CHAP11 "Oh HerMIIIIone!" Hermione woke up from her dreamless sleep. Ron was standing next to her bed, his tall silhouette hunched up leaning on her bed. "Oh RONNNNnie!" Hermione answered rubbing her eyes, and laughing through a yawn. "I can't sleep." "Let me guess, you want your back scratched, yet really you just want to SNOG!" Hermione said playfully. Ron's face lifted into a grin. "How are you so smart?" "I don't know, girlfriend's psycic ability I guess. Seems Ginny has it with Harry too." She said, giggling. Instead of grabbing her hand and getting her to her feet, he just lifted her out of her bed, cradling her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I've got a fire going downstairs and I saved you a spot on the couch." Hermione smiled. He brought her down to the common room and he sat down, not placing her down, but just leaving her in his arms. They sat like that, just staring at the fire, when all of a sudden, Hermione burst into tears. "H-hermione? What's wrong, luv?" Hermione looked into his eyes. "I love you, Ron. I love you so much. I always have, and I always will." "Oh, Hermione.it's okay." "No, Ron. It's not okay. I've been keeping something from you, and I feel completely aweful. I should've told you sooner." Hermione said, still crying. "Okay.um.what is it? I'm sure it's fine." "No, Ron. Please don't make this harder than it already is to tell you.Ron.luv.I-I have cancer and.Oh Ron, I'm dying." She burst into loud sobs. Ron's heart fell and tears flowed from his eyes. "No, no you're NOT dying! You're NOT.you can't.I won't let you !" "Yes.Ron.I'm so sorry." "How long have you had it and how long do you have left?" "I've had it since fifth year, and I only have about two years left." "Oh gods, Hermione! You can't leave me!" He said, hugging her as he kissed her forehead, letting tears fall into her glowing golden-brown hair. "I don't want to leave you, Ron! I wanted to spend my life with you." "Hermione.do you mind if I ask you.are you scared?" "To death, Ron. To death." At those words he sobbed into her shoulder. "Have you told G-ginny or H-harry yet?" "No, I should tell them now. I'll go tell Ginny, and you go tell Harry. We'll bring them down here." He kissed her forehead, wiped her tears, and they went to get Harry and Ginny. Ron shook Harry. Harry groaned. "Is it morning already? Oh, Ron! What's up?" He put his contacts in (he got rid of his glasses in fifth year, his hair was partly spiked like Ron's. They both looked quite handsome,) and saw tears flowing from Ron's cheeks. "Ron, mate.what's wrong?" "Harry.oh gods Harry.why?" Ron sat next to Harry, and Harry pulled him into a best-friend embrace. Ron sobbed freely. "What happened Ron?" "Harry, it's Hermione." Harry let go of Ron. "You two didn't.She's not p-.although.it's nothing to be upset about.but-" "Oh gods, please no.Harry.she's dying. She has leukemia." Harry's face went white, and his eyes welled up with tears. "Oh gods, Ron.I'm so sorry." At that moment, Ron heard a loud sob come from the girl's dorms, Hermione had told Ginny. A sobbing Ron and Harry went down to the common room where they met up with a sobbing Ginny and Hermione. "Hermione.sweetie.Oh, gods.we don't want to lose our best friend." Harry said. He kissed her forehead and pulled her into an embrace. "Ron." Ginny said. She pulled her big brother into an embrace. Moments later, the door of the common room opened. It was McGonagall. "You've told them, Hermione?" she asked softly. It was pretty surprising, because she usually called her 'Miss Granger'. "Yes." Hermione said. Minerva's tears flowed freely from her eyes. She hugged Ron and Hermione. "I'm sorry you four.I really am."