That morning, in the common room before breakfast, Hermione caught Ron on his way to breakfast. She caught him by the arm, and he was shocked at the least.

"Ron? Wait a minute?"

"Hermione? I thought you weren't talking to me."

"Well, we need to talk. I wanted to catch you before breakfast."

"Well, you caught me. What'd you need?"

"Can we go somewhere private?"

"Where?"

"I don't know, how about the lake?"

"Sure. Lets go."

They walked to the lake in silence, obliviously still holding hands. Ron was so happy that she was talking to him again, he didn't even notice the gloom that seemed to hover around Hermione. When they reached the lake they sat down. It was only then that Ron realized how downcast she was, he took her hand in his, causing her to look up into his eyes.

"He's so good…"she thought, "if I tell him he'll go out of his mind, but if I don't tell him he'll be mad at me… and it's not fair to him. It's not fair that I have to bring this on to him."

"What do you want to tell me Hermione?"

"I…I'm sick."

"I know… you told me on the train, remember?"

"I did, but you don't want to know...?"

"If you want to tell me. You seem upset, I wont force you to say anything."

"I- think- you should know. Ginny knows, and she told Harry, so you should know. I don't want someone else to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I'm… I'm dying."

Ron pulled her into a loose embrace.

"What do you mean Hermione?"

"I'm dying. I'm sick- I've had every treatment, wizard and muggle, and it hasn't worked."

"What is it?"

"Stomach cancer."

"Cancer? Isn't there a way to cure that? I've never heard of anyone getting it before."

"In the wizarding world they have a way to prevent it, but no cure. I grew up in the muggle world, remember, they have no way to treat or prevent it."

"But… there's got to be a way!"

"Ron, I've tried everything. They say I've got until the end of the term at most. That's why I wanted this year to be the best, because it's going to be my last. Now why don't you go to the Great Hall? Breakfast is almost over."