me. He did a weird spell, I'll explain later. He's had it since winter break. He just recently told us."

"Has something like this happened before?" asked Snape.

"No, he's had a few weak days and occasionally a loss of appetite, but nothing else," Hermione said. Her eyes grew wide. "Except on the day he came back from winter holiday. He was throwing up blood. He said it was just a cold, but…" She trailed off wondering why she hadn't made the connection sooner. "And then today, when we were going to our next class, he just collapsed. He was shivering but his forehead was burning. He was really out of it, not even recognizing me. Then he said he couldn't see and lost consciousness. Is he going to be okay Professor?" Hermione asked wiping away tears.

"I don't know. All right Weasley, go down to my supplies and get Powdered Hornblende, Naive, Inimativ, er…some Cocorico and Rakshasa tail. Granger, go get the headmaster. The password's Chocolate Frogs. Meet me at the Hospital Wing." The two Gryffindors nodded and tore off to carry out their assigned tasks. Snape looked back at Harry.

'How does he get into all the trouble?' he asked himself. He considered levitating the boy, but it was too slow. He put one arm under Harry's knees and the other under his back and lifted Harry into his arms. As he took off, jogging toward the infirmary, he got a sense of déjà vu. He shook his head. He was slightly unnerved to find himself feeling sympathy for the boy he had been bent on hating for years.

He passed a few students who looked shocked at the scene. The animosity between the potions master and Harry Potter was famous throughout the school. It was no wonder they were surprised to see Snape carrying the unconscious boy through the halls with an extremely worried look on his face that he tried to hide with the occasional menacing scowl that encouraged students to back away and not ask any questions.

After what seemed like far too long, he finally reached the Infirmary. He entered to find Madam Pomfrey checking over Neville Longbottom. She seemed to have cleared up the bruises from his earlier potions accident. Neville momentarily looked frightened at seeing Snape but then realized what he was carrying and his expression turned into one of concerned shock.

"Professor, what's wrong with Harry? Is he all right?" he asked leaning forward and alerting Madam Pomfrey to Snape's presence in the process.

"Oh dear, what now?" Madam Pomfrey asked jumping up as Snape laid Harry down on a nearby bed. She had decided long ago that she saw far too much of this particular boy. It just wasn't fair.

Snape eyed Neville but decided that there wasn't enough time to worry about him overhearing.

"Well Granger and Weasley said that he collapsed in the corridor. They say that he has cancer, something about a spell, but that's impossible…" Snape was interrupted by a cry from Madam Pomfrey.

"No! He didn't! He said it was for a class assignment!" she gasped. She raced over to Harry's side and began checking him over.

"Wait, Poppy, there actually is a spell to give a wizard cancer? But why in the world would he do something like that?" he asked in disbelief.

"He must have known a Muggle with cancer. The only way to save them from it is to transfer it to a wizard. He basically traded his life for someone else's," she explained in a distraught voice.

Neville had risen out of bed and came to Harry's side. "What's cancer?" he asked frightened. Whatever it was, it sounded really bad.

"Stay out of this Longbottom, mind your own business," Snape barked. Neville flinched but didn't move.

"N-no sir. Harry's my friend and I-I'm not just going to stay out of th-this," he said looking the Potion's master straight in the face. For the first time ever, Snape felt a fleeting pang of respect for the boy he had always humiliated. He knew that Neville was terrified of him and was showing a great deal of loyalty and bravery.

'Perhaps the sorting hat didn't make a mistake,' he mused.

"N-now, I want to know what cancer is. Is Harry sick?" he asked stubbornly, his stuttering and slight shaking being the only things that portrayed his fright.

"Yes dear. Harry's sick. Very sick. Here." She ran into her office and brought out a book of Muggle illnesses and opened the page to "Cancer" and handed it to Neville. She just didn't have the heart to tell him herself.

Snape watched as his student read the pages. Neville's face grew quite pale.

"Is Harry's cancer terminal?" he asked pulling the word from the book.

"I'm afraid so, dear. The spell doesn't work on anything other type. I'm so sorry, honey," she said seeing the devastated look in the boy's eyes.

The three looked up when Ron burst through the door carrying all the flasks he had been assigned to find. He was out of breath and gasping for air but didn't seem to notice. He set the bottles down on a table and walked over to Harry's bedside. Neville pulled up a chair for him and then got one for himself.

"How's he doing? Is he going to be okay?" Ron asked with pleading eyes.

"I don't know, dear. It'll be close, but Professor Snape and I are going to make a potion that will hopefully help him. We're going to do the best we can but you must understand that we're not familiar with this," Madam Pomfrey said regretfully. She hated saying those words, but she didn't want to lie to the boy or let him get his hopes up.

Madam Pomfrey and Snape began working together with the ingredients.

"You know." Ron said to Neville, not taking his eyes off Harry. It wasn't a question. Neville numbly nodded his head.

"He's dying," Ron stated. Once again, a nod from Neville. Ron took Harry's hand in his own. "Hey mate," he said in a near whisper. "You have to pull out of this, okay? It's not time for you to go yet. It's even earlier than the too early I was planning on and you can't do that to me, all right?"

"Yeah, Harry. You have a Quidditch cup to win, not to mention the house cup. We can't do it without you. I still need you to be with me in Snape's class. I need to have my co-president in the 'Hated by Snape' club," Neville added quietly. Under any other circumstance, he would have kicked himself as Snape stilled momentarily, but currently took no notice. Neville had forgotten the professor was there and he had obviously heard. However, the potions master didn't acknowledge it and continued to help Madam Pomfrey.

Hermione burst into the room followed by Dumbledore. She flew to Harry's side, silent tears still dripping down her face. She took Harry's other hand and began petting it.

The three adults talked quietly while Snape and Madam Pomfrey continued to brew potions. Finally, the students had to back away from their friend's side, all sitting on the next bed over to make sure they were out of the way. Madam Pomfrey attempted to wake Harry to no avail. She quickly checked his vitals again.

"His pulse is extremely weak. We're going to have to inject these potions into his system for him to stand a chance. It won't be as quick or effective as ingesting them, but it's our only hope." She glanced up at the three students solemnly. "Maybe you three should wait outside."

"No, I'm not leaving him," Ron said firmly.

"I'm staying," Hermione sobbed.

"Same here," said Neville in a decisive voice, slightly shaken with grief.

Madam Pomfrey frowned but it was obvious that she had bigger problems than trying to get the three students to leave. She just sighed and gave up.

Snape measured out a greenish potion in a syringe. He tapped it to get rid of any air bubbles and handed it to Madam Pomfrey. Ron winced as the medi-witch injected it into Harry's arm.

"Breathing's still shallow, we're still going to need something to support him with that," she called to Snape who handed her a shot a few seconds later with a bluish liquid inside. They injected several potions into Harry's arm. Ron had his arm around Hermione who was crying into his shoulder while Neville sat with his head in his hands.

Madam Pomfrey grasped Harry's wrist again. She then placed her hand on his chest and put her ear near his mouth.

"His breathing is slowing and his pulse is weakening. The potions haven't taken affect yet and won't for a few minutes. Severus, a cold wet cloth please. We need to stop that temperature from getting any higher. Albus, I need your help with the Vitas spell," Madam Pomfrey ordered.

Snape ran to get a wet cloth and Dumbledore joined Madam Pomfrey at Harry's side. With the headmaster closer to them, the three students could see the solemn expression on his face, not even the slightest twinkle in his eye. They began rattling off incantations. Snape quickly assisted them after placing a wet rag on Harry's forehead. It was a chaotic scene. Madam Pomfrey was barking out names of spells that Snape and Dumbledore took turns in performing while the medi-witch was checking Harry's vitals and thumbing through pages of books.

Meanwhile the three students sat sobbing in near panic, each with tears trickling down their faces. Oddly, the only one who looked peaceful was the unconscious form of Harry. If it weren't for his slightly blue lips, shallow breathing, and the drops of perspiration on his face, he would have looked just like he was sleeping. This picture made Ron pray that this was all a dream and that his best friend really was just asleep in the next bed.

Finally, Madam Pomfrey paused a long time in her commands, checking Harry over. Everyone held his or her breath.

"Okay, it seems the potions have begun to take affect. His pulse and breathing are normal." The medi-witch collapsed into a chair near the next bed and began fanning herself. Dumbledore and Snape stepped aside to converse.

The three students swarmed around Harry's bed. Hermione and Ron once again grasped Harry's hands. Hermione and Neville looked extremely relieved, but Ron retained a vacant, lost expression that Neville couldn't help but notice.

"Hey, Ron, are you all right?" he asked cautiously.

Ron looked up with a slightly lost expression. He was silent for a long time before speaking quietly.

"I just can't help but think that this isn't over, you know? We saved today, but what about next time? One of these times, we won't be able to bring him back. I think this is the first time it's really hit me. I can't really explain it, but it never felt real before. And how do we know if we really have saved him? What if he doesn't wake up, or does but isn't himself? Like messed up in the head or something. You said yourself, Hermione, that he was delusional in the hall. What if that's permanent?" he spilled out.

Hermione recalled the image of Harry lying on the ground without a clue to what was going on. The memory broke her heart and she couldn't bear the thought of Harry remaining that way.

"I can't believe this is happening," Neville said quietly. "Harry has always just been a constant, you know? I just assumed he'd always be there in the dorm, sticking up for me in Potions or with Malfoy, saving the school from the next big disaster, and just being…well…Harry."

"I feel the same way, Neville," Hermione said with a sad glance at her friend. "I just always took it for granted that he'd always be there because he's Harry and he always beats the bad guy. He always survives." Her voice broke. "But I just don't see how he can escape this one." She gulped back a few tears.

Suddenly, Hermione felt Harry's hand move. She looked up to see him stirring.

"Guys, I think he's waking up."

Harry's eyes fluttered open. They remained half-closed with exhaustion but noticed his three friends.

"'Mione? Ron? Neville?" he murmured weakly.

"Hey there, Harry," Hermione said quietly.

"What happened?" he asked groggily.

"You collapsed, remember?" she continued.

"Oh," he murmured. He winced as he coughs racked his body momentarily. When it was over he drew in some shaky breaths. It was obviously a difficult task for him. "I'm sorry if I scared you guys," he whispered, eyes drifting closed.

"It's okay, Harry, just get some rest," Hermione said tenderly, caressing his hand.

Harry nodded slightly before drifting into slumber.

Madam Pomfrey agreed to allow the three to stay the night at Harry's side. Since nobody else was in the infirmary, she transfigured one of the beds into a couch, which she placed at the side of Harry's bed.

The three eventually fell asleep. If anyone were to have seen them, they would have seen Neville curled up at one side, head resting on the armrest. Ron was using the opposite armrest as a pillow, but was more stretched out than Neville. Hermione, was squeezed in next to him, using his chest as her pillow.

In the middle of the night, Harry woke to see this scene and just watched amusedly for awhile before Neville woke and saw him.

"Hey, mate," he whispered.

"Hey," Harry whispered back. "Look at those two. And they won't acknowledge that they like each other."

Neville shot him a mischievous grin. "Then I wonder what they'd think of their sleeping arrangements. I'm pretty sure they didn't fall asleep that way."

Harry grinned. "Do it."

"Ron, Hermione! Harry's awake!" he exclaimed quietly shaking them both.

Both pairs of eyes opened. Ron and Hermione looked over to Harry to find that he was indeed awake and with an amused smile on his face. Ron looked down as Hermione looked up and their eyes met. Both their faces reddened. Hermione shot off of Ron, murmuring an embarrassed apology.

"Hey guys," Harry whispered, unable to talk louder. "Good to see you."

Hermione leaned in closely. "Harry, do you recognize us?" Harry looked slightly confused at the question but his nod alleviated Hermione's worries.

"Yes, I recognize you, 'Mione. Neville, how are your bruises?" he asked. Neville laughed and showed him his healed arms. Harry then looked at Ron. "Are you all right Ron?" He had noticed the pale color of his friend's face.

Before Ron could answer, Madam Pomphrey came bustling over.

"Oh good, dear, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Fine," he murmured.

"Sure you are. Hold on now, I'm going to alert the Headmaster that you're awake." She stepped into her office and came out followed by Professor Dumbledore and Snape, who had presumably come through the fireplace in Madam Pomfrey's office. The three approached Harry, who squirmed slightly, knowing what was coming.

"Mr. Potter, please tell me you didn't actually use that spell I gave you," Madam Pomfrey said desperately, starting the dreaded conversation.

"Sorry," Harry muttered. In normal circumstances, he would have been sputtering random words to avoid the question, but he was too tired to give it the effort.

"But I thought I made myself clear that you can't survive this!" she exclaimed, exasperated.

"You did ma'am, I knew what I was doing and the consequences as well."

"But that potion, it's too difficult; where would you get the ingredients?" Harry looked down at his lap with a guilty expression. Now that he was being interrogated about his guilt, he began to feel more awake.

"Potter," Snape growled.

"Oops?" he said with a sheepish grin. The Potions master had apparently noticed the ingredients missing from his office.

"Harry," Dumbledore stepped forward looking extremely somber. "How long have you had this?"

"Winter break, sir. Er…the night before we got back."

Those words triggered a memory for Snape. He remembered Harry's words from his office that night. I was visiting someone in the hospital…it was urgent so I waited until the Dursleys were asleep, sneaked out and ran to the hospital. So that's what he had been doing. He had been sacrificing his own life for another's and was beaten to a pulp for doing so.

"And how long do you have?"

"Well, Mr. Stenson had it for about three months before he was diagnosed, so I'd say July. Probably before my next birthday," he added looking away. He heard Madam Pomfrey and Neville gasp. Hermione patted his hand for comfort. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Professor Snape's mouth drop open and Dumbledore close his eyes.

"And this is why your powers have suddenly increased?"

"Yes sir."

"Who else knows about this?" Dumbledore asked calmly, yet a trace of despair tinted his voice.

"Er…well, everyone here."

"You haven't told the Stensons?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Harry felt a pang of guilt.

"Not exactly, sir. They wouldn't handle it very well."

"Don't you think they'd like to know?" he asked gently.

"No. Look, I did this to give them happiness. If I told them, it would ruin that," he explained, pleading for understanding.

"I take it Sirius is in the dark as well?"

Harry nodded ashamed. It looked like the exposing of his secrets was hurting more people than he would have hoped.

"Don't you think he has the right to know?"

Harry nodded weakly. "He's going to kill me."

"Well, Mr. Potter, I can assure you that if you don't let him know, this secret of yours will end up killing him."

Harry nodded.

"Albus, a few students saw Potter when I was carrying him here." Harry blushed at this information. He now knew that the teacher who hated him had carried him in his arms twice. Harry felt embarrassed in knowing that somebody had witnessed him in such a weak and vulnerable state multiple times, especially since it was Snape.

"Please, I don't want everyone to know," Harry begged. Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes, I agree. We wouldn't want this information to fall into the wrong hands. Well then, I'm going to owl Sirius and tell him there's something you need to talk to him about, as it's not my place to tell him this." Dumbledore paused to thoughtfully glance at Ron. "Everyone else should also be leaving now; Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter need to talk."

Harry glanced up at Ron who was wearing a blank expression, looking at Dumbledore but not really seeing. Snape left, robes billowing behind him. Madam Pomfrey left a vial of Dreamless Sleeping Potion on the nightstand with instructions for Harry to take it when he was done. Hermione kissed his forehead and instructed him to get some rest before leaving with a visibly shaken Neville who gave Harry a weak smile. The door clicked closed behind them. Now the only light in the room came from the bright moon outside the window, falling short of Harry's bed but giving an adequate amount of light to see. All the other beds were empty, which Harry was thankful for.

Harry scooted into the sitting position, leaning against the headboard for support.

Ron was now looking blankly down at his knees. Harry cautiously spoke.

"Ron, are you all right?"

Ron took a deep breath and looked up into Harry's eyes. Harry was shocked to see a few silent tears trickling down Ron's face. He had never seen his best friend cry.

"No Harry, I'm not all right. That was the scariest thing I've ever been through. I…I'm just realizing what it's going to be like to lose you," he began shakily. His voice began to rise as he choked down tears. "Merlin's beard, Harry, you're my best friend and you're going to be gone in a few months!" he practically screamed.

"Ron, I'm so sorry…"

"No. Don't. You're always sorry for everything like it's all your fault. I guess this time, you actually did cause this, but it's not like you wanted things to be like this…" he paused and eyed Harry suspiciously. "Right? You didn't do this because you wanted to die, right?"

Harry vigorously shook his head no.

"Of course not."

Ron closed his eyes and nodded. "Good." The two friends looked at each other in silence for a few moments before tears began flooding out of Ron's eyes with a sob. "Harry, I don't want you to die! What am I going to do? Who's going to get in trouble with me? We were going to graduate together and I was going to brag to everyone that I knew Harry Potter, the famous Auror. I was going to get to see who you were going to marry and you were going to talk sense into me when I got into fights with whoever I was with. You were going to be the best man at my wedding if I get married one day, calming me down like you always do. I may not know where my life's going, but I used to know that you would always be there and so it didn't matter and everything would turn out all right. Damn it, Harry, YOU WERE GOING TO BE THERE!" he screamed tears streaming down his face. Harry felt the warm tears trickling down his own. Ron calmed down a little bit and in less of a scream, he continued. "You were going to be there, and now you're not, and now I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Ron I'm so sorry, I wanted to be there, I really did…"

"Then why the hell did you do this? No, don't answer that, I already know. You've always underestimated what you mean to other people and there's no way you could have known what you were doing to me and Hermione and Sirius, or you wouldn't have done it. But that doesn't make it hurt any less."

Harry didn't know what to say. What could he say? There was no way to assuage Ron's fears. He was going to die and he wouldn't be there for his best friend. He had wanted to die with no regrets but now knew that was impossible. Ron wiped away a few of his tears. He looked up at Harry and kept starting saying something and then stopping as if not sure how to say it.

"I…What do you…What can I do for you…after?" he asked after a long silence.

"Huh?"

"I'm sitting here having a fit when you're the one who should be screaming and ranting. But…I don't know…I need something to do for you after…July. I just need to know I'm doing something for you when you're not here to do it for yourself. Do you know what I mean?" Ron asked sniffling.

Though his words were somewhat confusing, Harry knew what he was asking for: a last wish. So if something happened so that Harry was never able to demand a last favor on his deathbed, Ron wouldn't live wondering if he could be doing something more to honor the memory of his friend.

Harry stared at the triangle of moonlight on the next bed over, thinking about the question. He knew he wanted to just ask that Ron made sure that Sirius and Hermione were okay, but he knew that Ron didn't have to be asked to do that. Harry opened his mouth to say this wish.

"I just want to be remembered," he whispered without even knowing where it came from. Ron laughed through his tears.

"I don't think that will be a problem, you're in every history book made in the last fifteen years and the hero of the wizarding world."

"No. They'll remember The-Boy-Who-Lived, you and 'Mione are really the only ones who can remember me as just Harry. That's all I want."

Ron stared at Harry for a few moments before doing something Harry never expected. He threw his arms around Harry's neck and drew him into a hug. Harry was slightly stunned as Ron began weeping into his shoulder, but then hugged him back. It was then that he knew what he had truly given up: his best friend. It was the first time he had felt that someone truly cared about him. For the first time since they had known each other, they both dropped their macho exteriors. There was no one there to see except for each other.

"I'm so sorry Harry. I should have let you know what you were worth to me and 'Mione. I should have told you that you're the best friend I've ever had, but I never did. I should have told you that you're like a brother to me, even more so than my actual brothers. And now it's too late, I didn't tell you in time. I just always thought you knew," Ron sobbed.

"No, Ron, you've always been the best friend I could ever have. It's not your fault. Don't ever think this was your fault. Promise me that," Harry said through silent tears. Ron nodded and pulled away from Harry. He sat back in the chair and wiped at his tears. Harry leaned back against the headboard.

Ron reached over and grabbed the Dreamless Sleeping Potion and handed it to Harry. Harry looked at him confusedly.

"Take it. You need sleep and I know you won't get any if you don't take this tonight," he said wiping his eyes on his sleeve as if to try to erase the evidence of showing such a vulnerable emotion as grief. His puffy red eyes and the small occasional hiccuping breaths gave him away.

Harry smirked and took the vial. "What are you doing now, planning to take Madam Pomfrey's place?"

"Yeah right. Hermione said you need sleep and I do NOT want to mess with the wrath of Hermione," Ron smiled.

Harry laughed. "You don't want to mess with the wrath of Hermione? Why, lose interest in your favorite hobby?" he said in reference to their constant bickering.

"Hey, that girl gets more scary each year. I think we've had a bad influence on her."

"You don't seem to mind, though," Harry said slyly, grinning slightly. Ron paused trying to sort out the meaning of his words.

"Hey what exactly are you saying there, mate?"

"Oh nothing, I think it's time for me to go to bed now."

"Oh no you don't, you tell me what you mean!" he laughed. He reached for the vial to assert this point, but Harry just tipped it toward him in a mock toast, "Cheers," and then drank it down.

"Hey, unfair," Ron laughed, gently taking the vial from Harry's hand to place it back on the night table. "Tell me what you mean! And if you mean what I think you mean, that isn't true!"

Harry sunk back down into a lying position. He could feel the potion taking effect.

"Sure," he mumbled.

"All right, you go to sleep now, but I'm going to have some definite words for you in the morning," Ron said seeing Harry's eyes closing.

Ron thought that Harry was asleep a few seconds later and was surprised to hear him speak again.

"You know, it won't be so bad. I'll get to see my parents," Harry murmured, half asleep.

Ron shut his eyes and took a deep breath. It always slipped his mind that Harry had no parents. "Yeah, you will," he said lamely. He didn't know what else to say but he wasn't worried about his lame response since Harry was slipping into slumber.

"But Ron?" he whispered not fully conscious anymore.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to miss you when I'm gone."

When Harry's breathing finally evened out, Ron gently grabbed his hand.

"Please get better," he whispered to his unconscious friend. "Don't leave, Harry. I need you with me to get me through so much more. Don't leave me; you're my best friend."

Ron then curled up in his chair and watched his friend sleep, letting himself have a good cry thinking about the difficult road ahead.