Chapter Three: Bad News

Later Sunday night…

Hermione's P.O.V

After I told Abigail another bedtime story and put her to bed, I got ready to go to bed myself and just lay there for awhile, thinking and reflecting the last ten years.

I still couldn't believe that Abigail was already ten years old. It seems like yesterday I was being rushed to the main hospital in London to give birth to her and see her looking so tiny and beautiful. Yet, it also seemed like yesterday I was with him.

I shuddered as I remembered the bastard. He had taken my virginity that night and I was never going to get it back. I wanted to save it for someone special (secretly I wanted it to be Ron) and he just had to go and take it as though it meant nothing. Ten years ago it happened…

Ten years ago, Draco Malfoy had taken my virginity.

I don't even remember what happened which was probably good in the short term, but horrible in the long term. How was I to explain to Abigail that her father took advantage of me when I was drunk and couldn't think straight? I could never tell her I was drunk at the time, she would get the wrong idea.

But no matter how much I wanted to forget it, it's still there crystal clear in my memory. Like I said, I remember it as though it was yesterday…

Flashback

"Harry, I'm just going outside for awhile."

"Uh-huh," Harry answered distractingly, not really paying attention to a word I said.

"Try and get some sleep okay? You look exhausted."

"Uh-huh," he replied, turning in his bunk and falling asleep.

I sighed and left the tent, taking my wand in hand. I stepped outside the magical boundaries and headed down to the local village which was about five miles from where we were. I needed to be alone for awhile, away from Harry. I don't know how long it had been since Ron left us, but it had probably been a couple of weeks and since then, I couldn't stop crying.

At first, I didn't understand why, but then I realised that I really liked him. Like more than a friend. He probably liked me too. But if he liked me, why would he go? It was a really stupid thing to do and now I wasn't sleeping well because of it. Harry's noticed, but he never asks how I am. In fact, we hardly talk at all. It's painful I tell you, I can't stand the silence. We have to work together to get the Horcruxes and yet, he won't talk to me.

I reached the village as it started to rain. Great, now where can I go? An old-looking brick building caught my eye and I turned to see that it was a pub. I shrugged to myself and walked inside.

It was crowded and very warm inside with a nice fire burning brightly in the fireplace. I took off my coat as I boiled in it and sat down at the bar. I looked around thinking that place was familiar. It looked like "The Three Broomsticks" pub from Hogsmeade where Harry, Ron and I used to go when we went to Hogsmeade together.

Ron…

I began to cry, placing my head down on the wooden bar. Thinking of his name just made my eyes water and soon enough, there would be a pool of my tears on the floor. I then heard a voice ask, "Do you want something, Miss?"

"Give me the strongest drink you have," I answered, lifting my head so I could speak clearly.

The barman looked at me strangely before handing me a shot of tequila. "Leave the bottle," I instructed, grabbing the bottle from his hand.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Are you sure, Miss?" I nodded in reply. "If you're insist." I handed him some Muggle money I had and he walked away as I drowned another shot down…

"Wake up, Granger."

I groaned and thrashed around, slapping a hand to my head. Why was it hurting so much? And why was I lying down? I reached my hand out to grab onto the bar to pull myself up when I felt a muscular arm next to me. WHAT?

I finally opened my eyes and saw a familiar pale boy with white blonde hair smirking at me. I screamed and backed away from him.

"Okay, now you're awake," he said in a sarcastic manner.

"Malfoy, what the hell?" I shrieked, seeing that he didn't have a shirt on…or any pants. I looked under the sheet and saw that I wasn't wearing anything either. Oh no…

"Did we just –" I stuttered, trying to grasp what had just happened. "Did you –"

"Yes, Granger, whatever you think happened, it did," he said, with no expression on his face.

"You sick bastard!" I screamed, trying to gather up my clothes "It's bad enough you took advantage of me when I was drunk and had no idea what I was doing, but for you to take my virginity when I was saving it for someone special! That is just so low!"

"Who were you saving yourself for? Weasley?"

Anger unlike what I had felt before rushed up inside of me and before I knew what I was doing, I leaned over and punched Malfoy squarely in the face. The blow shocked him and he fell out of bed. I quickly got up and pulled on my jeans and slipped my t-shirt over my bra.

"Don't you dare speak of this, Malfoy," I snarled, pointing my wand at him as I backed towards the door and trying not to look directly at him as he wasn't dressed. "If you mention this, I swear it will be the death of you."

"I wasn't going to tell anyone anyway," he replied, without the slightest sneer in his voice.

"Thanks for nothing, Malfoy," I spat, with a disgusted look on my face. I then turned round and hurried out the door.

I ran out of the pub and out in the open air, seeing it was nearly dawn now. Oh Merlin, I had been out for hours! Harry will be worried sick!

I ran back to the tent and collapsed once I reached my bed. I looked over and saw that Harry was still asleep. Had he been like that the whole time?

He slowly opened his eyes and saw me lying there. "Oh, hey Hermione," he said, smiling slightly at me. His smile faded when he saw I had tears in my eyes. "You're thinking of him, aren't you?"

I knew he didn't mean Malfoy, but even so, I started crying. Harry got up from his bed and lied next to me, wrapping a comforting arm round my shoulder.

"Don't worry; it's going to be alright. I'm here for you," he whispered.

I sobbed harder. He was so far from the truth. It was not going to be alright. I had just been raped by my worst enemy, Ron was gone and me and Harry were in danger from the Death Eaters as we search for the Horcruxes.

Oh no! What if Malfoy tells Voldemort he saw me in a Muggle pub? He is practically a Death Eater after all…

I should have never left the tent…

End of Flashback

I cried as I remembered that awful night. I never told Harry that Malfoy raped me the night I sneaked away until the war ended and I discovered I was pregnant with Abigail. I really considered abortion, but I couldn't kill a child even if its father was Malfoy. A child of mine deserved to live no matter how awful the circumstances were of me getting pregnant in the first place. Besides, I was too far along to be having an abortion. I was six months pregnant when I found out.

I never told Malfoy that he was the father. I didn't want him to be a part of Abigail's life. He would set a bad example for her and would probably take her away from me.

But I had to tell someone. So I told Harry and Ron, hoping they wouldn't go mad at me. I told Ron because we had become a couple before I found out I was expecting and I thought he could raise it as if it was his own. I was wrong.

At first, he thought Harry was the father and said he wouldn't mind that it was Harry. But when I told him it was Malfoy, he flew off the handle and told me I was mad to keep the baby and said there was no way he was raising it as if it was his own. He wanted me to terminate the pregnancy, but I refused. He then said it wasn't going to work out for us if I decided to keep the baby and left me. Harry was mad and decided to side with Ron.

I hadn't seen them since.

I looked over at the picture of me and my two best friends at the end of first year which stood on my bedside table. Tears formed in my eyes as I looked at it. That seemed so long ago. I can't believe they didn't stick by me and help me raise Abigail. I tried to find my parents before I had Abigail, but then she was born in July which wasn't long after the war finished and I haven't had time to look for them since.

Don't get me wrong though, I love my daughter. At times she acts a little like Malfoy; being a bit prejudiced against Muggles even though she befriends them and watches TV a lot which certainly is a Muggle item. But most of the time, she's a sweet, kind girl who cheers me up just by seeing her, likes to talk, play games and loves to read books as much as I do. I always wanted a daughter who liked to read.

I looked over at the next photo frame which was nearest to the bed. It had a picture of me and Abigail when she was about seven years old and we were sliding down a slide. The laughter was clearly shown on our faces as our hair whipped behind us. It was a still picture though. There was another one next to it taken when Abigail was four. She was on a swing and I was pushing her gently. That one moved and you could see Abigail laughing her cute little laugh as I pushed her higher and higher.

As I looked at these pictures I wondered if Malfoy would have even cared that Abigail existed. Probably not, I decided. He would be mortified that the mother of his first child was a Mudblood. He wouldn't want anything to do with me…especially since he was now Minister for Magic.

Now that's a shocker. Draco Malfoy, Minister for Magic? Impossible, I tell you. I thought most of the wizardry world hated him because his father was a Death Eater. Maybe I was wrong then. To me, it doesn't count him being all nasty to me throughout the years even if he was good now.

A small voice at the back of my head didn't agree with that statement though. It was saying something else, but I wasn't trying to listen to that voice.

I shook my head and shifted myself in my bed so that I was comfortable. Fatigue soon took over and I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning to hear the TV blasting from the lounge room/family room and Abigail's laughter. I groaned and looked at the clock on my bedside table. Oh no, it was already 7:45am! I had to be at work in an hour and I had to take Abigail to school in half an hour. I quickly got out of bed and hurried into the shower.

As I washed myself I scowled for again not waking up on time. I can't believe I didn't hear my alarm go off, I always hear my alarm. Maybe I was just too tired and in such a deep sleep that I didn't hear it.

But that's the problem, why am I so tired? At first I thought it was work, but I don't think it is. I've already cut back my hours and go to bed early. Heck; I went to bed at nine-thirty last night and usually I'm up till eleven on Sundays doing people's tax. But I slept in this morning. This hasn't got anything to do with work.

As I dried myself I looked in the mirror and saw that I was pale indeed. I was paler than Abigail, paler than yesterday and that's a worry. My face was literally like a ghost and was a light grey in colour. That's not good. Abigail was right, maybe I am sick. I should make an appointment for the doctor, just in case.

I quickly got dressed and did my hair before leaving my bathroom. I then grabbed my mobile and rang the local doctors. I didn't want to ring from the kitchen as Abigail would hear me and I didn't want to make her worry and all.

"Selman and Glades Medical Centre, how may I help you?"

"Um, hi, can I make an appointment for twelve-thirty?" I asked, hoping to go during lunch break. That was the only time I was free as I don't want to leave Abigail alone all afternoon.

"Yes, there is a spare spot for twelve-thirty with Dr. Noulton. Do you want to confirm that?"

"Yes," I answered, making a mental note in my head to write it down later. "Thank you." I hung up and walked out into the kitchen.

Abigail was sitting on her red bean-bag watching 'The Simpsons' again. She had her back to me and fiddled with her hair as she watched the TV. I quietly got myself some toast and a cup of coffee knowing if I made a lot of noise, she wouldn't be too happy.

"You finally got out of bed," I heard her suddenly say. I stepped out of the kitchen to see her still watching the TV with her back to me.

"I slept in again," I said, leaning against the bench as I drank my coffee. "I'm surprised to see you up early."

"I had some homework I didn't finish," Abigail answered, not turning around. "Then I finished it and got ready for school. My bag's packed." She pointed to her school bag sitting by the door. "And you hadn't woken up yet so I thought I would watch TV while I wait."

"The TV woke me up actually," I said, taking a bite of toast. "Why was it so loud?"

Abigail shrugged. "I don't know. It was like that for awhile, but I fixed it."

"Have you had breakfast and brushed your teeth, Abigail?"

"Yes. That was part of getting ready for school." She paused the TV and turned round to look at me. "Are you ready yet?"

"Almost," I answered, putting my plate down. "I'll be ready in five minutes."

"Okay." She turned back around and pressed 'play' on the remote. I finished my coffee and cleaned it with a wave of my wand before getting the things I needed for the day.

"Come through, Miss Granger," a young woman said, stepping aside.

I rose from my chair and followed her out of the waiting room and down the hallway towards another room. I stepped inside before her and seat down in front of her desk.

"Now, Miss Granger, what seems to be the problem?" Dr Noulton asked, sitting down behind the desk and looking at me through her glasses.

"Well lately," I began nervously, "I've been feeling really tired and run down easily and I've been really pale. I've also had some pain in the back of my knee, the joint in other words. I also noticed just before I got here that I banged into a desk at work, just a little nudge and I got this bruise." I pulled the sleeve on my arm back to show the bruise I had got when I banged into the table.

She examined it and looked worried. "I think you will need to take a blood test," she said, writing something down on a piece of paper.

"A – a blood test?" I asked, frightened as to why I needed to get one. "Why?"

Dr Noulton sighed. "I really can't say this for sure as it's not really in my place, but it's a possibility…" she trailed off, looking like she couldn't go on.

"What's a possibility?" I asked, trembling slightly.

She looked up at me with a sad expression on her face. "I'm sorry to tell you, Miss Granger, but I think you've got cancer."

I sat there in shock, not knowing what to think as I felt all the colour I had drain out of me. I have cancer? How could that have happened? What type?

"What type?" I asked, pushing my hair back.

"Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia," she said. "It's a cancer that happens as a result of a lack of blood cells, that's why you feel so down all the time. Of course, you have to get a blood test to confirm this so I suggest you get to a hospital straight away. The sooner you start the treatment, the more chance that you'll survive."

"Survive?" I whispered, frightened. "What…am I dying?"

"I don't know," Dr Noulton answered with a shake of her head. "You don't look too good, that's why you should get yourself to a hospital."

"What about my daughter? My job?"

"You'll have to take sick leave, I'm afraid," said Dr Noulton. "And as for your daughter…you have to let her know what's going on so she doesn't feel like she's in the dark. And also in case…something bad happens."

I felt tears grow in my eyes and put my head down so the doctor couldn't see me crying.

"Do you want some tissues?" she asked, kindly holding out the box.

I took a tissue and blew my nose while also sobbing into it. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I'm possibly dying from cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia to be exact) and if I die, Abigail will be all alone. I can't tell Abigail what's going on, she's too young.

I'm going to get through this and live. I can't die without seeing my daughter grow up and I certainly don't want to see her in Malfoy's care, that's for sure.

No matter what happens, Malfoy would never take care of Abigail.

Author's note: Sorry for the sad chapter. Just so you know, I had cancer myself when I was little, the same type Hermione might have. I'm lucky to have survived but many people don't and I know a couple of friends who have died from cancer. It's a really sad thing to go through, for both patients and their families.

I'll update as soon as I can. Please review!