Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Hi everyone! For some odd reason which I suspect to be stress and/or denial of my To Do list, I've been on a Harry Potter kick for a couple of weeks now and finally came up with a story idea. Inspired by the scene in Deathly Hallows Part 1 where Ron and Harry jump into the pond to retrieve the sword … enjoy!

"All in favour?" Ron's eager voice asked and Hermione raised an eyebrow slightly. Harry had an amused look on his face as he watched Ron's face fall when he realized this ploy did not win a smile from Hermione. The girl rolled her eyes, clutched the book tightly to her chest, and went back outside.

"Subtle," Harry said to Ron, the amused look still dancing in his eyes.
"Can't blame me for trying," Ron said with a sigh.

"No," Harry agreed, yawning and shivered. "That pond did nothing for the cold. I'm going to bed."


Hermione was on watch for most of the night though she and Harry had become a bit lax in staying out constantly; it was freezing and with only two people, it was becoming harder to stay awake all night. Even so, every time Hermione left the tent flap unattended, she could hear Mad Eye scolding her, "Constant vigilance."

It must have been around four o'clock in the morning when Hermione came in, cold and tired. The threes had decided to see Xenophilius Lovegood the next day and she knew it would be best to get some sleep before packing up the tent and leaving the Forest of Dean. She washed up with cold water and, shivering, crawled between her blankets. She was asleep almost instantly.


Harry woke up while it was still dark, though he could vaguely make out Hermione's shape in her bed, meaning it was probably quite early rather than very late. He was intent on closing his eyes again but a deep cough grew in his chest and, unable to keep it in, Harry coughed loudly. He groaned as he realized his sinuses were full of pressure and he was soaked in cold sweat. Ron, the world's heaviest sleeper, didn't stir. Hermione, however, did.

"Harry?" she whispered. "Harry, are you alright?"

Harry lost the battle not to cough again before wheezing, "I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

Hermione couldn't be persuaded and wrapping her blanket around her shoulders as she stood, she lit the tip of her wand and crossed the tent to the lower bunk.

"What's wrong?" she asked, squinting at Harry's face.

"Nothing, go back to sleep."

Hermione frowned.

"You're pale," she said. "And drenched in sweat."

Harry instinctively knew that a hand was descending onto his forehead.

"Hermione," Harry complained, shoving her hand off and rolling over, pulling his blankets up. Hermione sighed.

"You've got another fever," she said.

"It's fine," Harry replied, his voice mumbled by the pillow. "I just need some sleep."

The bushy-haired girl raised an eyebrow but silently padded back to her bed. She wasn't going to argue with him and he'd still be ill in the morning. She'd deal with him then.


Hermione was met with a less-than-pleasant surprise the next morning. Not only was Harry coughing, running a fever, and spluttering he was fine, Ron was doing the same thing.

"Why?" she exclaimed to no one in particular after she had felt Ron's temperature. "Why now?"

"Well, I'm sure it had nothing to do with the frozen pond we jumped into in the middle of winter," Harry muttered. He was not in a good mood, having not fallen back asleep since his first awakening. Ron coughed loudly and then groaned, the bed above Harry's squeaking ominously. "Alright," Hermione said with a sigh. "Obviously we're not going to see Mr. Lovegood today so make yourselves comfortable."

"Where are you going?" Ron asked, seeing her pull on her boots and coat.

"To get fresh water and then do the spells again. We've been here a few days already and they're wearing off."

Hermione didn't look at him when she spoke but instead just left the tent. Her exit created a draft that caused both boys to shiver violently.

"Sorry about this, Ron," Harry said, teeth chattering.

"'s not your fault."

"Sure it is. I would've died if you hadn't jumped into the water to save me."

"I guess." Ron said with a discrete shrug. "I feel bad for Hermione – she wanted to see Lovegood today and now she's stuck here."

Harry sighed. The prospect of being in the same tent as Ron and Hermione for the rest of the day – and any subsequent days this lingered – was not one Harry found particularly appealing. Hermione returned with a bucket of water and carefully poured some into their small kettle before turning to face her patients.

"Symptoms." She ordered – it was not a request and both Ron and Harry knew it. Ron, ever eager to please Hermione, answered first.

"My head hurts, throat's sore, cough, ugh, fever, I think. Tired."

Hermione nodded before glancing down to Harry.

"Same," he said. "But I have sinus pressure as well. My ears hurt."

Hermione frowned at that bit of news. The last thing any of them needed was to be sick but if Harry had an ear infection, they'd all be in trouble. The kettle whistled and she turned around to make tea.

"We'll try and nip this in the bud as soon as possible," she said, adding sugar to Ron's tea the way she knew he liked it. "Complete bed-rest and fluids."

She carried two steaming mugs of tea over to her patients.

"Thanks," Ron said graciously, sipping it and burning his tongue. He ignored the pain, smiling at her. "It's good."

Hermione didn't reply but simply handed Harry his tea before calling up a particular book from her beaded bag.

"I'll see if I can make any sort of potion to help you feel better. I don't think I have the things for pepper-up, which was stupid of me."

"No, it wasn't." Ron said immediately and Harry sighed. Ron's behaviour was simultaneously entertaining and nauseating.

"It was," Hermione snapped. "I should've thought that one of us might get sick out here."

"You had no way of knowing," Harry replied. "And we're all generally pretty healthy people, Quidditch injuries aside."

Hermione let out a brief chuckle though the smile didn't stay on her face for very long.

"Even so, I should have packed medicines. I'm sure your mother had loads of them right in the house, Ron."

Ron perked up at being addressed by Hermione.

"Oh, yeah, loads of them for every sort of illness."

Harry frowned – that didn't exactly sound like it was encouraging Hermione. The annoyed look on Hermione's face confirmed Harry's thought but Ron was so glad that Hermione had spoken to him, he was still talking.

"We were usually health kids, except for Percy, but I guess after seven of us, she built up quite a store. I can remember one Christmas where Percy, Bill, and Charlie all came home from Hogwarts with flu and, well, you can imagine that soon every one of us had it, too. We didn't celebrate Christmas till New Years because we were all stuck in bed."

"And how does that help us?" Hermione asked shortly. "I still didn't think to bring medicine or anything for potions."

"You have Essence of Dittany," Harry said with a small sip of tea. "Would that help at all?"

"No."

Hermione didn't elaborate and turned back to the kettle, pouring herself tea as well. After all, it was cold outside and she was hungry. Her stomach growled in protest as it met only liquid.

"Are you hungry?" Hermione asked the boys.

"No," Harry replied quickly. "Not a bit."

Hermione glanced at Ron, who shook his head.

"Sorry."

Hermione sighed.

"That's not a good sign. You're always hungry, Ron."

She sighed again and rummaged through her bag, pulling out a loaf of bread and slicing it.

"Where did you get bread?" Harry asked, his stomach clenching at the very sight of it.

"Godric's Hollow."

Once again, Hermione didn't elaborate and Harry didn't push for details. The girl ate her breakfast before turning back to her ailing friends.

They looked at her expectedly and Hermione simply stared at them before, much to her own surprise (not to mention Ron and Harry's), her lower lip quivered and she grabbed her coat, running out of the tent.

Okay, I admit you can't actually get sick from jumping into cold water in the middle of winter, at least not sick like this. But hey, fanfiction. Also, no idea what this will turn into so please register your thoughts and opinions below! Thank you =)