A/N: This chapter'll be longer, I promise!!!!
Ginny awoke in the hospital wing for the second time that year, surrounded by her parents, Ron, Hermione, Fransisca, Harry, Fred, and George. They all had the same worried expression on her face. Ginny blinked and tried to smile, but felt too drained to try to save face.
"Ginny darling. We've come to take you to see a muggle doctor. This is something that magic can't fix." Mrs. Weasley said, a tear slipping down her cheek.
Fransisca sniffed and hugged Hermione, who was crying as well. Madam Pomfrey entered with Ginny's trunks, a look of pure sympathy on her face. They magicked Ginny out to a horseless carriage, so they could get to Hogsmeade station. Everyone trooped behind her, looking sullen.
"Bye Ginny." Ron said sadly, ruffling her hair.
The others said goodbye, but Harry stuck around. Ginny's parents left them alone.
"See ya, Harry." Ginny said, forcing herself to smile.
"You'll be okay, I know it. You'll be back. I'll miss you, Ginny." Harry said, and it was evident that he was holding back tears.
"I'll miss you too." Ginny sniffed, not wanting to break down.
"I…Ginny, I…" Harry stuttered.
"What is it?" Ginny asked hoarsely.
"I love you." he whispered.
"I love you too." she said, and blacked out.
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Ginny awoke to a bright morning, lying in her new four poster bed, in her new room at Weasley Manor. The name "Weasley Manor" was odd to think or say, but Ginny figured that it would become as easy to say as "The Burrow".
The little house-elf scurried in. She was rather short, with a very long nose, and wore a crisp, lacy pillowcase. Her name was Noddy. She was carrying a tray of food, that made Ginny want to vomit.
"Good morning, Miss Ginny." Noddy chirped.
She set the breakfast tray on a puffy pink armchair and drew the heavy pink curtains on the windows open, allowing fabulous streams of sunlight to attack Ginny's eyes.
Ginny winced and said, "Good morning, Noddy."
"Miss Ginny will be seeing the doctor today. Noddy hears Miss Ginny's parents speak of it!" Noddy squeaked.
"I know, Noddy. Do I have to eat this?" Ginny asked, indicating the tray of food set before her.
"Yes, Miss. Strict orders from Master Weasley! You is to eat the biscuits and gravy all gone! No buts!" Noddy said sternly.
Ginny knew Noddy was a quite young house elf, who helped her elderly mother, Bell, look after the Weasley Manor. Also employed was Noddy's older brother, Whisker. He tried to keep it a secret that he drank about four butterbeers a day, but the Weasleys knew that the house-elf was a drunk.
Ginny smiled and forced the food down her esophagus, where it stuck, causing her to gag. Noddy shook her head and whacked Ginny on the back. The food reluctantly unstuck itself and continued its journey through Ginny's digestive system.
Later that day, Ginny found herself in a muggle hospital, a doctor and two nurses were poking her with needles and taking blood. The pain was enough to bring tears to Ginny's eyes.
"Sorry if this hurts you, Ginny. It's necessary to take blood samples for testing." the young doctor said.
Ginny nodded and waited patiently as they left her alone with a few magazines. Ginny found the magazines that muggle girls her age read, quite amusing. They talked of a great many things that had no relevancy to Ginny's life. Though there was one story about a girl's struggle with popularity that interested her.
The doctors came back to inform Ginny and her parents that they needed Ginny to stay the night, and if she wanted any visitors, to bring them before 9:00 that night. Before she knew it, Fransisca, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were at Ginny's bedside.
"We've been so worried." Hermione said, handing Ginny a teddy bear.
"How are you?" Fransisca asked, giving her a wrapped package that felt an awful lot like a couple of muggle magazines.
"We miss ya, sis." Ron said, giving her a book entitled The Weird Sisters: Past and Present.
"I love you!" Harry said, handing her a small, carefully wrapped box.
"Hi guys." Ginny said, smiling.
"So what's been happening?" Hermione tried to ask Ginny, whose face was being covered in Harry's kisses.
"Shove off." Ginny said, playfully pushing Harry away.
"School isn't the same without you." Fransisca sighed.
"Well, they've been taking a bunch of blood from me." Ginny told them.
"I've had shots before, too. Hurts doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
Ginny nodded, "And the food is quite bad. I wish I was back at school or at home."
"What is the manor like?" Ron asked, interested.
"There are three…um…hired helpers." Ginny said, looking at Hermione warily.
Ron got the message and said no more. Harry however had a question.
"Did I get my own bedroom?"
Everyone laughed heartily, and chatted for a long time about the goings on at Hogwarts until a nurse came and shooed them out.
"They went and exhausted you." the nurse said, taking Ginny's temperature.
"I had fun." Ginny protested.
"Well, open your presents and get to bed." the nurse ordered.
Ginny saved Harry's present for last. When she tore off the wrapping paper she found a velvet box, a note taped on it:
To My Number One,
I miss you a whole lot, so get better! I love you!
Harry
Ginny smiled and opened the box. Her eyes grew wide and began to gleam when she saw what was inside. She slipped the ring on her left ring finger, feeling the cool gold glide smoothly onto it. The three diamonds gleamed, and reflected up onto the ceiling. There was another note inside the box…
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Ginny was numb the next day, wondering what to say to anyone. She no longer felt like a normal person. Maybe like an alien from another world. It was no surprise to the doctors that she was silent when they told her. Though it wasn't their news that she was shocked about. It did take awhile to sink in.
"You have leukemia, Ginny."
"You have six months to live, Ginny."
"We love you, Ginny."
"We'll do everything we can, Ginny."
"We're here for you, Ginny."
Nothing would make her feel better…except for that second note.
A/N: I leave you now to ponder on what the note might say. It is quite obvious, isn't it? Well, maybe I'll just change it…Stay tuned and review!
