should of had this out sooner, but Rocky Horror and Pewdiepie kept distracting me XD

Ch. 35: I'm Sorry [Part One]

Song For This Chapter: Gone, Gone, Gone - Phillip Phillips 

     "So, Jenna," I sighed, getting up from the comfortable chair beside her bedside. Jenna was still unconscious, and I was fearing the worst. Why were all of us prone to comas? Was it some cliché misfortune of ours to draw excessive, bodily harm to ourselves? "I got you a Christmas gift, but don't open it until Christmas morning," I snickered, feeling like a terrible person. "I'm sorry, bad joke... But, honestly, I know you'll come out of this just fine - how could you leave this world without a proper boyfriend to mourn you?" 

      There was no response. Sighing, I placed the bouquet of roses I had bought her in the empty vase beside her hospital bed. "Well, I'm off to Christmas break. It's going to be just the lowly Grangers over the holidays," I told Jenna, gathering up my things so I could make it to the platform on time, "Mrs. Weasley extended an invitation for Hermione and I to stay for Christmas, but with all the drama between Hermione and Ron, I think it would be best just to lay low." 

      I worried my bottom lip as I sat there, staring down at her pained expression. I couldn't believe Draco had done this to her, even if it wasn't meant for Jenna; it was still his fault. My eyes prickled as I quietly got up from my seat, pushing some hair away that had fallen in oily clumps over her eyes. "I'll be back soon, alright? Don't wake up without Lana and I here."

      As I turned, I found both Lana and Neville standing awkwardly in the doorway, both holding small bundles of goodbye flowers in their hands. "What are you doing here?" I chuckled at how awkward Lana's small, five foot two, stature compared to Neville's height, and, how Lana was glaring up at him suspiciously. 

      Lana bristled and flipped her neon hair over her shoulder to shoot him an arched brow, "Yes, Longbottom, do tell."

      "Uh-um," he paled, scuffing his feet as he lowered his eyes, attempting to hide the flowers he had brought behind his back, but failing miserably. "I just thought I'd say goodbye. Jenna's a friend," he blushed, reaching up a quaking hand to scratch the back of his neck, tenderly.

      Smirking, I slid over to the two of them and gave them both a side-hug. "Don't worry Neville, we're just teasing."

      "Oh, I knew I'd find you here," Hermione huffed as she pushed past Neville and Lana to get to me, as they were blocking the doorway. "S'rry," she absently waved towards them, a half-hearted apology flying past as she pulled a crinkled envelope from her pocket. "Elle, I've just received an owl from Mum and Dad."

            "Oh?"

      My sister nodded, pulling her bag from her shoulder as she handed me the letter. "Yes, and, it was accompanied with this," she smirked at me as she pulled a flower from the abyss she called her book bag. "It's December, remember?" 

      My stomach toppled out from my intestines and hit the floor beneath me. She was holding a single, orange chrysanthemum. "No -"

      "Yes -"

            "-You can't make me!" 

      Hermione and I fought about it for at least a day and a half, but it didn't matter how much I whined and moaned, I was on the Tube early on Thursday morning, the second day before Christmas eve. On my way to Granger's Gums.... to die. 

      "Elle," Hermione sighed, lifting her eyes from her book to glare at my behavior. "Would you please stop making faces out the window and behave like the adult you almost are?" 

      "You mean the adults we almost are, 'Mione." I removed my fingers from my eyelids, as I had been pulling my skin in different directions, entertaining myself as underground London rolled past, pulling me towards my eminent doom.  As I lowered my hands, I realized a question I had never considered before. "Hermione?" 

      "Mhm?" She attempted to respond, flipping to the next page in her novel. It was a romance book, something sappy but witty, she'd grown bored of reading Hogwarts: A History.

      "Who's older," I asked, leaning forward on my elbows as I turned to face her directly. "You or me?" 

      She furrowed her brow, glancing up at me to stare into my eyes, lowering her book. "I am."

      "Liar."

            "Why would I lie -"

                  "Liaarr," I sung out clamping my hands over my ears. "I don't believe you, 'Mione. I'll just have to ask Mum, she'll speak the truth." The train stopped at our designated platform and I gingerly got off the subway, ringing my hands in annoyance at the thought of having my teeth cleaned. 'Ugh, evil people are dentists, I swear'.

      Hermione sighed at my slow pace and she tugged me by the hem of my thick jacket, causing chills to pebble my arms as my boots hit the fresh, snow sleeked ground outside and the bitter air nipped at my nose. "I'm coming, I'm coming," I assured her, pulling my arm from her vice-like grip. 

      Stuffing my hands into my pockets to keep myself from getting frostbite, I released a heavy sigh, enjoying the fact that I could see the cloud of air as it hit the frozen oxygen outside my lungs. We walked a little ways in the cold until we reached the, now familiar, family business. 'Ah, Granger's Gums. How I loathe thee.' 

      A light chime sounded as Hermione and I walked through the door, greeted by the enveloping warmth that was like a little slice of heaven. "Ah, girls, what are you doing here?" Jane asked, grinning at us as she got up from her desk, pushing some files aside. 

      "Mum," Hermione chuckled, tucking a poof of hair behind her ear, "Elle has an appointment today, remember?"

      "Oh, no, dear." Jane bristled, her warm eyes falling with a hint of worry. "Did you not see the note I left on the fridge? We had to reschedule!" Our mother turned to me with a soft smile, apologizing. "Elle, hun, you have an appointment at St. Mungo's today - that's why we rescheduled."

       Hermione frowned, trying to remember whether she had seen a note or not, but I forced a placid smile onto my lips, even though I was dying on the inside. 'Not another check-up, ugh!' "Can't I just get my teeth checked now?"

      "This may be the last time I'll be able to drag Elle inside here, Mum," Hermione agreed, waving happily at Henry as he came from the back office. Henry's blue eyes shone as he saw the two of us, a pearly white grin spreading on his mouth. 

      "Hey, the girls are back."

      Jane chuckled, shaking her head at the three of us. "Only for a moment, I'm sorry dear, but your appointment is with Miss Dragon at two o'clock."

            "It's only noon," I challenged.

      "Yes, but you don't want to be late," Dan's voice picked up from his office. Clearly he could hear the squabble Mum and I were having, but he didn't want to interfere too much. "Besides, health trumps hygiene."

            I whispered under my breath, "Doubtful."

      Jane seemed to have heard me, chuckling as she grabbed her tan, hand purse and pulled a few pounds out of it, handing them to Hermione and I with a soft smile. "Alright girls, here are a few pounds, go buy an ice cream or a sweet after the appointment, on us."

      I took a pound and stared at it, frowning down at the monochrome face of a queen, confused by the currency in my hands. Dollars, galleons, now pounds? Why couldn't the world just run on Dunkin' like it did in America? That thought made me pause, 'Ah, coffee sounds glorious right now...'

      "Elle, Elle," Hermione called, the tone of her voice, and the way she was shaking her head, told me that she had been calling my name for a bit. "Wasn't there something you'd like to ask Mum?"

      'Huh?' I blinked a few times at my sister, eyes flickering from the weathered pound in my hands towards her questioning brow. I glanced back down at the bill a few more times, each time the Queen's face felt more and more unnerving. Silently, I handed Hermione the pound, not wanting to hold it any more. 

      Hermione rolled her eyes at me and took the money, cocking her head towards Jane with a calculating frown, as if she knew she was right about something but only needed confirmation. "Mum, who was born first? Elle or me?" 

      Jane watched us, a stamp of bewilderment on her face as she tried to remember. 'Hm, I'll have to think about it, Hermione." Hermione rose a brow, it was not the reaction she'd been hoping for. After about a minute of me staring down Hermione, Jane finally nodded, a grin spreading on her lips. "Oh! I remember now. It was you, Hermione."

      Hermione pounded the air with her fist and shot me a wicked grin. "Yes! I told you I was born first, Elle. See, I know things." She let out a contented huff, resting her hands on her hips. "Ah, it feels nice knowing you're my little sister."

      "Psh, we are twins," I rolled my eyes at her antics, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm not your little sister."

      "But you both are going to be late if you don't catch a cab to the Leaky Cauldron," Dan's voice floated above our bickering and I glanced towards the translucent dental office to wave lightly at my father. Seated at a small, apprentice desk beside him, Henry was watching us with an amused smile. 

      I scratched my arm through the thick overcoat, not necessarily wanting to get back outside with the cold. I missed the warm weather. "Are you sure?" 

      "Oh, come on," Hermione huffed, pushing me out of the dental office and into the snow cluttered streets, ignoring my protests about slush, and the random homeless lady on the street who was giving us odd looks. 

      "Why are you looking at me?!" I yelled, getting her to scamper away.

      "Elle, would you stop making a scene," Hermione hissed at me, eyes going wide as she watched the older, homeless woman mutter foul words as she stomped down the street, "honestly, you'd think we were pulling out your liver."

      "Huh?" The weird analogy threw me off. My sister merely shot me a 'shut-up' glare as she hailed a taxi, getting the car to pull over for us, tires sending sleet in all directions, narrowly missing us. 

      "Ah, welcome back, Miss Granger." Tilula Dragon was dressed in a nice, green lab coat and her blonde hair was in it's usual, pristine bun. "How have you been feeling lately?" 

      "Better," I responded, stretching out my legs a bit, causing the light paper underneath me to crinkle loudly. "I actually wasn't aware that I would be having another check up, to be honest." 

      Miss Dragon nodded, adjusting her horn-rimmed glasses. "Sorry about that, I was having some problems with my assistant, but I have received a new one now. She should be here any moment to check your heart-rate and other vitals."

      As soon as Tilula grabbed the charts from the small, metal table beside my temporary bed, there was a knock on the door. "Miss Dragon! I'm here, I was told by Clary to report immediately to assist you!" The voice was cheery and held a tone of insanity. 

      Hermione and I spared each other a small glance of knowing as the door opened to reveal Blake. "OH MY GODRIC!" Blake squealed happily, eyes landing on the two of us. "Hermione! Elle! I'm so happy - ohmygosh!" She clapped her hands together and did a small happy dance, chocolate curls bouncing around her head in crazy bunches. 

      Miss Dragon cleared her throat, a small, hidden smile on the corners of her mouth. "Erm, Miss Hall, a bit of composure, please." Blake blushed and immediately apologized, ducking her head, cheeks crimson. "Now, please check Miss Granger's vital signs while I ask her a few questions." Blake flitted around me, grabbing her wand and a few tools, checking my heart-rate and being sure to scan my temperature, the usual suspects. 

      "Now, Elle," Miss Dragon started the awkward topic again. "How have you been doing? Have you been taking the medicine I prescribed?" 

      "I've been feeling better," I told her tucking a strand of hair behind my ear once Blake was done tugging on my arm. "And, yes, I have been drinking it, every night before bed." 

      Tilula nodded, scribbling things down on my charts, glancing up at me occasionally, only to glance back down and scribble a few more words. "And, your menstrual cycle? Any changes?" 

      I was impressed at how Blake kept her professional exterior, she didn't even flinch at the disturbing topics that the healer was droning on about. It dawned on me that she had probably heard worse cases in this place. Swallowing the thick lump that formed in my throat, my eyes danced from surface to surface, not knowing where to settle. "U-Uhm, no," I managed to stutter out, feeling suddenly uncomfortable and as if I was on the verge of tears. 'Embarrassment, probably.'

      Miss Dragon hummed to herself, and I was thankful that no one in the room, not even Hermione, glanced my way with eyes filled with worry. It would have been enough to drive me certifiably crazy. Sniffling, I quickly rubbed my eyes raw, messing up my make-up in the process and more than likely leaving my eyes ringed with black. 

      "Alright, well," the doctor scribbled a few last things down, "I am afraid that this was not a good thing to hear," she sighed, tapping her pen to the charts with a calculative frown directed at the ceiling. "I'm trying to think of a remedy to prescribe, but none currently come to mind." She stalked over to her wide cabinets and flung the doors open dramatically. "There is always the option of joining the experimental program, Miss Granger." 

      For the first time since we walked into St. Mungo's, Hermione piped up, adjusting herself nervously on the stool beside my side. "How has the progress for the experiment been going, Miss Dragon?" 

      My healer paused, pushing the rim of her glasses up her nose so she could offer me a placid smile. "I don't feel comfortable lying to patients. To be honest, the experiment has not made very much progress. It's been a difficult journey," she paused, and Blake nodded behind her, mouthing to me that she was telling the truth.

      "I'm sorry." She ducked her head, and I felt something stir in my chest. "But," Miss Dragon sighed, forcing a tight smile onto her ruby stained lips, "that doesn't mean we will never get there. These things just take time."

      Blake nodded, shooting me a smile as she rocked awkwardly on the heels of her feet, having nothing to do. "Would you like to get on the experimental list, Elle?" She asked, eyes shining in a perpetual state of happiness that I had come to categorize Blake with. "They are taking it off the market right now, do to the lack of effects, but it could be back soon!" 

      'It could be back soon,' I repeated in my head, realizing that there really was no cure. Who knows how long it took for them to make up the current medicine, the experimental product that had did zero help.

      I chuckled, a vain attempt to clear the thick air that had begun to fall in the office. "No, no, honestly - I don't even want kids right now. Besides, if I ever want kids I'll come back when the treatment actually has good results." I waved it off, turning to Tilula with a small, embarrassed frown. "No offense."

            "None taken, honestly."

      She asked me a few more routine questions, then grabbed more potion for the cysts. "Here you are, just for the holidays. Once you get back to Hogwarts, the medicine will be delivered by owl, like usual."

      Hermione thanked Miss Dragon for me as I grabbed my over coat and bag, flashing Blake a reassuring smile. Blake hugged me and walked with Hermione and I out of the office, stopping me by tugging on my hand before I got into the elevator. 

      "Elle," her voice was a low murmur, "you know, if you ever wanted kids, I would be more than willing to be a surrogate mother!" She blurted out, tackling me in a hug. 'There's the Blake I knew and loved', I sighed, hugging her back. "I'd have a million babies for you and Fred, if you'd want!" 

      I blushed, pushing her away as people stared. "I-I don't want kids right now, Blake! Besides, I don't even want to think that far ahead!" Blake snickered and pushed me lightly, showing me her thousand watt smile. 

      "Well, Hermione, Elle," Blake nodded towards a both, placing a faux look of professionalism onto her face, "George and I are hosting a small Christmas Eve party at Weasley's and Weasley's, and you are both invited."

      I could see Hermione's uncertainty as she drew out her next words. "When you say small..."

            "I mean just the five of us, and possibly Angie and Lee."

      "Sounds like fun," I nodded, putting my arm around Hermione's, as if subliminally telling her that she should come along. "You wanna come, 'Mione?"

      "What about Molly?" My sister frowned, thinking about the Weaslette. "Won't she be sad that Fred and George aren't coming home for the holidays?" 

      "No, Fred and George and I are all going to the Burrow Christmas morning," Blake countered. "So, she doesn't mind!" 

      Hermione faltered, and I was aware that she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. My sister never had spent much time with Blake or the others, so I knew she was definitely out of her element here. "Thank you, Blake. Maybe we'll stop by," I sung my arm from Hermione's arm to her shoulder, hugging her, "but, this year I think Hermione and I are going to be chilling with the family."

      Blake nodded, "I understand that, totally!" She waved as we got into the elevator, spotting her head healer giving her a dirty look for wasting time on the job. "If you still want to stop by, go right ahead!" She hollered just as the metal door closed. A muffled extent to her words could barely be heard as we began our descent. "I love you!" 

            "LOVE YOU TOO!" I cried out, but chances were that she hadn't heard me.

      Once Hermione and I reached the floor level, she turned to me with a grin. "Alright! Wanna get some ice cream now?" Her face fell as she noticed how distraught I looked. "Elle, what's wrong?"

      "I don't feel so well, 'Mione," I murmured, feeling low. My eyes fell to the floor and I merely stood there, feeling unable to help myself as my forced happiness crumbled around me. "I-I think I should go home. Do you mind?" 

      "Of course not," Hermione immediately responded, eyes only filled with worry for my state of being. "Is everything alright, do you think you should go talk to the Healer again?" 

      "No." The words practically flew from my mouth, causing Hermione to give me an odd glance. "No, it's fine. I think I just need a nap. We can get ice cream and go look at Christmas lights tomorrow!" I tacked a cheer to my voice onto the end of the explanation, hoping it would reassure Hermione. 

      As the bitter air outside hit us, she spared me a half-smile. "Well, as long as you're okay."

            I nodded, but the truth was, I wasn't okay. I was far from okay.

___________________

this was going to be a lot longer, but I decided to split it due to too much drama xx

PLEASE READ: 

Hey guys! So, as you know the book is going to be ending soon. And you amazing people that make covers are making too many for me to post with chapters! So, here's what we are going to do: 

the next book is going to be called: Forever, Fred

And, if you would like to make a cover for it, make one :D But, please, no more Granger Danger ones, I don't have enough story left!