23 July, Friday, 1524 BST
Hermione had changed out of the hospital gown ten minutes ago. She sat waiting on the examination table in Doctor Tobias Whitney's office. She drummed her fingertips on the faux leather. Usually never nervous about her quarterly check-ups with her oncologist, Hermione seemed rather anxious today.
She had been feeling exhausted recently. It could have been due to the longer-than-usual hours she had been putting in the past couple of weeks. Yesterday, it seemed to all come to a head.
o-o-o
Dr. Elizabeth Masterson, the Director and Head doctor of Saint Augustine's had just called the weekly Thursday staff meeting to a close. It was late afternoon and the staff in the room were either heading to their staff assignments or like Hermione, home. Hermione felt a little light headed as she stood up. She had to grab onto the tabletop to steady herself. Dr. Masterson recognized this and headed towards her young employee as everyone else filtered out of the room.
"Hey, you okay?" the older doctor said, placing her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. She pulled the seat that the younger doctor had vacated out so that Hermione could sit again.
Hermione blew out a breath. "Yeah, Liz. Head rush, I guess."
The older doctor was already taking preliminary vitals. She felt for Hermione's pulse as she pulled her light pen to look at her eyes. "Your pulse rate is a little high and your pupils are dilated, Hermione.
"Have you taken your medication," Dr. Masterson asked as she placed her light pen into her pocket.
Hermione shrugged. "Yeah," Hermione shut her eyes. "I've been feeling really fatigued lately, though."
"When do you see Toby?" Dr. Masterson asked about the oncologist.
"Tomorrow at three, actually," Hermione shrugged.
Dr. Masterson checked Hermione's forehead, temples, sinuses, and neck. She studied the younger woman's face for a moment. She pulled out a wireless. "I'm going to call a lab technician up here. I'd like to draw some blood, just as a precaution. Toby will already have some preliminaries for tomorrow."
Hermione hesitated before nodding her head. She slouched further in her chair, concerned about this new hiccup in her health.
o-o-o
She looked up as the older doctor reentered the room carrying a file folder. He closed the door behind him. Hermione already knew this was serious.
Dr. Tobias Whitney had been her oncologist for the past four years. So he was fairly familiar with her medical history. He flipped the charts in the file folder.
"We got the, uh, test results back," he said softly.
"I know it's customary for us to be as tactful as possible with our patients, Toby," she said. She shook her head, "Don't beat around the bush with me, please."
Dr. Whitney nodded at her. "It doesn't look good, Hermione."
Hermione gulped, her throat starting to tighten. Tears quickly streamed down her cheeks. Dr. Whitney took a hold of her free hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
"Hermione, I'm really sorry," he said. "The cancer cells are multiplying quickly. Not even Chemo would do much."
She nodded, shutting her eyes for a moment. "How long?"
"You should start getting your affairs in order," Dr. Whitney sounded sad.
"Toby," Hermione said looking up at the man.
"Six months, Hermione," he said. She leaned into his shoulder. He held her there, allowing her to cry.
o-o-o
29 July, Thursday, 1900 BST
Hermione had been debating herself on whether to tell or not tell Draco, her only real confidant, since finding out about her worsening condition. Day offs are supposed to be used for rest, which Hermione rarely ever did. The past couple of days, though, she actually napped quite a bit.
It was nearly 7 p.m. on Thursday. She sat, a little worn out. She probably should have started to cook her dinner but was feeling quite sluggish. She turned the television on and began to channel surf.
She watched Gary Cooper deliver Lou Gehrig's memorable speech in the old black and white film Pride of the Yankees. Her father was a big American baseball fan. As a child, she used to love watching games on the tele with her father. The New York Yankees were always a favorite. Her father told her all about Lou Gehrig. She sighed knowing the baseball player was afflicted during his playing years, cutting his career short.
She then flipped the channel and caught the young adult film A Walk to Remember. She turned the channel knowing the young woman dies of leukemia.
'Are there no upbeat flicks on the tele tonight?' she thought to herself. 'An Affair to Remember; no one dies in this movie right?' she asked herself as she watched. She pulled a tissue from the box to wipe the tears from her cheek as she watched Cary Grant hug Deborah Kerr near the end of the film as she sat on the couch. 'Happy Ending, sorta,' Hermione thought as she turned the channel.
"Love Story? You've got to be kidding me," she said, as she wiped her nose. She couldn't bear to watch another tearjerker; Ali Mcgraw dies in the end. She switched the tele to watch American baseball highlights on ESPN as she heard a knock on her door. She looked at her wristwatch again, 7:28 p.m. 'Who could that be?' she thought as she looked through the peephole. She smiled inwardly as she opened the door.
"Long time no see, stranger," she said as she let him into the apartment.
He laughed. "I was in the neighborhood," he said holding up several pint-sized take-out boxes.
"With Chinese food?" she smiled as Draco placed the food on the coffee table.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Have you eaten already?" he asked as he took a seat on the couch in front of the television set.
"I was just about to go make some ramen," she said, smiling.
He quickly scooped something from each of the containers onto a plate before handing it to her as she returned from the kitchen with two bottles of cranberry juice. She laughed as she took the plate from him, taking a seat on the couch next to him. He served himself as well. They ate in silence for a few moments as they watched the sports highlights on the tele. Running through Hermione's head, all the while, was how she would break the news about her condition to Draco.
"I haven't heard from you since the St. Mungo's event," she said, not mentioning their little dance on the balcony that evening.
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy the past two weeks," he shrugged, smiling sheepishly.
"Did you and Roxanne finally elope?" Hermione half-joked. He laughed.
"Very funny," he said as he took a sip from his bottle of cranberry juice. "I, um. I talked to Professor Snape. He actually didn't balk at the idea of me teaching.
"He spoke with Headmistress McGonagall," the blonde Slytherin smiled as he ate his chow mein. "They've got a post for me."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. She gulped. "Professor Snape's retiring?"
"No," he shook his head. "They're allowing me to take on the First Years. Can you believe it?"
The two laughed. "Wow, I'm so happy for you, Draco," she said as she took a bite of her orange chicken.
"The only thing is, Professor Snape wants me on campus early," Draco said shrugging.
Hermione nodded as she looked at her plate. She looked up at him. "I guess he wants to go over some logistical stuff and maybe classroom management?" Hermione suggested.
"Yeah," he said. "I have to catch the Express tomorrow."
Hermione gulped. "Tomorrow," she said softly. Draco looked at her nodding.
"Yeah, Harry and Ginny said they'd be there to see me off," he said. "You work tomorrow, don't you?"
"Yeah," she said softly. Hermione hid her disappointment. She pushed the idea of telling him her news out of her mind. She was not going to spoil his moment. She tried to give him one of her biggest smiles. "I'm so proud of you Draco. You're going to make a great professor."
They continued to eat as they reminisced about their Hogwarts days. They talked for nearly the next four hours about how things were when they were teenagers.
"We were awful back then, weren't we?" he said looking at her as he took a slip from his juice bottle.
She shrugged her shoulders. "We were young. We didn't know what was really going to happen when we left Hogwarts, Draco."
"Yeah," he said looking at her.
"People change, remember," she half-smiled at him. She heard the hourly chime of her digital wristwatch. It was midnight. She saw the blonde wizard yawn. She stood up, stretching. He did the same.
"It's getting late, huh," he said looking at her.
"Midnight," she said, biting her lip.
He waved his wand casting Scourgify. Hermione nodded her thanks.
"So will your parents be at King's Cross?" Hermione asked.
He scoffed but smiled a little. "They're upset at my decision making lately. Mum's a bit more open to the choice than he is. He disowned me for the hundredth time within the past two years."
Hermione laughed. "I'm sure they'll get over it," she said. She studied his face for a moment. "So how about Roxanne?"
"Like I predicted, she's disgusted," he laughed. "She'll get over it, too."
"Absence does make the heart grow fonder," she said, softly. She averted his eyes for a moment. She shrugged. "You won't be able to have one of those 'Muggle movie lovers' embrace on the train platform farewell scenes.'"
"Ha ha very funny," Draco laughed. Hermione laughed, too. He moved a strand of hair from her face and hooked it behind her ear.
"You've got a big day ahead," Hermione said, taking in a deep breath.
"Yeah," he said, and then added, sounding hopeful, "So will you be there tomorrow?"
Hermione gulped. She gave him a weak smile. "The morning shift is always wonky. If it isn't busy, I'll try to get somebody to cover me for a short break. Eleven a.m., right?"
He nodded as he held up his wand. "Right, then. I'll see you," he smiled. He quickly kissed her cheek before she knew what had happened. He nodded before he disapperated.
Hermione hadn't realized she was holding her breath. She finally breathed out. 'Tomorrow,' she thought. She sighed as she headed to the bathroom to wash-up before heading to bed.
o-o-o
30 July, Friday, 1055 BST
Draco looked at the clock right outside of his train car window. He sighed. It was five minutes to eleven. He had waited on the platform for a while after Harry, Ginny and their kids left. One of the Conductor-Guards had to remind him of the time and urged him to board the Express as it was to pull out of the station at any moment. Draco boarded reluctantly at seven minutes to the hour.
o-o-o
30 July, Friday, 1040 BST
Harry helped Draco carry one of his bags while the porter carted the wooden trunk onto the baggage car of the Hogwarts Express. The train ran every other Friday, the first and last days of the school year and the first and last days of authorized school holidays bringing passengers to and from Hogsmeade, the small town a hop skip and a jump away from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It always left Platform Nine and Three Quarters at 11 a.m. sharp.
Draco stood on the platform outside of his train car as he chatted with Harry and Ginny. He held little Ronda in his arms as James placed his hand into Harry's palm, swinging it to and fro.
"So your father's pretty pissed, huh?" Harry asked. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Oh well," the blonde wizard shrugged his shoulders. "He still can't get over the Death Eaters losing the power struggle."
It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. The adults laughed.
"It's almost time to go," Ginny said as she held out her arms. Draco kissed the little girl on the forehead before handing her over to her mother. "I'll be riding in with the students in another month."
"Professor Draco Malfoy," Harry said waving his hand in front of him. They all laughed again. "It's great that our generation's giving back to the school."
"Yeah," Draco nodded. "Headmistress McGonagall mentioned Longbottom helping out Professor Sprout, Goyle dividing his time between St. Mungo's and Madame Pomfrey's hospital wing with our favorite ginger haired mediwitch."
"Yeah, I think I'll keep her," Harry said kissing his wife on the cheek.
"You two are both incorrigible," she said. Draco took in a breath as he heard the familiar expression. He looked around the platform again.
"Are we expecting Roxanne to show up?" Harry asked playfully.
Draco was speechless for a moment. He shook his head, smirking. "Yeah, you know her. She thinks teaching is menial work."
"Well, your families have you two practically married already," Ginny said.
Draco could feel his ears burning. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"All aboard!" one of the Conductor-Guards yelled out.
Harry nodded at his former childhood rival. Ginny kissed the tall blonde wizard on the cheek. Draco nodded at her.
"I'll see you in a month," Draco said to the mediwitch as he picked up the older of the two children. "Alright, James. You behave for your dad."
The four-year old boy hugged his parents' friend. "See you later, Uncle Draco."
Draco placed the child into the scarred wizard's arms. He shook Harry's hand.
"We'll let you get on board then," Harry said. "Come on guys."
The family waved as they left the platform. Draco nodded at them. He looked at the station's old clock. He blew out a breath, waiting. 'I guess the ER was busy today,' he said as he looked around the near-empty station.
o-o-o
30 July, Friday, 1050 BST
Hermione had been clock-watching the whole morning. Some mornings are a lot quieter than others. That Friday, the Emergency Room was rather hectic. There were three auto accidents, a bicycle crash, and a mid-morning bar fight.
She had just finished stitching up the cyclists forearm. She nodded at the young man who shook her hand before heading toward the Admissions Desk. She blew out a breath as the clock read 10:50. She tapped the front of her doctor's coat. In the inside pocket of it, lay the fairly new vine wood wand. She walked into the waiting room.
"Hermione, you okay?" her supervisor asked.
Hermione turned to the older doctor. "Yeah, Liz, I'm fine."
"You seem restless," the graying doctor observed. "You want to take a fifteen minute break. I'll cover for you. Get some fresh air."
Hermione couldn't believe her luck. She looked at her wristwatch. She gulped. "Do you mind, Liz? It's been pretty busy," she bit her lower lip. "I kinda need to run a short errand. It'll take but fifteen minutes."
"Of course, Hermione," Dr. Masterson nodded.
Hermione walked quickly out of the ER, pausing to look at her wristwatch. It was already 10:52. She hoped that the familiar red engine had not pulled out of the station yet. She carefully pulled out the wooden stick as she headed towards the alley right behind the ER supply dock. There she looked quickly around before disapperating.
She arrived on the Muggle side of King's Cross slightly out of breath. She inconspicuously walked into the wall in between platforms Nine and Ten. She reached Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She looked up and down the platform. The blonde wizard was nowhere in sight. She looked at the large station clock, 10:56.
'She should just leave,' she thought to herself as she turned.
Draco spotted her from his window. He smiled to himself as he bolted from his compartment, snagging his forefinger on the splintered doorframe. He raced down the steps, ignoring his bleeding forefinger. He gently reached for her wrist with his uninjured hand.
She was startled for a moment as she turned around. She smiled at him.
"You made it," he said, out of breath, still holding onto her.
"Yeah," she shrugged. "Dr. Masterson is covering for me for the next ten minutes."
"Harry and Ginny just left ten minutes ago," he smiled finally letting her go.
"Who says teaching isn't a dangerous job," she said as she took his finger in her hands. He winced, smirking at her.
"I was never very good at healing spells," he reminded her as he blew out a breath watching her easily remove a centimeter long splinter from the wound.
She smiled up at him, shaking her head. She waved her wand, casting Scourgify, cleansing the wound. She waved the wand again casting a healing spell.
He nodded his thanks as he looked at the mended finger. He shrugged, "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to make it."
She smiled at him. "I couldn't let you go without … reminding you to not pick on any of the kids."
He laughed. "Of course, I'll make sure to call on the bushy haired know-it-all; just so I can verify my answers."
With that, Hermione laughed. She looked into his eyes for a moment before looking away. 'Should I tell you I'm dying?' she thought to herself. 'No,' she answered herself. She wasn't going to take away from his happiness.
"Last call! All aboard!" the same Conductor-Guard yelled the final call for passengers to board. The clock read 10:59.
Hermione nodded at him. "You should go," she half-smiled.
He nodded at her. He took a step towards the train before turning back. He pulled her into an embrace. She froze for a split second before leaning into the hug. It felt like they held the hug for an eternity.
Hermione heard the train engine whistle. She took a deep breath before stepping back. She looked up at him. "You'd better go," she said as the cars slowly moved forward.
He smirked at her good-naturedly as he grabbed for the rails, easily hoisting himself onto the train steps as the train picked up speed. He smiled at her. "I'll owl you," he yelled back.
He watched her nod her head as she grew smaller and smaller as the train pulled farther and farther from the station. He took in a breath. He shut his eyes, locking her image into his brain. He smiled as he headed back to his car.
Hermione waited until the train was a fair distance away before she allowed the tears to fully flow. She had to take several deep breaths before she was able to compose herself. She felt like she had lost her best friend.
'Life goes on,' she told herself, ironically. She headed back to the entrance to the Muggle world. She wiped the tears from her face with her scrub top and took another deep breath before waving her wand to disapperate.
16