((Sorry for the wait. Classes and work have kept me busy. I hope you like!))

Chapter 9::
Unfixable

Life had never been more complicated.

Draco Malfoy used to think that everything made sense. Sure, he used to be a bad guy who was up to his neck in money and had all the minions he could ever ask for. Granted, when the war ended his father was thrown into Azkaban and the majority of their money was confiscated. Not to mention the small fact of him having his wand taken away for a year and then having to return to Hogwarts—his own personal hell. Despite his punishments, though, he pretty much had his life on track. He would carry out the rest of his sentence; go back to Hogwarts and get back his wand. When Hogwarts was over, who knew? Perhaps he would get a job at the ministry, if they let him. For the next ten years or so he would live as a loner with all the luxuries he could get under his belt all on his own.

Where had that dream gone?

Now, sitting in the now empty Slytherin common room, he knew that those plans no longer mattered. Ever since he heard Hermione Granger say she had less than two years to live, nothing seemed to matter. Why that was, he wasn't sure. To be honest, he wasn't sure of anything anymore. Sitting by the fire, he felt the hot flames flick at his skin. Was the fire too hot? He didn't know… didn't care. His mind was still transfixed on the memory of the look in Hermione's eyes when she told him and McGonagall the terrible news. There was nothing there but sadness and surrender. The woman had actually given up. She saw no other way to survive, but to just die slowly while everyone watched her shrink away.

That infuriated him.

Out of every person he knew, she was the last person he would have expected to ever see give up. Hermione Granger was a fighter and fighters fight until the end. And yet, she wasn't. Suddenly, as he sat in the uncomfortable chair next to the Headmistress' desk, everything she had ever said to him made sense. He didn't understand the meaning behind the words, but he understood why she understood them. She was dying. Her life was about to be taken away and that gave her some insight. Oh, how Draco wished he understood as well. From the moment she cried in front of them both while divulging her deepest secret, Draco knew he was a goner. Women crying were one thing, but the fierce protectiveness he has been feeling for his former enemy was another entirely.

Now, three days and many thoughts later, Draco knew what he had to do. He had to stay away from the witch. It was bad enough to get involved with her, but it was worse to know something that even her closest friends didn't know. That gave them a connection; one that Draco didn't want. Oh yes, he knew what he had to do. He had to stay away from her. This was her battle.

Not his.

The cold pane of glass beneath her forehead kept the headaches at bay. Hermione knew it wouldn't last long, but it would be enough until the train arrived at the station. If she knew her parents—which she did—they would have some pain killers for her in the car. She would just have to make it until then. Sounds easy, doesn't it? It wasn't. When you put the loud train, a happy Ron and Harry, and a perky Ginny together in one compartment, it wasn't easy. Hermione realized that the moment she sat down with them.

"You excited for Christmas holiday, Hermione?" Ginny asked, sitting across from her as the boys played Exploding Snaps.

Hermione fought to smile, feeling the headache pound behind her eyes, "I am, in fact. My parents and I are going skiing. Should be fun!"

Ok, fine, it was a lie. But, at least it was just a little one. As a tradition, Hermione almost always went skiing with her parents around Christmas time. This year, though, she suspected they would be sitting at the house and sitting next to the fire. This might very well be her last Christmas. Her family was going to enjoy it. No fierce competitions like before, just pure and lovely family time. She really couldn't wait for that.

Ginny laughed as Ron managed to burn off one of Harry's eyebrows. "I wish you could come to the Burrow." She said between giggles.

"I know I'm sorry." Hermione gave a small smile as she leaned her head back against the glass.

Ron took the quiet moment to speak, "Yeah, Hermione. George is finally coming out of his moping phase. He will actually be attending this year. Though, mum warned us to not say Fred's name. The woman's bloody scared he'll crawl back into his hole."

Hermione hated it when Ron became and insensitive jerk. "He wasn't in a hole, Ronald. George was merely in the shop making new products. If you think about it, at least he was actually throwing himself into something and dealing with the pain on his own time. I respect him for that, myself. And I don't think saying Fred's name would be such a bad thing. It would show that you all still think about him and that you understand how George feels."

Ron didn't say anything to that. In fact, he barely acknowledged what she said at all. Sighing, Hermione looked back out at the moving fields. Ron has not changed since school started four months ago. He was still the pouting child he was then. Why couldn't he just accept and get over the fact that she didn't want him in that way? Why was that so hard for him to comprehend? They had been friends for many years. Why would something that trivial change him so badly?

Sensing her friend's sadness, Ginny moved to sit next to Hermione. "I'm sorry that Ron is being such a git."

Hermione just shrugged. "It's alright, I suppose. I'm just hoping that he'll get over his little temper tantrums and just move on already."

Ginny laughed lightly, "Hermione, you do know this is Ron we are talking about, right?"

In response, Hermione joined in on the laughter. "Good point, Ginny. You're certainly right about that."

"Mum, Dad!" Hermione ran the ten feet to her parents, throwing herself into their warm embrace.

"Oh, my dear Mimi!" Her mother said, tears filling her eyes. "I'm so happy that you are home."

"How are you feeling, Pumpkin?" Her father asked, pulling back to get a look at her pale face and dull eyes.

Hermione smiled. "I'm fine, really. Just a little tired and my head hurts, but that's it; nothing too major."

Her mother was immediately rummaging in her oversized purse. Hermione almost cried when she pulled out a small water bottle and a bottle of Aspirin. "Here, love. Take this."

Hermione cracked the tiniest of smiles. "You did come prepared."

"We just remembered what the doctors said." Her father said, wrapping his arm around her as she waved goodbye to her friends.

"The doctors said a lot of things, Dad. But, I'm fine and thank you for the Aspirin, Mum." She closed her eyes as her mother kissed her forehead. There was nothing compared to the wonderful smell of her mother's perfume. It was the same perfume she used to smell as a child; a safety blanket in stressful times.

As they walked out of the train station, Hermione felt her heart jump around. She had been so happy to see her parents, that she didn't pace herself. She immediately felt her legs shake slightly as she lost her breath. The exhaustion was coming more and more often, causing her to tire easily and lose the will to be active. Each time it happened, she would push herself on. If she slowed down, people would notice. That was simply a risk she was willing to take. After Draco Malfoy's reaction, she wasn't very sure she'd be able to tell anyone for a long time.

Malfoy's reaction had wounded Hermione somewhat. It wasn't exactly what he did; it was the way he did it. After she had divulged this horrid secret to keep him out of Azkaban, he walked away. Literally, that is. As soon as McGonagall reassured the Aurors and Minister that it was no act of foul play, he left the study without a backwards glance. What confused her most was the mere fact that he had seemed so caring when she told him. He had even held her hand; a small action that enabled her to pull herself together long enough to get the truth out.

Why, then, did he leave so quickly without a single word? Even now, over two months later, he never even looked at her when he could help it. Granted, she could still feel his gaze when she wasn't looking. But, the moment she turned her head to catch his eye he would look away. The only knowledge that left her feeling a little secure was that he hadn't told anyone. She got the feeling there wouldn't be anyone for him to tell, anyway. None of the Slytherins even seemed to like the guy anymore. But, still. Just knowing that there was a guy—a wildcard, as it would seem—out there who knew before any of her friends? Well, that made her nervous. Harry, Ron, and Ginny would kill her if they knew that.

"Sweetheart?" Her mother called from the front seat.

Hermione looked around, somewhat startled. How had they gotten into the car without her realizing it? And how was she buckled in? "Yes, Mum?"

"Are you feeling alright, Mimi?" Her mother's voice was full of concern, as her eyes shined a little more with unshed tears.

Putting on a brave face and a bright smile, Hermione nodded her head. "I'm perfectly fine, Mum. Just lost my train of thought there for a bit."

Her father chuckled warmly, "You've been lost in your own world since we left the station. We thought we were bringing home a zombie instead of our only daughter."

Hermione heard the hidden depths beneath her parents' laughter. They were sad, hurt even. It pained them to joke about her being their only daughter. It would just remind them of just what they were losing. They weren't just losing a child. They were losing their only child. She was all they had; she meant the world to them. When she was gone, there would be no more world for them. All that would be left is a void. A void, Hermione knew, she would have to convince them to fill once she passed on.

As the car pulled up to their grand home on the lake, Hermione smiled as she got out of the car. There was truly no place like home.

"Harry?" Ginny asked, playing with the zipper on her jumper.

Harry, who was sitting next to her in the Weasley Garden, noticed her thoughtful expression. "Yes, love?"

Ginny wasn't sure if she was overreacting or not. However, that didn't stop her from dwelling for the last few hours. "Have you noticed anything off about Hermione lately?"

Staring out across the garden to the sunset, he thought to himself. He, in fact, had noticed something strange about his best friend. Not only was she quieter then she used to be, but she didn't even go to the library anymore; not when she didn't have to, that is. If there was anything he thought he knew about Hermione, it was the fact that she practically lived in the library. It was by far her favorite place to go. So, her not going at all was a big deal.

"Yes, now that you mention it, I have." Suddenly, he found himself feeling guilty for not noticing before.

Ginny nodded. It was a relief that she wasn't the only one that has noticed her usually full of life friend turned into a girl who was just getting by. "Good. I've been noticing for a while, but I can't bring myself to say anything. For some reason I don't understand, I get the feeling that if I ask she'll break."

Harry nodded as he listened. The whole time she spoke, his mind was trying to wrap itself around the reasons why he hadn't noticed. Had he been too busy with Ginny to notice? That just wasn't acceptable. Hermione was his best friend, the girl who he went to for everything, the one who had saved his life on multiple occasions. This was how he paid her back? Not giving her the attention she deserved?

A picture appeared in his head; one he instantly knew as Hermione on the train earlier that day. Examining the memory closely, small things jumped out at him; her thinner face, bruising beneath the eyes, paler skin, and exhausted appearance. Everything about her was only slightly different. Most were so miniscule that it was easily overlooked. The way she smiled, for instance. It no longer touched her eyes. This was nothing like the Hermione he has known since first year. This was someone new; someone who was hurting and slowly wasting away.

"Bloody hell, Ginny." He looked up into her eyes, feeling in his gut that there was something wrong that he had been missing for months. "Why didn't we notice?"

She smiled sadly at her fiancé. "Maybe it's time we let her know we have finally noticed."

The morning after she first arrived home from Hogwarts, Hermione stretched the kinks out of her back. It was nice sleeping in her bed for a change; her warm, comfortable, familiar bed. Well, aside from the spring now poking its way into her bum. Giggling, she hopped out of bed and into the shower. If she was fast enough, she could have breakfast with her parents before they went to the Dentist Office today. After much discussion, Hermione had finally convinced her parents to go to work together. Normally, one would go and the other would stay to watch her. She was a grown woman, for Merlin's sake. She could handle being alone.

Sliding on a long, blue dress that reached her feet, she hopped down the stairs barefoot with wet hair. This was her vacation, after all. She could afford to be completely comfortable. Walking into the warm kitchen, she inhaled the wonderful scent that filled the air. Blueberry waffles always smelled amazing, no matter what time of the day. Smiling at her parents, her sashayed her way to the fridge and pulled out the carton of orange juice to go with her waffles.

Noting her smiling face, her father smiled over his cup of coffee. "You're in a good mood this morning, Hermione."

She smiled wider. "That I am. Not only am I on break, but it's a beautiful morning and I get to have my favorite breakfast with the two people I love the most in this world. What reason would I have not to smile?"

Her father looked down as she heard her mother catch her breath slightly. Hermione, not letting the suddenly tense moment ruin her good morning, grabbed a glass from the cabinet and sad across from her dad, "On second thought, don't answer that."

It had the desired effect; her parents laughed at her buoyant humor. "Love?" Her mother sad a stack of waffles in front of her, followed by the heated syrup. "Don't forget your vitamins."

Sighing, Hermione jumped back up and got her prescribed vitamins from their bottles. All this pill swallowing really annoyed her. Why couldn't she just take potions like any normal witch? Oh right, because she was muggleborn and her parents were muggles. If anything, she wanted to make them happy.

"So, you both excited to go to work?" Hermione said around a mouthful of waffle.

Her parents looked at each other before looking back at her. "Well, Hermione," her father started, "We wanted to talk to you about that—"

"Don't even start, Dad." She said, taking a sip from her juice. "You are both going. I'm a big girl. Besides, if I need help, I promise to call you."

Her mother looked strained, but didn't comment. Instead, she just continued to scrub the dishes.

"Mimi?" Her father said, setting down his coffee cup and newspaper. "There is another thing we wanted to discuss with you."

Hearing her husband's words, Mrs. Granger walked to the table and sat next to him, looping her arm through his. "Yes, and we would like you to keep an open mind, dear."

This never was a good start. Hermione knew that the moment these words were said, it was to be a very bad discussion. Setting down her fork and pushing away what was left of her breakfast, she nodded her head. "My mind is open."

Her mother was the one to speak. "While you were away, Hermione, we looked around for answers. We didn't want your…condition… to take you from us. So, we went from doctor to doctor to try and find a solution."

Hermione felt her throat constrict. This was definitely not a good conversation. She hated it when her parents got like this. It would just end up being more needles, more pills, and more pain. She didn't want that, but she would hear them out anyway. She felt that she owed them that much, at least.

Her father took it from there. "It took a while, but we soon found a doctor in the states. Her name is Dr. Maria Spencer. She comes highly recommended and when we called her, she said she had some new ideas that we could try."

Hermione remained silent. She already knew what she was going to say to them, but she wanted to put it off for as long as possible. It would just break their hearts. So, she just nodded and signaled for them to continue.

"The catch," her mother said, squeezing her husband's hand. "Is that we would have to move to America. The treatment center is a live-in facility where families move into little cottages. It allows you to be nearby for treatments." She smiled, tears filling her hazel eyes, "This is great news, love. This means you have a chance at beating this… condition."

The tears were welling up in her mother's eyes, causing Hermione's heart to race. Looking down at her hands, she wished she could agree to everything her parents were telling her. She wished she could smile and jump for joy. But, she couldn't. She wouldn't.

"So, what do you say, Mimi?" Her mother asked, looking her in the eye.

"I say no." Hermione said quietly.

Silence followed as her mother tried to comprehend what she was saying. Her father, on the other hand, heard it loud and clear. "I don't think you understand, Mimi."

She shook her head. She understood perfectly. "No, Daddy, I understand perfectly. But, my answer is still no."

Finally letting it sink in, her mother's smile fell and the tears came with it. "Hermione, you must! This could save your life."

"No, Mum, it can't."

"You don't know that—"

"Yes, I do." Hermione said, interrupting her now crying mother. "I know that it would be pointless. Mum and Dad, you two are amazing and I love you so much. But, I don't just have a cold that can be remedied by a visit to some specialist. I have leukemia."

Her parents flinched at the word. "Hermione, please don't say that word." Her father said, gripping his wife's hand.

"I'm not afraid of the word, Dad. I have leukemia. I've had leukemia for over a year. It's time that you stop treating this like a problem that can be fixed—"

"It can be fixed!" Her mother said, her voice high with hysterics.

"No, Mum," Hermione whispered, lifting her hand to rest it on her mothers. "It can't. We've been told by dozens of doctors that it can't. We all know the treatments that this new doctor would give me will be pointless. My body has stopped responding and just won't accept the treatments."

"Hermione Jean Granger, we won't let you die!" Her father said, louder than he intended.

Hermione wanted to scream as pain flicked her rapidly beating heart. "You're not letting me. If there is anything that I have realized in the past year it's that this isn't something we can control. I'm dying. I've met peace with that. You guys should too."

"Please, Mimi," her mother wept, "Please, try this one last time."

She just shook her head. "I don't want to be put through any more treatments or tests. No more poking, examining, or appointments. Please, can I just spend these last months of my life in peace? Can't you please just be there for me? The only thing I need is you two and my friends. Please, I beg you. Don't take that away from me."

Silence followed her words, her parents holding onto each other as they cried. Hermione hated what she was doing to them. It hurt her so much to know the pain she was putting them through, but she couldn't do anything else. Every word she had said had been true. She was dying and they all knew it. It was just time they all accepted it.

Kissing his wife on the forehead, her father felt his wife nod her head. Hermione saw the sadness in his eyes, but also something new. She immediately recognized it; for she saw it in the mirror every day. Acceptance and surrender. "Alright, love."

Her mother turned her wet face in her daughter's direction, "Come here."

Hermione watched as her mother slid to the seat to her left, leaving a chair free between the two of her parents. Smiling slightly, Hermione walked around the table and sat between them. At both sides, her parents hugged her tightly as she closed her eyes. Yes, there was no other feeling in the world that could beat this.

Off in the distance, she heard an owl hoot.