Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my friends Lu Mezenga, who encouraged me to write it and Stefanie, who was the inspiration for my OC. I own anything, all rights go to J.K. Rolling. Read it, enjoy it and review it! :)
Chapter 6: Bad News
In the next morning, Hermione was up a bit before the sunrise. She had spent the night on the couch in her practice, so she didn't have a good night and her back was hurting. At least she wasn't wearing the dress of the night before. She went to the cafeteria to get some coffee, when she met Max sitting on a table with a sandwich resting in front of him. Hermione wasn't sure if she should talk to him or just ignore him, but he called her and she just walked to his table.
"Good morning, Hermione. How is your patient?" he asked politely with a smile.
"Good morning. He's fine, but I'm waiting for the results of the exams."
"Good, but isn't it today your day off?"
"Yes, but I'm staying to take care of my patient. I want to do it myself."
"Ok." He smiled and bit his sandwich.
"Look, Max, I'm sorry about yesterday. I really didn't mean to…"
"Hey!" he interrupted her gently. "Didn't I say to stop apologizing? I understand why you left and there are plenty of weekends to go out again. I'm sure that in a least one of them you won't be working."
"Sure," she smiled. "See you around."
He smiled again and she left. Hermione passed by the exams lab to get Scorpius's results and she was hoping it would be nothing. He was such a sweet kid and he didn't deserve to suffer of any disease, being Draco Malfoy's son was sin enough for the poor boy. However, none of the results were ready. Hermione sighed and decided to visit Scorpius. She got to the room, while the little boy was waking up his father. Draco got up and looked at Hermione a bit sleepy.
"Hello Scorpius, how are you feeling?" she asked ignoring Draco.
"Hi, . I'm fine, hungry, but fine. I already called the nurse, she's bringing me food." He smiled.
"Good and you can call me Hermione. I'm still waiting for the results, so you'll have plenty of time to eat your breakfast."
Hermione smiled and a nurse entered the room with a tray. While Scorpius ate, Draco dragged Hermione out of the room.
"Granger, look, about last night, I'm sorry ok? I didn't mean much of those words. I've been trying to change my behavior since the war and sometimes I have a relapse. Could you please forgive me?"
"Malfoy, I don't care if you think you're better or not. If you trust me enough to ask me to treat your son, you'll have to trust my decisions. I'm the doctor. I know what I'm doing."
"Ok, I'm sorry. I'll trust you. Just tell me, do you know what's wrong with him?"
"Not yet, but soon I'll have the diagnostic. Don't worry."
Draco nodded and suddenly hugged her.
"Thank you, Granger."
"Hey!" she said making him let go of her. "What's up with those hugs? Did you forget who I am? Do that once more and I'll hex you into next week."
"It's just a hug, Granger. Why does it bother you? Are you afraid you can't resist my charm?"
"You wish, Malfoy. I'll come back when I have the results."
Hermione left shaking her head. The last thing she wanted was to get close to Draco and fall into his charm not even in dreams. She was walking through a hall when Lucy, the little girl with leukemia, passed by her.
"Lucy!" Hermione called. What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Hermione. I'm just walking around. I woke up earlier today and I was bored in bed waiting for breakfast."
"You know you can't do that. If Dr. Collins catches you walking around, he'll get mad. Come on, let's go back."
"Can't you take me somewhere else? Today is visiting day. I don't want to be there," Lucy looked down.
Hermione kneeled in front of her and stroke her hair.
"Why? What happened, dear?"
The little girl threw her arms around Hermione's neck and started to cry.
"It's my mom. She wrote me saying she's not coming again. It's been a month since she came for the last time. I miss her, Hermione."
"I know, sweetheart. Look at me," Hermione held Lucy's face between her hands and wiped the tears. "I'll find a way to talk to your mom. I'll ask her to come during the week, ok?" Lucy nodded. "Now, I want to see a big smile on this beautiful face, because I need your help. I have a new friend and I think he has never played video games."
"Never?"
"Never. He'll have to stay in hospital for a while. So what do you think about helping him to have a little bit of fun while he's here? Will you help me?"
Lucy nodded and she went with Hermione to Scorpius's room. He was talking to Draco and he smiled and he saw Hermione again.
"Hi Scorpius, this is Lucy and we would like to know if you want to come to the kids wing with us to play."
"Can I go, dad?"
"It's up to you. I think you should go."
"Is it true that you never played video game?" Lucy couldn't help asking.
"What's a video game?"
"Come on. I'll show you," she smiled.
Scorpius got out of bed and followed Lucy. Hermione and Draco went right behind them. The kids started playing video games while the adults watched them. They stayed there a bit more than a half an hour, when a nurse called Hermione to tell her that the results were ready.
"Take Lucy back to her room. I'll talk to her later," she said to the nurse and turned to Draco. "Go back to the room with you son. I'll get there in a moment."
Draco nodded and Hermione left. An hour later, Hermione showed up in Scorpius's room. Draco got up and looked at her anxiously.
"Granger, what do you know?" He asked.
"Well, I looked at the exams and I've come to the conclusion that Scorpius has an infection."
"Infection? What infection?" Draco asked.
"Let me finish, please, " Hermione looked at the little boy. "You have a fungal infection Scorpius. These funguses are in your lungs and they are eating your tissues. I don't want to scare you, but you need to know the truth and be brave. This infection can be dangerous, but we'll give you the right potions to heal you, ok?"
"I won't go home today, right?" he said a bit sad.
"No, I'm sorry. You'll stay here, but I saw you being friends with Lucy. You'll be able to play with her if you want to. You'll have to stay for at least three days, but I promise that you'll go home as soon as possible, ok?" Scorpius nodded. "Now, I need to talk to your father. We'll be outside the room. Call us if you need anything."
"Ok," Scorpius agreed.
Draco followed Hermione to the hall.
"Look, I need you to listen to me, but please don't freak out, ok?" she said.
"Just say it, Granger."
"I didn't want to say it, but there are no sweet words for this situation and I don't want him to worry too much. This fungal infection is way too dangerous to a child. This is serious and there is another complication."
"What is it?"
"His blood. The funguses are also destroying his white blood cells. His immune system is compromised. He'll need a blood transfusion. Otherwise, he'll lose his immune system. If this happens, his chances to get through the treatment will decrease significantly."
"Are you saying that my son might die?" Draco asked shocked.
"If we don't find a close relative with the same blood type as him within the next 24 hours, yes, he might die. The potion he has to take is too strong. His body won't be able to handle it without the blood transfusion. And the donor has to be a close relative."
"Can I be the donor?" he asked concerned.
"What's your blood type?"
"B positive."
"I'm sorry, Malfoy. Scorpius needs someone who's O positive. Do you know anyone genetically related to him that can donate him the blood?"
"I don't know. My father is dead. My mother is another blood type. I don't have any siblings, or aunts, or uncles, or cousins," he started talking fast.
"Malfoy! Stop! What about Astoria?" Hermione asked.
"What about her?"
"She's his mother. What's her blood type?"
"No! I don't want her back in our lives. Scorpius never met her. She'll be just another problem in our lives."
"Malfoy, what do you prefer? Deal with Astoria or bury your son? If she's the same blood type as him, she can save him. What's her blood type?"
"I think it's O positive too, but I'm not sure." He answered angrily.
"Good, do you know where she is? Can you contact her?"
"I'll try to get her here as soon as possible. How long did you say I have?"
"24 hours, Malfoy. The sooner, the better."
He nodded, but he seemed shaken. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. For now, Scorpius will take a potion to delay the infection. When we get the blood, we'll make the transfusion and he'll start the treatment. He'll be alright."
"Ok, I'll find a way to talk to Astoria. Do you think it's ok if I leave for an hour or two?"
"It's ok. I'll take him to play with other children for a while. Try to get back as soon as possible, Malfoy. You must be here for him."
"I'll come back with Astoria. I promise."
Hermione nodded and they both entered the room again.
"What happened?" Scorpius asked.
Draco explained he had to leave, but he didn't mention Astoria. Scorpius accepted, but he knew something was up. He knew Draco wouldn't leave him, but he didn't ask anything. Draco left and Hermione took him to the children's wing again. Scorpius met Lucy and he spent the rest of the morning with her and other children playing video games. Lucy didn't leave his side and it was like they knew each other for much longer than a few hours.
A/N: Surprise everyone! Tomorrow, here in Brazil, we celebrate a holiday, so as I'm celebrating I decided to give you guys a surprise. I hope you like this chapter and don't worry, 'cause on Friday there will another chapter too.
:)