16 January, Sunday, 2145 GMT
Hermione straightened Draco's tie, as they stood in the living room in the Potters' household. Harry smiled as he watched the two. Ginny had walked in from Ronda's room, satchel in hand and nodded at her husband. She joined the adults in front of the fireplace.
"You're sure about this?" Draco asked as he slung his bag onto his shoulder, looking into Hermione's eyes.
"I'll be fine," Hermione said, patting his chest. "Besides, Harry's gonna play big brother now, which is pretty ironic because I'm older than he is."
The whole room laughed. The scarred wizard nodded at his old Gryffindor housemate, "Hermione's right, Draco. See what happens when you let the cat out of the bag. Don't worry I'll keep an eye on the both of them."
o-o-o
13 January, Thursday, 1250 GMT
"Uncle Draco," James Potter came barreling into Draco's shins just as Ronda hurled herself at Hermione.
Harry sauntered into the foyer where the couple had apparated. He smiled at the two. He extended his hand to Draco and then to Hermione. "Well look what the cat dragged in," he said smiling.
"If those two are your idea of a poor-wizard's wards, you might need to upgrade," Draco said as Ginny joined the group in laughter.
"Have you two had lunch yet?" Ginny asked smiling. The two shook their heads. The Potters led everybody into the kitchen to have some spaghetti and Italian sausage.
o-o-o
Harry and Draco did the cleanup after the lunch meal while the two witches played with the children in the living room. Draco and Harry brought in a tray of Earl Grey tea and some sugar cookies in a tin. They all sat around the coffee table and drank their tea in silence for a moment. Hermione sat next to Ginny on one couch as Draco and Harry sat on the other. The topic of Hermione's condition never came up in small talk during the lunch.
"So did you talk to Professor McGonagall about maybe taking the rest of the year off?" Harry asked Draco.
"No, I promised Hermione I wouldn't do that," the platinum blonde wizard said.
Ginny raised an eyebrow in Hermione's direction. The Muggle-born witch shrugged. "He's a good professor; the students like him. And Draco enjoys teaching," Hermione said. "Besides I promised him I'd be alright."
"Look, Hermione," Harry said, "Raising a child on your own."
"I have to tell you guys something," Hermione said as she locked eyes with Draco. He nodded at her, "I've been living with cancer since a couple of months before graduating from Hogwarts."
Both of the former Gryffindors' jaws dropped in shock. Harry placed his teacup onto the coffee table.
"The doctors and specialists have had a hard time pinpointing where its origin is so they ruled out chemo a long time ago. I've been taking medication to control it," she shut her eyes, tears started to roll down her cheeks. Ginny put an arm around her for comfort. "I couldn't tell you guys because I thought it would hurt too much. Draco found out about my condition last May. Don't be angry with him. I made him promise not to tell anybody."
"You're not gonna hit me again are you?" Draco asked Harry slightly leaning away from the scarred wizard.
Both Harry and Hermione started to laugh. The other two joined in. The two children just looked at the group as if they were nutters. Hermione explained everything to her old dear friends.
o-o-o
14 January, Friday, 1330 GMT
Ginny usually was able to head home every other Friday evening and return no later than midnight on the Sunday to the campus because she was one of the married non-teaching staff members. Draco had apparated to Hogwarts, using his Order of the Phoenix connection to speak with Headmistress McGonagall about his immediate future with the school.
The headmistress even suggested that he took the time off. Draco had told her that he promised Hermione he would see things through. He was glad that he had someone to talk with about Hermione's condition. The only thing he asked was that she would allow him until Sunday to arrive on campus. She had squeezed his hand, reassuring him that everything was going to be all right and that he had her support. She granted his request.
o-o-o
16 January, Sunday, 2150 GMT
"Alright, Draco," Ginny asked as she nodded at him. She gave Harry one last kiss on the cheek before throwing the floo powder onto the fire.
They watched as the ginger-haired mediwitch dropped a handful of the sooty material and said her destination quite loudly. She disappeared from the room.
"I'll call you tonight," Draco said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have to get used to using the Muggle device, right?" Draco said as he held up the new wireless handheld device they had recently purchased. The only place on campus that the device would be functional would be up in Astronomy Tower.
"You know you could just owl me tomorrow," she said smiling at him.
"Yes, but then I wouldn't be able to hear your lovely voice," he drawled.
"Okay, I'm just going to go and vomit now," Harry had said as he patted Draco on his back before exiting the living room. He had wanted to give the couple some space.
"I'll send you pictures of Drew; especially when I bring her home at the end of the month," Hermione said.
Draco swooped in and kissed her full on the mouth, surprising her. She smiled up at him after they finally broke the kiss to breathe.
"I'll be home in mid-February, for Valentine's weekend," he said squeezing her hand as he headed toward the fireplace.
Hermione's ears started to burn. She shook her head at him. "You're incorrigible," she said.
"I love you," he said placing his forehead against hers.
"I love you more," she said. "Go. Professor McGonagall might just deduct some points from Slytherin for you being late."
He entered the fireplace. He smiled at her one last time. He followed the exact same procedures that Ginny had done.
Hermione let out a breath after he had disappeared. She took a seat on the couch. Harry had taken a seat next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders, reassuring her that things will be okay. She nodded her thanks to him.
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