Chapter 6

Back at Hogwarts, Draco found himself unable to concentrate as he sat in the library working on his homework.

All he could think about was Ginny Weasley.

He missed the old days when he could just write off the youngest Weasley as a mudblood lover, but lately, Draco had been finding him self more and more interested in her.

Ginny had a fire in her that drew Draco in and he often fantasized about the two of them together.

It was entirely unrealistic, of course. Ginny would never give him the time of day, let alone go out with him on a date.

While Draco had been putting forth more effort to be charming and a gentleman, he wanted to do something big to impress Ginny. Something extravagant that would prove his intentions.

He considered giving her family a fair portion of the gold in his personal vault, but that might seem like he was trying to buy her affections.

Best to start small, probably. An evening picnic by the lake would be ideal if it wasn't so cold. But maybe there was a way around that problem.

Packing up his things, Draco headed up to the 6th floor and walked up to a section of wall as a door appeared, Stepping inside the Room of Requirement, Draco smiled at the indoor garden that blossomed before him. There was honeysuckle and lilac around the edge of the room and the scents perfumed the air, mingling with the aroma coming from the apple and orange trees nearby.

It was perfect and Draco smiled as he thought about the rest of the plan.

xxxxxxx

Miss Weasley,

Would you give me the pleasure of your company tonight? Meet me on the 6th floor at sunset.

D.M.

Ginny pocketed the note a first year Hufflepuff had given her that afternoon at lunch and despite the protests her brain screamed at her, she smiled. It was insane! Draco Malfoy had done nothing but trash her family from day one! And yet lately, Draco Malfoy had been the perfect gentleman. He'd been bordering on nice, even, and not just to her, but to her family and Hermione as well. Hell, Draco had even donated blood twice for Harry's transfusions.

Something had changed in Draco recently, and Ginny longed to find out if this was genuine, or simply a ruse.

xx

Thinking on the note all day as she finished her class assignments, Ginny wondered if she should meet Draco. If her brothers found out that he was attempting to court her, they'd tear him limb from limb.

Sitting in the Great Hall at lunch lunch, Ginny looked over at the Slytherin table and noticed Draco watching her. Glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to her, she gave him a brief nod and a smile.

"Harry, can I go over some things with you?" Hermione asked as she entered Harry's suite.

Harry had returned from London that morning since he had a chemo treatment later in the day and had wanted to be in his suite, rather than at the clinic in London.

Hermione had always tried to give Harry some space when he was having his treatments, but ever since finding out about Harry's illness, she'd been working overtime in the library researching everything she could about her best friend's cancer.

As she went up to Harry, Hermione noticed that he was still hooked up the IVs hanging from the stand by the bed. There were a few books scattered about the bed and Harry was sitting up and writing something down on a roll of parchment.

Looking up from his Potions essay, Harry saw that Hermione had a notebook with her and there were several papers tucked hastily inside. "What's that?" Harry asked, pointing his quill at the notebook before moving his books so that Hermione could sit down.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed, noting with dismay that even Harry's eyebrows were gone along with all of his unruly black hair. "I've been doing some research, Harry. On the type of cancer you have, among other things. I thought you'd want to know what I found."

Harry hesitated a bit. Part of him did want to know, but on the other hand, all he really needed to know was that he had a life-threatening disease and the drugs he was being given to make him better made his feel sicker than he'd ever been in his life. "So what did you find out?"

"Okay," Hermione replied, pulling out the papers first and leafing through them. "Specifically, you have bone cancer. It's one of the more serious cancers because it can spread through the bone marrow. When that happens, the disease is usually treated with a bone marrow transplant. But sometimes, once the marrow cells are affected, the cancer becomes terminal."

"What about me?" Harry asked, wondering how far ingrained the tumor in his leg had been.

Hermione looked slightly relieved, but still grim as she withdrew a page from the notebook and handed it to Harry. "Primary bone cancer means that the tumor in your leg was the root of your disease. And the specific type you have is very rare." Handing over another page, she went on. "I talked to Dr. Rion and she told me that the tumor that was in your leg what's called a stage 11B localized Ewing's Sarcoma with a rating of G3 T2 M0 N0." Seeing Harry's perplexed look Hermione explained, "That means that the tumor in your leg was confined to the bone and larger than 8 cm. It was also high grade which has to do with how likely the tumor cells are to grow and spread."

"Okay…" Harry said, slowly, as he tried to get things straight. "So… the tumor was just in my leg. It hadn't spread to anywhere else… but it was fast growing and likely to spread?" He felt his stomach turn at the thought of what might have happened if the accident hadn't happened. The cancer might have spread. He might even have been dead by now.

Hermione nodded as she handed over the rest of her research for Harry to peruse at his leisure at a later time. "Exactly. That's the basics of what I was able to learn on the muggle medicine side of things."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed. "After you told me about the cancer and the doctors amputating your leg, I wondered why a healer couldn't just vanish the bones in your leg and regrow them." Taking the notebook back, she through it, stopping a one page and looked at what she'd written down. "If they'd done that, it would have removed your bones but not the sarcoma."

"So even when the bones grew back the tumor would still be there," Harry finished. "Okay… what about vanishing the tumor?"

"Magic can alter healthy cells," Hermione explained. "But once those cells are damaged they can't respond to magical influence. Also, your own magic was preventing regrowth of your leg after the amputation. It's a protection, in case regrowing your leg also regrew the tumor."

Harry leaned back, taking in what he'd just been told. But the one question he really wanted to know the answer to was also the one he didn't want to ask. But finally, he asked, "Um… how… how long have I had this do you reckon?"

Hermione gave a small shrug. "Not sure, Harry. I sent a letter to Dr. Walden asking about that, but he hasn't written back yet. Harry… are you okay?"

Harry shrugged, his stomach turned and his head was spinning a bit—he wasn't sure if it was being overwhelmed or if it was just the side affects of the chemo. "I don't know. I-I just never imagined that this could happen to me."

Anna came in from the Gryffindor Common Room and smiled when she saw Hermione. "Miss Granger. Finally out of the library, I see." Catching the teenager's look, Anna smiled. "Professor McGonagall told me your research marathon."

"I was just telling Harry what I'd found out," Hermione said as Anna checked Harry's central line and the flow on the IV.

"Any questions about any of it?" Anna asked, looking at Harry.

"Just one," Harry replied. "How long have I had cancer?"

Anna let out a long breath. She'd been waiting for Harry to ask the question ever since she'd met him. "Based on what I've seen of your test results… I'd say the cancer has been in your system for a little over a year. Based on the size of the tumor and given that it was grade G3—Uh, you know what that means?" When Harry nodded Anna went on. "I'd say about 5 months ago was when the tumor started to develop."

"Harry?" Hermione said, gently, when she noticed the way he'd tensed. "What is it?"

"If Petunia had even taken me in for a basic physical," Harry replied, coolly. "I wouldn't have had to go through all this."

Anna sighed. "Harry, it's not that simple."

"I lost my leg! I'm taking medications against a disease that could kill me!" Harry shouted.

"Harry, you have every right to be angry at your aunt…" Anna said, trying to calm the teenager down.

"You bloody bet I'm angry!" Harry snapped. "She could have kept this from happening!" Wiping away angry tears he looked away as Petunia came in. "Leave me alone."

"Harry, if Vernon had found out you were sick, he would have thrown you out," Petunia started, walking towards her nephew. "I know I should have taken better care of you." Hermione stood up and Petunia took her place, putting a gentle hand on Harry's arm. "And I know you hate me for what I've done to you. And… if you want me to leave you alone… I will."

Harry sniffed and after a moment he looked at her. He didn't know what he wanted anymore, other than wanting not to be sick. But before he could say anything, he felt his stomach churn and he quickly pointed to the trash bin by the bed.

Petunia grabbed it and held it in front of Harry as he vomited. Moving so she was sitting closer to Harry, she slowly rubbed her nephew's back, murmuring soothingly.

When Ginny arrived at the Room of Requirement that evening, she found the room's ceiling gone to be replaced by the open sky which was a brilliant myriad of different shades of pinks, blues, purples and oranges. The rest of the room was the most beautiful garden she'd ever seen and she removed her shoes and socks and stepped inside, feeling the grass beneath her feet.

Draco stood near a blanket spread out on the grass and in the center was a basket draped with a cloth napkin. "Thank you for joining me, Miss Weasley," Draco said, smiling as he held out a hand to his date.

Ginny blushed as she took his hand and let him lead her to the blanket. "What is this?" Ginny asked, curiously, as they both sat down.

With a flourish, Draco whipped the napkin off the basket revealing… "Just a little picnic spread," he said, pulling out a bottle of sparkling apple juice and two wineglasses along with sliced prosciutto, slices of pear, cheeses, pitted olives and an incredible spread of other Italian delights.

"'Little spread'?" Ginny repeated, eyes wide as Draco poured the sparkling juice and handed her a glass. "Why are you doing this?" Seeing something on the bottom she smiled. "Dark chocolate truffles? How did you…?"

"That's why I did this, Miss Weasley," Draco said, as he held up his glass in a toast. "Because I like seeing you smile."

"You hate my family," Ginny said, simply, as she clinked her glass with Draco's.

"Perhaps," Draco replied, wrapping a slice of pear in the prosciutto. "I never gave you a chance." Holding out the pear, he waited till Ginny opened her mouth before feeding her the fruit and ham.

"Oh, my…" Ginny said, her mouth full. The sweet, juicy pear was the perfect counter to the salty, earthy ham.

"I have my own private vault at Gringotts," Draco said, as he popped a pitted olive into Ginny's mouth. "Even if I denounce my family name the money is mine." Taking her hand and looking into her eyes Draco went on. "You'd have everything you ever wanted. There's nothing I couldn't give you, and nothing I would deny you."

"That still doesn't change the fact that you've been against my family for years," Ginny replied, dully. "It doesn't change all the times you've called Hermione a mudblood." Looking away, she added, "And it doesn't change the fact that our parents would kill us if we were together."

Draco sighed. How to do this right? "I'll admit I've been a bastard over the years. But contrary to what you might think, I am capable of recognizing that there are some exceptional muggleborn and half-blood witches and wizards out there."

"Oh, really?" Ginny replied, her eyes narrowed with doubt. "Like who?"

Draco smirked and leaned back ever so slightly. "Professor Snape, for example. I happen to know he's a half-blood. Of course, if you'd prefer an example from your own house, there's always Hermione Granger.

Ginny didn't quite know what to say to that and so she just continued to nibble from the picnic spread. She was surprised that Draco considered Hermione to be an exceptional witch. But remembering what Harry, Ron, and Hermione had told her about Draco sniveling in fear as Hermione had her wand on him, Ginny realized that Draco was probably thinking of all the things she could to do to him.

But even as she considered the proposition of being with Draco Malfoy, she knew that it was a hopeless dream. "They'd never accept us," Ginny replied. "My family would never accept you, no matter what you did. And your father… What would he do if he found out?"

"He doesn't matter to me any more than I matter to him. To my father, I'm just an heir. You, Genevra Weasley, matter to me," Draco said, taking both Ginny's hands in his.

In his eyes, Ginny saw no deceit or trap. Just the same longing and desire she felt when she and Draco touched. She'd always dreamed of what it would be like to live like a Malfoy. People would respect her… she'd have every luxury in the world… Her parents would have everything they deserved…

As Draco locked eyes with Ginny, he envied what she had. Brothers who would kill and/or die to keep her safe. Parents who loved her deeply and wanted the best for her… and real friends who would support her through anything. What would that be like? To find wealth and riches in more than gold and silver coins? To be respected for who you were, rather than because of how much gold you had or what your bloodlines were?

"Are we… really doing this?" Ginny asked, leaning towards Draco. She wasn't sure she was ready to kiss him, yet, but she couldn't deny that she was considering the notion.

"If you're willing to give me a chance," Draco replied. "I promise… I won't disappoint you."

Entering Gryffindor Tower, Dumbledore was slightly surprised to find Harry sitting on a sofa in the Common Room with Hermione Granger as the two looked over a notebook and some papers. "Harry," the headmaster said, cheerfully in greeting. "I am surprised to see you up and about."

"Uh, Dr. Rion thought it would be good for Harry to get out of his room for a little while he wasn't attached to an IV," Hermione explained.

Nodding, Dumbledore replied, "Quite understandable. Miss Granger, do you mind giving Harry and I a few moments?"

Hermione waited until she saw Harry's nod before getting up and heading out of the Common Room. She wondered what the Headmaster had wanted to discuss.

"If you're here to talk to me about Aunt Petunia," Harry said, after Dumbledore sat down in a nearby armchair. "I'm not forgiving her. I haven't forgiven her for anything she's done."

"And yet you have allowed her to be with you through your situation," Dumbledore said, lightly. "

"She's the only family I have," Harry replied.

"Molly Weasley looks at you sees another son," said Dumbledore. "You have friends, a girlfriend…"

"Only blood family then," Harry amended. "She asked me to give her a chance and I have. And… Even if I hate what she's done to me in the past… and the fact that because of her negligent actions I am now undergoing chemotherapy for cancer… I'm giving her a chance now. To prove that you didn't make a mistake when you left me on her doorstep."

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair. "Harry, I have always only tried to do what I thought was best. I thought you would be safer in the muggle world."

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now," Harry said, shortly as he wondered when Dumbledore would get to the point.

"I suppose not," Dumbledore replied. "However, I did not come here to discuss your aunt."

Finding that curious, Harry asked, "Then what did you want?" Dumbledore's look was oddly amused and Harry could only guess as to why.

"Draco Malfoy is waiting outside. For some reason he did not share he wishes to speak to you," Dumbledore said, simply. He'd been curious when the Slytherin student had approached him and even more so after adding that he wanted to talk to Harry.

"Malfoy?" Harry repeated, confused. The idea was… odd, to say the least. "Er…Okay. I… guess…"

Dumbledore smiled as he stood up and went to the portrait hole and opened it. "Mr. Malfoy…"

Draco came in and Harry's jaw dropped as he saw that he was holding hands with Ginny. Not holding hands like Ginny was dragging him into the room, but rather like the two were a couple.

"Harry?" Ginny said, seeing her friend's shocked face. In a hesitant voice, she asked, "Can we talk?"

"You're dating him?" Harry exclaimed in disbelief. "I take it Ron doesn't know about this." The couple sat down and Harry just stared at them for a moment. A thousand questions were running though his head but the first one that came out was, "How did this happen?"

"I… It was in the hallway," Ginny said, looking slightly abashed. "The first day of classes. I… got a bit of payback for Malfoy tripping you. It just kind of snowballed from there."

"Are you mental?" Harry shouted. "It's Malfoy!" Was Ginny that desperate to be rich that she would give herself to the one person who had done nothing but insult and degrade her family from day one? Or was this some twisted attempt to make Harry jealous?

"Harry, perhaps you could let Miss Weasley and Mr. Malfoy explain themselves?" Dumbledore suggested, still smiling. He'd always hoped that one day two students could bridge the gap between Slytherin and Gryffindor. But who would ever have thought that the students in question would be a Weasley and a Malfoy?

"Not like I really have a choice," Harry grumbled. Sure, he'd listen to what Malfoy would say, but until he saw proof, Harry knew it was all just talk.

"I know I hardly deserve a chance," Draco said, trying to seem earnest. "But I've found that I enjoy Miss Weasley's company. She has a wonderful smile when you can coax it out of her and a fire that is simply intoxicating."

Harry sighed, not believing what he was hearing. "Oh, and she's just forgiven you for all the times you've made fun of her family?" He said, looking sharply at Malfoy. Harry may be sick, but he could still give the Slytherin student a decent beating.

"I believe you've given your aunt a second chance, despite her treatment of you," Draco countered, even though he knew it would do little good.

"If I had both legs, I'd kick your arse for that," Harry replied, glaring. Although he did find it amusing that Malfoy moved his chair back a bit to he was out of Harry's striking range.

"Harry, Draco has been nothing short of a gentleman," Ginny protested. "I can't even believe I'm saying it, but I'm happy."

"Fine," Harry said, shortly. "But I guarantee that Ron won't like it." Harry would let it go for now. But he would be there when Malfoy showed his true colors. If only to see Draco Malfoy crying for his mother and father when Ginny got through with him.

xxxxxx

His textbooks spread out around him on the bed, Harry barely noticed the door to his suite opening later that evening. He'd actually managed to keep a bit of dinner down and now he was finishing his assignments for Monday.

"Harry?"

"What? Oh. Luna…" Harry finished the last few lines of his essay for Potions before gathering his things together. "You won't believe what happened earlier. I just found out Ginny's dating—"

"Draco Malfoy," Luna finished as she came into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed, moving Harry's books to the night table nearby. "Yes, she just told me."

"I don't get it," Harry said, shaking his head. He'd tried for the past few hours to wrap his head around Ginny and Malfoy dating, but it still didn't make any sense. "Ginny's such a reasonable person. How could she fall for Malfoy?"

"Some of the Ravenclaws wonder how someone as levelheaded as you could fall for me," Luna replied, serenely as she gently stroked Harry's cheek. "Love just is."

"I guess," Harry said as someone knocked outside his suite. "Come in!"

The wall vanished and the tapestry moved aside allowing Anna Rion to come in. "It's time again, Harry."

Harry sighed. "Yeah… Figured you'd be here soon." He watched Anna connect the new IV to his central line and even though he knew that this was just for the anti-anemia drugs and nutritional supplement potions, he hated that lately he spent almost every day lying in bed, hooked up to an IV. Thinking on Ginny's situation, he looked at Anna who was adjusting the IV flow. "Can… can you ask Mrs. Weasley to come here?" Harry asked. "I- I know Petunia's staying in Hogsmeade but…"

"Sure, Harry. Just give me a minute." Anna nodded and gave him a gentle shoulder squeeze before leaving.

"You're still awake?" Molly Weasley said when she entered Harry's bedroom and saw him sitting up in bed reading The Standard Book of Spells Grade 5. Looking at the clock on the wall she added. "It's almost midnight."

"Insomnia," Harry said, shrugging. "Anna said it's a normal effect from the chemo. It's sort of an odd change from being so tired all the time."

"Harry?" Molly said, sitting on Harry's bed. "Why did you want me to come? Are you okay? You're not getting worse, are you?"

Harry found it interesting that Mrs. Weasley immediately thought of the worst case scenario and thinking of the real reason he needed to talk to her, he sighed. "It's nothing to do with me, Mrs. Weasley. It's Ginny. She's done something… questionable."

"What do you mean?" Molly asked, concerned. "Is she okay?"

"I don't know," Harry said, honestly. "It… has to do with Draco Malfoy. She's dating him."

Molly smiled, feeling relieved that Harry already knew about it. She's been wondering how to break the news since Harry thought of her daughter as a sister. "Harry… Ginny told me already."

Harry sat up straighter, stunned by this news. "And you're okay with that? After all he's done and everything he's said?"

Molly patted Harry's arm, being careful of the additional IV in the crook of his arm. "I won't deny I was unhappy at the news. I told Ginny I would forbid her from seeing Draco. And then he did something none of us could have imagined…"

"Like what?" Harry asked, wondering what the self-proclaimed Slytherin Prince could have possibly have done to persuade Mrs. Weasley.

"Draco Malfoy had 200,000 galleons transferred to our family vault," Molly replied. "Enough to pay for Ron and Ginny's education… and nearly everything else we've ever dreamed of." Seeing Harry's face she added, "Part of me knows we shouldn't keep the money, but…"

"It's Draco Malfoy," Harry protested. "He's giving you a bloody payoff!"

"If he has an agenda," Molly replied. "I can't figure it out. And Malfoy claimed that the gold was a gift—no strings attached."

"And you just believed him?" Harry asked, shocked by that. But thinking of earlier that day, he said, "Malfoy said he wanted to court Ginny."

Molly's eyes widened slightly at Harry's phrasing. In the wizarding world, there was a distinct different between dating and courting. "If Malfoy's genuinely courting Ginny then we'll never figure out what he's really up to. He'll have all the charm going and he'll lavish her with gifts…"

"Ginny's smart, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, trying to allay her fears, even though he shared them. "If Malfoy tries anything, I'm sure she'll make sure he regrets it."

"I'll never understand how you do it, Harry," Molly said, smiling. "Even faced with your own problems you put others first."