Chapter Six
Visitors

At the Leaky Phial, Hermione and Ron awoke at the sound of a morning call from a bird outside their open window. A nice cool breeze whooshed in, and Hermione shivered. She stretched slowly, not wanting to get up, knowing what the day held - or more, not knowing what the day held. Ron was already up, giving her a spare change of clothes to get into. It was a long blue skirt and a white singlet, with a thick black cardigan. She smiled as she pulled it on, pausing to look as she pushed her left hand through. That sparkle just kept catching her eye. She wondered if she would ever be able to marry Ron. Quickly she pushed those thoughts from her mind. She was ready, her small bag in her hand, full of absolutely everything she needed, and all her paperwork, and Ron's hand in her other. He looked at her and took the bag from her putting it on the floor.
"Hermione, just forget everything for one second. Just one," he said and kissed her lightly, before hugging her. She did, just for a second. She was just in Ron's arms and knew that they were so safe and strong. When he pulled away she remembered, and grabbed her bag. They apparated to the alley way near the hospital and walked in, up to the Oncology unit. Dr. Wilson was there waiting for them with a serious look on his face. She didn't think she would be able to see him looking too happy any time soon. So as long as he didn't look troubled with bad news, she thought serious was okay.
The nurse came and introduced herself to them both, her name was Lisa. She took Hermione to a room explaining "Chaemotherapy will start today after we insert a line into your chest. It's just so that we can administer the drugs through a more permanent line rather than changing it every few days or weeks."
"More prodding..." Hermione whispered. Next to her Ron squeezed her hand.

Four weeks later Hermione was starting to loose her hair and vomit absolutely everything up. Ron kept coming in with different foods and drinks. Sometimes she could hold it down for a few minutes, other times she would dry retch at the sight or smell of it. Even water started tasting off. She was losing weight and her hair - in small chunks. She would itch her head and pull away a hand full of hair, or wake up in the morning with a new pillowcase of her hair. At the end of her fourth week she was allowed to go back to the Leaky Phial to rest for three days. When they got back there George and Ginny were there. She slowly walked over to them and they embraced each other. They were both wearing beanies and scarfs, and when Hermione pulled away from the hug Ginny took off her beanie, smiling at Hermione with her tear stained cheeks. She was bald.
"Ginny what did you do?" Hermione gasped.
George smiled at her, "Ease up Hermione," he said and took off his beanie. He too was bald.
Hermione shook her head, "What did you do that for?" she asked.
"Well we just wanted you to see how incredible we both look with no hair so that you would feel convinced to let us shave your head too," Ginny said, pulling out some clippers from her bag.
Self consciously, Hermione patted her hair. She kept finding small bald patches through her scalp and cried every time she touched them. It took her a few moments, a few convincing words from Ginny and George, and for Ron to have his head shaved to sit in the chair. Ron shaved it all off, on to the ground. Some handed in her lap which made her cry. Afterwards she had a shower. The water blended with her tears and muffled her cries as her life was tipped upside down and there was nothing she could do, nothing she could read or learn, to make it better. The only way to make it better was to keep going forward and not give up.

Ginny and George stayed a few hours longer. They ordered room service and watched a movie. Ginny and George were fascinated by it, and it offered Hermione comfort from home. She had trouble sleeping that night. Over and over in her head were things she wasn't sure she would ever have - children, a wedding, a job, next year... She had thought that if the doctor told her there was no hope she would just accept the news and go on a long holiday with Ron until the inevitable happened. Dr. Wilson had told her that she would be very susceptible for illnesses now that she hardly had an immune system left. She originally thought she would stay at the Leaky Phial until she needed to go back, to avoid going out in public but the next day they all dragged her down stairs for dinner and a show. It was a dance act this time, followed by stand up comedy. Despite her drooping mood she suprised herself by laughing at some of the jokes - genuinely laughing. She was having fun again. The rest of her time off she spent with Ron, Ginny and George - mainly indoors. They did go for small walks so that they could all get some fresh air, but they didn't go far. When the unfortunate morning came when Hermione was going to go back to Hospital Ginny and George gave her a gift bag.
"It's from everyone at home," Ginny said.
She took out a few packages - there was a home made jumper from Mrs. Weasley with a beanie - both red, and some home made cookies. And there were some new Hogwarts books for her too. Of course she wasn't attending any more but she did love to keep up with the new editions of her favourite books! Ron rolled his eyes, "Just what you need when you're sick - text books!" and she laughed. They all went with her to the Hospital and waited for her to be admitted until Ginny and George kissed and hugged her good bye.
"Another week, here goes," she whispered to herself.[/FONT]