Chapter 2: Hope

A/n: I apologize for the last chapter normally I'm a stickler for grammar and using the rigth words where they are suppose to be. I guess I slipped up a bit.


DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Just having some fun

"The sword he used was called the Fang of the Serpent," Harry continued explaining. "The long blade blade gave it away. The blade is covered in an almost legendary poison: Serpertanous Toxcium. The Fang of the Serpent is the only known object that uses it. The sword of course once belonged to Salazar Slytherin," Harry smirked when he remember the other bit about the blade. "It was actually made specifically to combat the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

The poison on a normal person would eat through their magical core and their life force in a week." Harry laughed. "The good news is that I am and have never been a normal wizard. My magical core is far larger. It will take more time for the poison to eat through the core."

Harry paused to examined the people around him. Everyone wore looks of remorse and sadness. Harry hated having those faces look the way they did mostly because of his actions. What really got to Harry were Remus' eyes which seemed dead. 'At least none of them have died,' he thought. He continued more solemnly, "There is no known antidote. In fact there has been only one other known occurrence of the poison." He paused again. "That person died in three days. I'm confident though that I have far more time than that even with the strain I just put on my core today," He added smiling weakly.

"Boy you have changed, kid," Remus said moments later. "You sure have learned a lot on the year and half trip you left on." Harry smiled. "Are you sure there isn't anything we can do?"

"There is no known cure for whats attacking my core."

Minutes passed the Weasley's that were present pat him on the shoulder as he gave them all a weak smile (Mrs. Weasley add a bone crushing hug of course). When the Weasley's had left, it was just Remus and Tonks standing by Harry's bed (Poppy had other patients to attend to). "You know Harry you are taking this quite well," Tonks started.

"Well I have not be entirely truthful," Harry started. "There's a plant that's nectar produces a strong potion that might be able to rid me of the poison-"

"Where is it? How do we get it? You tell me how far. I'll go and get it," Remus said the light returning to his eyes and sitting up straighter.

"Well thats just it no one actually knows," Harry began again. Remus' eyes loosing their color again. "The research I have read says that the plant only blooms enough to get the nectar when the planets are nearly in alignment."

"Well we'll look into when that will occur next-"

"Two weeks," Harry said. "I looked it up out of courtesy when looking into the plant."

"Okay, where can we find it then?"

Harry laughed at this one. "You like this one. The plant is so rare its legend. In fact, you might have heard of this legend before: The Fountain of Youth." Remus and Tonks each had faces of shock. "The plant hasn't been heard of in almost 300 years."

"Did the research you were using come to anything about the location, Harry?" Remus asked before adding. "Come to think of it: is this research trust worthy. Whose are you using?"

"The research comes from a very trust worthy person. The person found that there was rumor to be a plant with the right description somewhere in some ancient Indian ruins in Central America.," Harry replied.

"Who wrote this?"

"A woman named Whiskers," Harry smiled at the realization that appeared on Remus' face.

"Harry, do you know who Whiskers was?"

"I believe her more commonly used name was Lily Potter," Harry said. "Apparently one of the things she worked on at in the Department of Mysteries was the location of the so called Fountain of Youth. While my parents were in hiding, she continued her research unbeknown to the department. I found her journals she wrote on the subject in hiding in the main Potter vault during a visit in September."

"Wow! I had no idea your mother would be working on something this legendary," Remus laughed. "We always teased her for being such a know it all. Now she may have a chance to save her son from a horrible death." Remus' face looked determined as he said, "I'll put a team together we'll leave immediately. Even if we ave to find the Fountain of Youth we find it."

"I trust you completely," harry said smiling. "Uh could leave Ron, Hermione and Ginny out of the team though. I don't want them thinking about running out to get a cure. I just want to spend time with them."

"Of course, kid," Remus added with a knowing smile. "Just don't do anything to rash. We will find it."

"Of course you will. Now go find me a cure."

"Come on Dora. We have a plant to find." Remus pulled Tonks' arm they began to walk out.

"Oh can you send Ron and Hermione in now," Harry said as they turned around. They nodded.

Seconds later his two best friends rushed towards his bed. Both looked concerned. Ron spoke first, "Bloody Hell!! That was cool. Where did you learn to blood do that kind of spell work? And the Sword stuff at the end was bloody awesome!!"

"Ron!! You shouldn't do ask him those kind of questions especially when there is obviously something else," Hermione scolded Ron.

Ron murmured, "Sorry, mate." Harry waved it off. "So what is going on, mate? Why did you need to get to the hospital wing so quickly? The stab wound did not look that bad."

Harry looked down knowing what he was about to tell them would bring down their moods. "I don't know how to break this to you but the blade Voldemort was using had Serpertanous Toxcium on it."

"What?" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione went white. "But Harry thats so rare. It was only used once? On the- oh no. He was using it wasn't he?" Harry nodded.

"Would someone care to explain what is going on?" Ron asked sounding almost nervous.

"Serpertanous Toxcium is a very rare very toxic poison. It is only known to be used as a poison on the Fang of the Serpent, Slytherin's sword. How long, Harry?"

"About four weeks."

"Four weeks until what exactly?" Ron asked slowly.

"Until I die." Ron's skin was as white as a ghost. He always feared Harry could die at the end of the war but was not ready for the reality that it was happening before his eyes. Hermione was sobbing and almost collapsed has Ron not caught her. "Its not the best way to die but we knew the war was probably going to end this way."

Hermione got control of herself minutes later. Ron still looked white. "You should tell Ginny. She will be more than broken after news like this," Hermione started.

"I know"

"She isn't to happy with you at the moment. Keeping her in the dark for-"

"Hermione I know what I could have done better with her will you just let her yell at me for it," Harry said. "Ron will tell your sister if she will see me I'd like it very much."

"Just break it to her sof-"

"Will you just go get her please."

Ron left to get his sister. Hermione moved to follow as Harry said, "Just where are you going?"

"I'm going to the nurse," Hermione said then added at Harry's confused face, "I want her here for when she has to revive you after Ginny blows up at you before you tell her."

"Haha very funny-"

"HARRY JAMES POTTER IF YOU ARENT DYING YOU WILL BE IF YOU DONT EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!" Harry was cut off as his ex-girlfriend walked into his room. Harry flinched when she said the dying bit. She looked at him coldly and walked slowly. She turned to Hermione. "Don't worry, Hermione. I wont hurt him...much." Harry flinched again at the coldness in her voice. Harry had never seen Hermione moved as fast as she did leaving the room and closing the door.

"Well you going to explain yourself," She asked coldly and walking toward him slowly.

Harry felt his body get the urge to slide away from the approaching red-head. "I'm sorry-"

"Thats what you say for breaking up with me and leaving me in the dark for a year an a half!!" Though he wouldn't admit it later, he was find her kinda sexy so angry (though he perfer the anger was not directed at him). "No word a year and a half and then today when you are injured and insist upon going to the Hospital Wing you make me wait. I was hoping to be in here when you told them what was happening but I guess I don't get that kind of luxury," Ginny continued her rant. Harry was surprised she had not drawn her wand on her yet. "You're lucky Bill took my wand." Harry thanked Bill a thousand times for that. Harry was stricken when she said, "I guess I'll just go back to Dean then."

She turned to leave. "I guess that means you moved on then," Harry said.

"Maybe," she replied stopping back to him.

Harry thought about his next move. "Will you at least come to my funeral?"

"What?" She asked turning around so fast he was surprise she had not hurt neck.

"I'm dying, Gin."

Wide-eyes greet him after that and a couple of "No!"'s. Harry nodded. "Voldemort's blade was poisoned and I have about one month to live."

"No, you cant die. You're Harry," Ginny said before repeating it several times. Harry knew he won her back when she added on her last repetition, "You can't die. Not my Harry."

"I'm sorry, Gin," he said before he was bombarded by her throwing herself beside him on the bed putting her face into his chest sobbing. He robbed her back and stroked her hair saying comforting things to her. Minutes later upon hearing the yelling stop, Ron and Hermione were waved in by Harry when they peaked in. Ron came over and methodically rubbed Ginny's back with Harry. Hours later Ron and Hermione were each sleeping in a chair. Ginny fallen asleep beside Harry after crying the entire time. 'Not exactly how I pictured us getting back together,' he thought. As he drifted off to sleep he silently prayed to every divine being to help Remus and his team find what they needed so he could spend the rest of his life with her.

A/n: All right this is where the story really beings. This is where the fun starts appearing. I got most of this chapter while trying to fall asleep one night. I loved the idea of harry only having one more month to live. I also thought the Fountain of Youth stuff was and ingenious idea though I am a tad basis. So leave me a review if you want to see how this turns out I have lots more drama and adventure to go through before I'm done with this and I don't know if you want more if you don't tell me so please R&R.

Next Chapter: Remus sets off with his team and Ginny makes a rash decision.