I think this is my final addition to the story =)

Ill probably do an epilogue

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Chapter Six: Ron's Miracle

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It was tearing Ron apart to see Hermione in so much pain. He had only come back to see her once since his last visit. She claimed she was getting along fine, but little did he know he was slowly losing her.

"Professor, please."

"Mr. Weasley, I-"

"Professor, I don't care if I have to study my arse off everyday or even repeat my sixth year," he stared into her cold grey eyes, "I have to stay with Hermione."

"Very well," she said sternly as she got up to exit the boys' dorms, "I will notify your professors and you may leave tomorrow...and send my best wishes, will you?" He nodded and she left the room.

"Lucky," Harry said from his own bed.

"Lucky? LUCKY?! Harry, I'm going because I have to, not because I want to."

"You mean you don't want to skip school to see Hermione everyday?"

"Harry, she has leukemia...do you honestly think I want to go there everyday to see her suffer? To see her not be able to eat? To see her covered in bruises and her hair falling out?" Harry shook his head in silence. "I didn't think so." He turned on his side and scowled. No one understood the way he felt...no one.

---

Ron left the next day for St. John's General Hospital. He was uncomfortable about landing in a stranger's fireplace, but he was assured they were a wizarding family. Once he was there, he walked across the street to the hospital. The waiting room was fairly empty; it was, after all, a Monday.

He passed Dr. Edwin, "Hi, Lydia."

"Ron. Very nice to see you again. Are you here to see Hermione?"

"Err, yeah."

"I'm afraid visiting hours aren't for another hour...but you can go have a coffee in the lobby if you feel like it."

"Oh, ah thanks..."

"Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all."

---

"Hermione's a wonderful person, I just feel so helpless..." She covered her eyes with her face, "I'm sorry." Ron took a sip of his coffee with shaking hands. "She's got so much ahead of her, you know? She has an absolutely brilliant mind and such potential. It just kills me to see her suffer like this...and she's getting so depressed too; she hasn't cracked a smile in days."

They sat for ages while Lydia poured her heart out and Ron downed three large cups of coffee. After what seemed like hours, Lydia glanced at her watch, "You can go see her now." He nodded.

"I'll see you..." Ron took the stairs back up to the ninth floor, it was painful but the elevator looked a bit dodgy. He walked down the hall to Hermione's room at the end. "Knock, knock," he said, opening the door.

"Hi, Ron," she said feebly. She was incredibly pale and wore a fluffy knitted hat not unlike the ones she had knitted for house elves the previous year. She dropped her novel and extended her arms to him.

"Hey," he said, pulling her into a hug, "What's with the head gear?"

"...Nothing."

"Oh come on, 'Mione...it can't be that bad."

"Can't it?" She pulled the hat off. Her brown hair was losing its colour and was incredibly thin. Not to mention its usual bushy appearance was gone. To be honest, Ron thought it was an improvement but he didn't dare say it.

"Oh..." he mumbled.

"Oh, Ron...I know I should be positive and keep my hopes up but really. I feel terrible. The doctors say I'm looking better but I can see it in their eyes...they all know I'm going to die, Ron. I know I'm going to die." A single tear slid down her cheek.

"No. Hermione, no! You've got to stop thinking like this, you'll drive yourself mad." She grabbed his sweater and pulled him forward so their eyes met.

"Ron. I'm telling you...Its over." Her bloodshot eyes were shining with tears. He pulled her close to his chest, her hands still clutching his jumper.

"No," he whispered into her hair. Hermione inhaled sharply.

"I love you."

Ron said it, and he really meant it, "I love you too."

---

The following days seemed to pass unbearably slow. Everyday, Ron waited until he could see Hermione, in the meantime sat in the waiting room consuming endless cups of coffee and candy bars. Things weren't looking too good.

What I need, he thought to himself on Friday afternoon, is a miracle. One big miracle.

"You may go in now, Mr. Weasley."

"Thanks." Hermione was sleeping when he entered her room. He didn't want to wake her, but this was important. "Hermione," he whispered in her ear. She stirred. "Hermioneeee." She giggled, but didn't open her eyes. Ron blew across her face. His cool breath against her skin made her nose crinkle the cute way it always used to. "Is that a smile I see?!" Hermione opened her eyes.

"Maybe," she said, giving him a big grin. He kissed her forehead and held her hand.

"Listen, Hermione...I'm going to have to leave you for a few days alright?"

"What?! No! Why?"

"Please, it's only for a little while!"

"Nooo...Ron, why?"

"I promise I'll be back as soon as I can. Alright?"

"Alright..."

"Ok, I'll see you soon." He placed a soft kiss on her lips and ran out the door.

---

"Mr. Weasley! What are you doing back here so soon?" Professor McGonagall asked as he came tumbling out of the fireplace in her office.

"Dumble...dore," he coughed, having swallowed a mouthful of ash.

"He's in his study but-"

"Thanks." Out of breath, he ran out the door leaving her in her in her chair, a bewildered expression plastered on her face.

"Headmaster..." Ron panted as he reached the stone gargoyle that blocked his office. "Need...speak...you..."

"Ah, Mr. Weasley. Back so soon?"

"Professor Dumbledore, sir. I have a request."

---

Hermione hoped that whatever Ron was planning had better be important. He was gone two days and she was going mad already. I wish he'd come, she thought, I wish he'd come, I wish he'd come.

"Hermione!" She looked up to find Ron standing in her doorway, "You're up!"

"Yes I a- What's that?" She pointed to a package in his hand. It was very large, square and flat. "Look like a painting," she said thoughtfully.

"It's better," he said with a smile. "To Miss Hermione Jane Granger...for all she's had to put up with." He winked and placed it on her bed. Her face lit up with glee as she tore the brown wrapping from it. She held it up to her face. It was a large board; written on it was:

GET WELL SOON, HERMIONE GRANGER

Her mouth said "thank you," but her face said "Is this it?" Ron laughed, "Turn it over." Her eyes widened as she stared at a sea of blue and black ink.

"What is it?" she whispered, turning to Ron.

"Look closely." Her mouth fell open. Upon the board, in miniscule writing, were hundreds of tiny signatures...all from Hogwarts students. She stared at them, unaware that tears were falling from her eyes and down her face.

"Did you do this? For me?" she said hoarsely. Ron nodded feebly. She didn't speak...she couldn't speak. She waved her hands towards herself, beckoning Ron to hug her. Ron sat down on the bed beside her and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you. Thank you so much...This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me," she whispered, wiping her face with her sleeve.

"I thought it might cheer you up a bit." She rested her head on his chest.

"I'm so scared, Ron."

"Now, now," he whispered in her ear, "You're not a Gryffindor for nothing."

---

Hermione's spirits rose over the next few weeks. She was eating again, getting exercise, and the doctors lowered the amount of chemotherapy treatment she was receiving. All in all, she was coming along much better.

"Hi, 'Mione," Ron said lazily as he walked in her room one day.

"Ron. I need to talk to you."

"Sure."

"I want..." she began, "Ron, I want you to leave."

"What-"

"Please, Ron. I am so grateful that you've stayed with me all this time and that you care enough to give up everything for me...but you need to be back in school."

"Hermione, I-"

"Listen to me. You have to go back. I would love for you to stay with me longer...but-"

"But what?"

"I would be so much happier if I knew you were thinking about yourself, instead of worrying about me all the time."

"But you know I want to-"

"I know you want to. But please," she cried, "Please just do this for me? I don't know when I'll get out of here...or if I'll ever get out, but I don't want you to be in here everyday...it's not good for you, Ron. You need to get on with your life. Ok?" Ron buried his face in his hands.

"Ok..."

"Thank you." He held her hand. She was trembling.

"I love you," he said.

"Oh, Ron. You know I love you too," she smiled. They stared affectionately into each other's eyes until-

Visiting hours are now over. I repeat: Visiting hours are now over. Thank you.

"I should go..." he said and kissed her firmly on the lips.

"Bye..." she whispered, kissing him back.

---

Five and a half months later Ron, Harry and Ginny were sitting at the Gryffindor table at breakfast. Ron stared moodily at his plate while Harry and Ginny were canoodling across from him. "Disgusting..." he muttered to himself, but he didn't really care. His thoughts were on Hermione...they always were.

"C'mon, Ron. It's the end of the year...lighten up a little," Ginny said compassionately. Ron shook his head. He was picking angrily at his bacon when the Great Hall doors opened.

"Ron, is that-"

"No way..." Hermione's fuzzy hat covered head poked out from behind the doors. "Hermione!" Ron called, flapping his arms in the air. "Hermione!" She smiled. He jumped out of his seat and ran towards her as whispers broke out in the hall.

"Granger's back!"

"Hermione! It's Hermione!"

"Look at that...it's Hermione Granger."

"Look, everyone...she's back!"

Ron stopped in front of her. "What's this?" he asked, tugging at her repulsive hat.

"Take it off."

"What? No...I thought you didn't want anyone to see-"

"Take it off," she repeated. Ron obeyed. Slowly, he pulled the hideous knitted creation off her head and watched as her bushy mane tumbled down around her shoulders. Her brown eyes glistened in the sunlight. She was stunning.

"Hermione," he whispered before cupping her face in his hands and kissing her full on the lips. The whispers turned to shouts.

"Right in front of everyone, too!"

"Get a room!"

"Eww..." Ron ignored them all. He enfolded his arms around her back and lifted her off the ground, spinning her in the air.

"Ron...dizzy," she muttered, and he put her down.

"God, I've missed you..."

"I've missed you too." He leaned in to kiss her again, this time more passionately. Pressing his mouth against hers, his tongue probed her lips and she didn't hesitate to grant him entrance. Both lost in the kiss, they didn't realize all eyes were on them. Reluctantly they pulled away from each other to notice that everyone's gaze was fixated on the pair.

"Never seen two people in love before?" Ron asked threateningly, staring around at the bewildered crowd. Hermione blushed profusely. He turned back to her. "I mean it," he whispered, "I love you Hermione Granger and I don't know what I would have done without you." She started crying.

"I love you too, Ronald Weasley, and I can't thank you enough for all the support and love you gave me...You are...my miracle," she said with a smile. Hermione threw her arms around his neck and rested her head in the crook of his neck. Ron put his arms around her waist and held her close. In his mind, he knew that everything would be alright.

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---epilogue coming soon!

Thnx again for the awesome reviews

Hope u liked my first ever fanfic! Plz send me ideas for new stories! Im open to any suggestions =)