10 January, Tuesday, 0800 GMT
Draco accompanied Hermione home on Monday. Professor Snape had volunteered to take Draco's classes for the rest of the week. Hermione felt good being back home. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy dropped by, checking on the youngster and her mother.
o-o-o
10 January, Tuesday, 0700 GMT
Draco held her in his arms as he watched her sleep. He had awoken a half hour ago. He smiled into her neck.
Hermione stirred. She turned back to see him. "Morning," she said.
"Morning," he answered, kissing her on the mouth.
"What time is it?" she asked as she turned her body to face him. She tucked under his chin and settled against his chest.
"It's a little after 7:00," he answered.
"I have that 8:30 follow up appointment with Toby this morning," she said as she stretched.
"Everything will be fine, Hermione," Draco said as he helped her up. She nodded as she headed toward their bedroom bath to get ready.
o-o-o
10 January, Tuesday, 0805 GMT
Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had offered to baby-sit Drew while Draco accompanied Hermione to her scheduled doctor's appointment. They had just walked out of the fireplace as Draco and Hermione walked out of the nursery; Drew in Hermione's arms.
"Hey, Mum, Dad," Draco said as he walked over to the new arrivals. Hermione smiled.
"We're not late, are we?" the older wizard asked as his wife took the small infant into her arms.
"Right on time, Mr. Malfoy," Hermione said.
The older platinum blonde wizard nodded. Mrs. Malfoy led her husband to the couch.
"We should be back by lunch, Mum," Draco said as he put his arm around Hermione's waist as they walked into the fireplace. They would arrive in Dr. Masterson's office within the next few minutes.
o-o-o
10 January, Tuesday, 0915 GMT
Draco held Hermione's hand as they waited in the oncologist waiting room. Hermione seemed anxious Draco noticed. He gave her hand a squeeze, reassuring her. Hermione nodded at him.
The lab technician had drawn blood about fifteen minutes after Dr. Tobias Whitney had done his initial check-up. Dr. Whitney squeezed her shoulder as he walked her out to the waiting room.
"Ah, Hermione, Draco," Dr. Whitney nodded for the both of them to follow him into his office forty-five minutes after she initially checked in for her appointment.
Hermione took a breath as she looked up at Draco. They stood up and followed the older doctor.
Dr. Whitney closed the door behind them. He nodded for them to take a seat on the couch. He pulled a file from his desk before sitting on the wooden coffee table. He took in a breath.
"Just spit it out, Toby," Hermione said as tear rolled down her cheek. Draco had to put his arm around her shoulders.
"We had to double check the samples," Toby said shrugging. He gave a nervous laugh.
"What's going on, Dr. Whitney?" Draco asked, gulping.
"We couldn't find any signs of cancer," Dr. Whitney said.
Hermione looked at him questioningly. Draco was confused.
"I'm not sure if the combination of our medicine and that of Dr. Mago's worked. Your bodily functions are normal, nothing in your blood," the older doctor said. He smiled. "I want to run an MRI just to confirm things, but …"
Hermione cried into Draco's shoulder. Draco cried as well. Dr. Toby Whitney patted both of their backs.
"I've scheduled the MRI in fifteen minutes if you're up to it, Hermione," Dr. Whitney said.
Hermione laughed. She nodded. All three exhaled a large breath.
o-o-o
10 January, Tuesday, 1100 GMT
Dr. Tobias Whitney, Dr. Esteban Mago, Mediwitch Poppy Pomfrey, and Dr. Elizabeth Masterson sat around the couple in the head of the hospital's office. They all marveled at the miracle that they were witnessing.
The MRI turned up negative for any signs of cancer as well. The medical personnel discussed their findings; even argued the pros and cons about publishing them. They all agreed it probably wouldn't be in the best interest of either Muggle or Wizarding medical communities.
They all agreed, though that Hermione should continue to see Dr. Whitney. They scheduled her follow up in June.
Draco and Hermione did not arrive home until forty-five minutes after eleven. They had picked up a couple of take-out lunches to bring home. Hermione didn't want to keep the elder Malfoys waiting.
o-o-o
10 January, Tuesday, 1145 GMT
Mrs. Malfoy stood up as the younger couple walked out of the fireplace. Mr. Malfoy had been holding the sleeping Drew as he nodded at the two.
"We brought back lunch," Draco said as he placed the four plate lunch boxes onto the coffee table.
"Was she a handful?" Hermione asked as she returned from the kitchen with a stack of paper plates and bottled drinks.
"She was no trouble at all," the older platinum blonde wizard said, actually smiling.
The four adults ate their Korean style barbecue lunches while they doted over the sleeping child in her basinet. Draco had explained to his parents about the miracle that had happened that morning.
"That's great, Hermione," Narcissa Malfoy said. Hermione began to tear-up. Draco rubbed her back, comforting her. "What's wrong dear?"
"I've lived with it for so long," Hermione began. "I don't know if I could trust those findings."
Draco took in a breath. He kissed her cheek.
"I just," she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."
"Hermione," Draco began. "We had a room full of doctors pronounce you fit. Why look at it so skeptically?"
"There's no medical reasoning for what happened this morning, Draco," she said, looking at him.
"It was a combination of Muggle and Wizarding medicine, Hermione. Why can't you be positive about this?"
"Because," Hermione said, "Come on Draco. You've always known me to be logical. If I can't find a scientific reason for me being cured of something that's supposedly incurable, I won't be able to believe it."
"You've been given a true second chance, Hermione," Draco said.
Hermione gulped. She nodded her head.
"Sometimes life will throw something at you that you just can't explain, Hermione," Mr. Malfoy spoke up. "It's how you deal with it that says a lot about who you are."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy," she said, smiling through teary eyes. Her own father had said something to that effect. There were a lot of baseball metaphors in his.
"Your mother and I will always be here for support, Hermione," Mr. Malfoy said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
Hermione couldn't stop a whimper from escaping her lips. She saw another fatherly figure before her. "Thanks, Dad."
Mr. Malfoy smiled and nodded. The foursome continued to tuck into their lunches.
7