A Valentine's Day They Would Never Forget
Ginny woke with a start, not exactly sure what woken her. Looking to her left, where Harry slept she found his side of the bed empty. In the darkness of the bedroom, she noticed the light on in the ensuite bathroom. She waited for a second to see if he was coming back to bed but became concerned when five minutes passed when Harry didn't return to bed. Apparently, something was wrong.
Quietly, Ginny threw the duvet off, crawling across the bed. She got up once her foot met the floor. Softy, she tiptoed to the bathroom door, knocking on the door.
"Harry?" She called, softly.
Ginny pushed open the door slowly, finding her boyfriend sitting in the floor in front of the toilet. He looked awful. He looked pale and when he looked up at her, Ginny noticed his eyes were glassy and dark circles under his eyes.
"Hi Gin," he said, weakly. Ginny kneeled down beside him, rubbing his back, comforting her sick boyfriend.
"Poor baby," she cooed. "How long have you been here?"
"Awhile," Harry croaked. "I feel sick."
"Are you done being sick?"
Harry nodded, eyes closed. "I think so."
"Do you want some water to rinse your mouth out?"
Harry nodded again. Ginny summoned a plastic cup from the kitchen, using her want to fill with water. She handed it to Harry, helping him hold the cup as he sloshed water around his mouth. When he finished he spit out the water in the toilet, allowing Ginny to help him lean back against her, laying his head on her shoulder.
After waiting a few minutes before she helped him back to bed, Ginny leaned over, kissing his forehead softly, pushing back his sweaty fringe.
"Are you to ready to head back to bed?" She asked as enough time had passed without Harry leaning over the toilet again.
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
Gently, Ginny helped Harry up from the floor and led him back to the bedroom. Once they were near the bed, Ginny guided him to sit down on the side of the bed, helping him to lie down, watching as he curled into a tight ball.
Reentering the bathroom, she collected the cup from where she left it on the floor and placed it on the sink. Opening the cabinet under the sink, she collected the grey bucket to place beside the bed. She turned off the light, flicked her wand at the lamp on Harry's nightstand and sat down the bucket beside him on the floor.
With Harry taken care of, Ginny crawled into bed beside him, pressing herself into his back, wrapping an arm around his waist. Suddenly, Harry leaned over the side of the bed, and threw up again, using the bucket this time. Ginny sat up, rubbing slow calming circles on his back. Once he was done, he turned over, nuzzling his face into her neck.
"I don't feel good," he groaned.
"I know, baby," Ginny murmured. She rubbed his back until she heard him making a burping, belching sound before he made a run for the bathroom, completely forgetting about the bucket next to the bed on the floor.
Ginny followed him back to the bathroom, sitting down behind him as he began to heave mainly bile into the toilet. To comfort him, Ginny rubbed his back and shoulders, summoning a washcloth, damping it and folding it to place it on the back of his neck in hopes of cooling him off as he felt warm.
When Harry finished, he laid his head down on the toilet seat, groaning softly, and clutching his stomach. He closed his eyes tightly, wincing as he felt his stomach cramp sharply.
"I don't think I'm done," Harry moaned. Suddenly, he lurched forward, gripping the toilet tightly as he began to heave once again. When he finally finished, Ginny leaned up to flush the toilet. Harry leaned back against Ginny, feeling a cool wet cloth on his face, wiping off the sweat and in an attempt of cooling him off.
Summoning the cup again, Ginny filled it with water, wordlessly handing it to Harry. After repeating the slosh and spit from before, Harry handed Ginny the cup back and allowed her to wipe his face again.
"Do you want to move back to bed or to the couch?" Ginny asked.
"The couch," Harry decided. At this rate, he wasn't going to get any more sleep tonight.
Ginny helped him from the floor and watched him shuffle towards the couch. On her way to the living room, Ginny grabbed the bucket using her wand to clean it, a blanket, a blanket Harry had flung over the armchair in the corner, and Harry pillow.
Upon entering the lounge, Ginny found Harry curled up in a ball, arms wrapped tightly around his middle. Ginny set down the newly clean bucket next to Harry's head on the floor, allowing him to lean over the side if he needed to vomit. She handed Harry his pillow, adjusting for him and helping him lay back.
"Comfortable?" She asked, throwing the blanket over him.
"Yeah," Harry sighed. Ginny sat down on the couch, adjusting Harry so that his pillow and his head were on lap, allowing her to run her fingers through his hair.
"Harry, I need to take your temperature. I'm going to get the thermometer, I'll be right back."
Harry nodded, groaning softly, clutching his stomach more tightly. Why was his stomach cramping so bad?
Ginny returned with the thermometer, cleaning it with her wand. Once she dried it off, Ginny popped it into Harry's mouth.
"We need to wait a few minutes for it to beep," she reminded him. She smiled softly, looking at him with nothing but love in her eyes. Harry curled up in a ball, looking miserable and sick, his eyes were glassy with fever. He looked like a little boy with a raggedy t-shirt, pajama bottoms, and messy hair with the thermometer sticking out of his mouth.
Finally, the thermometer beeped. Ginny carefully pulled it out of his mouth.
"102," she whispered. She placed her hand on Harry's forehead. He was warm to the touch and Harry leaned into her cool hand. "Poor baby."
"Gin, I feel sick," he moaned. Ginny pressed a kiss to his forehead. She slipped her hand under his shirt and began to rub small soothing circles on his belly hoping he would feel better. With her other hand, she ran her fingers through his hair in hopes of soothing him.
"You'll feel better soon," she cooed.
Ginny noticed that Harry's face had suddenly gotten paler and began to turn a little green. Like a flash, he was sitting up and Ginny pushed the bucket into his hands. He began to throw up once more.
"I hope for your sake that this is it," Ginny soothed, rubbing his back in soothing circles as he heaved, panting for breath. Quickly, Ginny summoned her wand, flicking it towards the buckets, cleaning the contents of Harry's stomach from the bucket.
Ginny got up from the couch, heading into the kitchen. She grabbed a clean cup from the cabinet and fixed some water and then returned to the living room.
"Here, take small sips," Ginny murmured. Harry took the cup from her, taking small sips of water, first rinsing out his mouth, spitting the water out into the bucket. He handed the cup back to Ginny and laid back down on the couch, wrapping his arms around his belly.
Ginny returned from the kitchen, sitting down on the other side of the couch, picking up his bare feet, laying them across her lap.
"Can you lay down with me?" Harry asked, sounding more like a little child. Ginny smiled, laying down beside him, never able to tell Harry no when he was feeling unwell. She began to rub his head and neck to help him fall asleep.
"Try to get some sleep, sweetie," she whispered.
Harry nodded, letting Ginny's soothing head and neck rub, lull him to sleep. Ginny waited until Harry was asleep before she went to sleep herself.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny was woken up by a tapping sound. She sat up slightly, discovering an owl at the window. She carefully got up from the couch, careful not to disturb Harry and approached the window. With a jolt, she realized it was a Ministry owl. She opened the window, the owl flew in. She took the letter from the owl. Letters from the Auror office had wards on them that wouldn't open for anyone who wasn't an employee. But Ginny was able to open the letter.
Harry,
Where are you?
Ron
Ginny looked up at the clock, realizing that it was nine in the morning. Monday morning Harry was supposed to be in work at eight. She dropped the letter on the counter and picked up some floo powder.
Harry had put Ginny down as his emergency contact and she had called in for him when he was sick before.
She threw the floo powder, calling "Ministry of Magic, Auror Office."
Ginny didn't have to wait long until she heard one of the secretaries greet, "Auror Headquarters, how may I help you?"
"I'm Ginny Weasley, Auror Harry Potter's girlfriend. I would like to speak with Head Auror Robards," Ginny requested.
"Hold on one moment."
Ginny didn't have to wait long until she heard the rough voice of Head Auror Robards.
"Hello Ginny, what's going on?" Robards asked.
"Harry's sick, I'm calling to let you know that he wouldn't be in work today."
It was apparent that this was the last Robards needed. He sighed, shaking his head, mumbling something that Ginny couldn't understand.
"Alright, tell Harry he could have the day off. If he's not feeling better tomorrow then he can have tomorrow off. Let me know how he's feeling tomorrow. If he needs more time, please let me know."
"I will," Ginny assured him. "Thank you, Robards."
Ginny pulled her head out of the floo, glancing towards the couch. Harry had turned over to lie on his stomach while Ginny was on the floo.
"You're welcome." Robards did a salute and disconnected.
Before she decided to floo Gwenog to let her know she wouldn't be at practice later, she headed to the couch to check on Harry.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked.
"No," Harry groaned. "My stomach really hurts."
Ginny rubbed his back soothingly. "Should I call Healer Jenkins?"
"Not right now," Harry's voice was muffled by a pillow, but Ginny could understand what was staying.
"Okay, I'm going to call Gwenog to tell her you're sick. I'll be right back."
Heading back to the floo, Ginny picked up the floo powder and floo Gwenog.
"Hello, Gwenog, I'm letting you know that I won't be at practice today. Harry's sick."
Unknown to others in the Quidditch world, Gwenog was very understanding when her players were needed else were. Plus, there was no keeping Ginny away from Harry when he was sick.
"Do you know what's wrong?" Gwenog asked. She was genuinely concerned since any illness could be spread to her team, even if it came from a boyfriend, husband, or offspring.
"I'm going to guess stomach flu," Ginny replied. "He's running a fever and complaining with his stomach hurting."
"Are you going to take him to the healer?"
"I don't know yet," Ginny answered, honestly. Getting Harry to the healer was like pulling teeth. He only went when he had to, like when he was required to have a physical before he started with the Aurors. Ginny had accompanied him to the appointment and knew if it wasn't a requirement, Harry didn't go anywhere, including the healer.
"I might have to drag him there if's he not feeling better."
Gwenog nodded. "Good luck, Ginny. Take care of him and yourself. If you need more time off, let me know."
"Thanks, Gwenog."
With that call done, Ginny returned to Harry's side.
"Harry?"
Harry picked his head up off the couch and with heavy-lidded eyes, looked up at his girlfriend. "Yeah?"
"Do you want to move back to bed or stay here?"
"Stay here?"
Harry turned to lie on his side. The movement must have jostled his stomach because all of a sudden, he felt his stomach cramp and clench tightly. He groaned, clutching his middle.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked.
Harry shook his head. "My stomach hurts really bad."
He was curled into a ball, allowing Ginny to sit down on the couch. Reaching over she started rubbing Harry's belly in slow soothing circles. She watched as Harry winced again.
"Do you want to try a stomach soother?"
Harry considered it for a second, but judging from how his stomach was acting, it wouldn't stay down.
"It won't stay down," Harry murmured.
Ginny knew that was going to be Harry's response as it was usually when he was feeling nauseous. She rubbed his back in soothing circles with one hand and his stomach with the other. She could feel Harry's belly rumbling under her hand. Unknowingly to Harry, Ginny was started to get worried.
Suddenly, Harry gagged and shot off the couch, bolting to the bathroom. Ginny followed him, now wondering what was going on. Harry had the stomach flu, plenty of times, and this seemed to be the worst case Harry ever had. She found him in the bathroom and kneeled behind him, rubbing his back.
Harry retched, heaving until he was dry heaving. Ginny winced as she watched as each heave wreaked his body. He wrapped the arm that wasn't holding on the toilet around his middle. The dry heaving felt like his stomach muscles were being squeezed to death.
"Ow," Harry whined, clutching his stomach.
Ginny took a deep breath, preparing for a battle. In a way, it was because she was preparing for a one.
"Harry," she began. "I think we need to go see Healer Jenkins."
Harry immediately answered with, "Can we wait and see if I'm feeling better later? Then go?"
"Alright," Ginny agreed, knowing if she pushed, she wouldn't get anywhere. "But if you're not feeling better, your stomach pain gets worse or your fever raises, we're going to St. Mungo's."
"Okay," Harry agreed.
How little did Harry know how wrong he was?"
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny quietly fixed herself breakfast, casting spells to mask the smell so it wouldn't further upset Harry's stomach. She considered flooing Healer Jenkins just to ask his option on what was going on.
She sent a note to Ron, telling him that Harry was sick and would be staying home. She would call him later to let him know how Harry was doing.
She was getting worried about her boyfriend. Granted, she had seen him sicker than this. Food poisoning, stomach flu, the Muggle Flu, an intestinal infection, and stomach aches from hangovers and overeating.
Appendicitis was out. Harry had his appendix removed during his sixth year. That was the scariest six hours of Ginny's life and that didn't include the two hours and ten-minute operation it took to remove it. Harry's appendix was on the verge of rupturing when Healer Dalton reached it, after navigating his way through some scar tissue in Harry's abdomen.
Ginny ate her breakfast quietly, sipping her tea. She thought once about calling her mother, but Molly was with her brother Charlie. He was injured at work and Molly, ever the mother had left on a Portkey to Romania yesterday to take care of her son.
She looked at the calendar, noting the date: Valentine's Day. Because it had fallen on a Monday and the day Harry usually works late on, they had gone out for dinner on Saturday and had exchanged gifts with each other. They figured that they would watch a movie tonight after Harry got home from work. Well, that plan was out. Harry wouldn't feel like doing much.
Ginny smiled as she thought of Valentine's Day past. For her and Harry's first Valentines, Harry owl ordered a silver heart-shaped locket. He had her initials engraved on the back and Hermione had taken her favorite picture of Harry and had made a copy and then shrunk it to fit in the locket. A permanent sticking charm kept the picture in place. Harry gave it to her over lunch for two that Harry managed to get when Professor Dumbledore arranged for a Hogsmeade weekend in the Room of Requirement.
Ginny still had the locket, wearing t every day in her sixth year. She would open it and look at the picture when she missed him.
The second Valentine's Day they spend together and the first one following the war. Harry had arranged for dinner for two at the Three Broomsticks after he had gotten the approval from Professor McGonagall. Harry gave her a necklace with a rose pendant. The rose was red and the chain was white gold. Ginny wore it a lot and had switched from wearing the locket or the rose necklace.
She still had both in her jewelry box.
Last year, Harry had bought her a ring she had been eyeing in the shop. It was a heart ring. Ginny loved it and wore it on her finger every day. Harry had given her a chain to put it on if she wanted to wear it for matches. She did.
Her thoughts were broken when she heard a pained groan from the bedroom. She rushed into the room, finding Harry curled into a tighter ball in the middle of the bed.
"Harry, sweetie, what's wrong?" Ginny asked. When she didn't get a response, she was even more concerned. "Harry, talk to me. What's wrong?"
"It hurts," Harry whimpered.
"Your stomach still hurts?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded, whimpering. "Ow."
"Harry, baby," Ginny cooed. "Where does it hurt?"
Harry took her hand, placing it in the middle of his stomach moving it lower.
"That's where it hurts?" Ginny inquired.
"It's killing me," Harry whined. "It really hurts."
Ginny decided enough was enough. She wasn't going to let Harry suffer any longer.
"Harry, we're going to St. Mungo's."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny sat on a cushioned loveseat in the waiting room of Healer Jenkins' office with Harry curled up beside her with his head in her lap. She had helped him get up from the couch and let him lean on her to floo both of them to St. Mungo's. Harry didn't argue with her when she made the decision to take him to the wizarding hospital.
"Gin, make it stop," Harry begged.
Ginny felt helpless. Here, Harry was begging her to help, but there was nothing she could do. She tried to rub his stomach again, but his belly was sore and just the least amount of pressure hurt.
The healer's exam was going to be interesting.
"Harry Potter," the matron called.
Ginny stood up from the loveseat she was sitting in, helping Harry to sit up and then stand up. She wrapped his arm around her and the wrapped an arm around him. Together they shuffled their way to the matron.
"Follow me," she told the young couple.
With her arm around Harry, Ginny followed the matron to the exam room. Upon entering the exam room, Ginny helped him to sit down on the bed. She moved slowly to prevent Harry from suffering from more pain.
"So what brings you in?" the matron inquired, sitting down her clipboard on the desk.
"He's been complaining of severe abdominal pain," Ginny explained.
"On a scale of one to ten, with being the worst, how bad is the pain?" the matron asked, beginning the question and answers section of the exam.
"It jumps between eight and ten," Harry croaked. "To put it mildly, my stomach is killing me."
Ginny cleared her throat, getting the matron's attention. "He had his appendix removed in 1996. Healer Dalton performed the surgery. No surgeries since then that I know of. Just thought I would add that because I'm not sure if it's in Harry's file."
"Alright." The matron wrote down the information Ginny gave her in Harry's file. "Is he running a fever?"
"102," Ginny replied promptly. The matron performed a spell that would display Harry's vitals.
"He's running a fever of 103.4 now," the matron recited from the chat as the rest of Harry's vitals appeared in the correct boxes on his chart. "Healer Jenkins will be with you in a moment."
The matron hadn't been gone long until there was a knock on the door and Healer Jenkins came in the room.
"Hello there," Healer Jenkins greeted. He looked over Harry's chat and the notes in his file from the matron. "I see here you're having some severe abdominal pain."
"It started sometime around four this morning," Harry answered the unasked question, knowing that the healer's first question would be when the illness started.
"Okay. When the abdominal pain got worse?"
"It came on gradually," Harry admitted. "Then when it got worse, it stayed only tightening every few minutes."
"Okay," the healer repeated. He closed Harry's file and set it down on the table. He approached the bedside to begin the exam. "Can you lie on your back for me?"
Harry turned onto his back, slowly. He knew, exactly, what the healer was going to do.
"I'm going to do an abdominal exam, we'll find out what's going on in there. Sorry, Harry, but I'll need to palpate your abdomen. I'll be gentle, I promise."
Harry swallowed thickly and nodded, reaching for Ginny's hand. He felt her hand in his and entwined their fingers.
Ginny pulled up Harry's t-shirt before the healer asked. "Thank you, Ginny."
"Can stomach flu cause pain like this?" Ginny asked, curiously.
"It can. It's not unusual to have painful stomach cramps," Healer Jenkins agreed. He waved his wand over Harry's bare stomach. Some grumbling was heard along with some rumbling. "Harry's bowel sounds are slightly hyperactive which points to the stomach flu."
"Alright Harry, I'm going to start palpating. Let me know if it hurts where I press or if there is any tenderness."
Harry nodded, squeezing Ginny's hand. Soon he felt the healer's hands on his belly, pressing on different areas of his abdomen. He hissed when the healer pressed on the middle of his abdomen.
"Sorry, Harry. I'm going to start the deeper palpation, just relax for me. Tell me if you feel any pressure."
Harry nodded, letting out a long breath. Healer Jenkins hummed, moving around Harry's abdomen, this time with deep palpation.
"What's the hum about?" Ginny asked, as calmly as she could.
Healer Jenkins looked up from his patient to his very concerned girlfriend. "I will need to perform a diagnostic spell, but I think that Harry just as a case of gastroenteritis."
At Ginny's confused face, Healer Jenkins added, "It's the medical term for stomach flu."
"Oh." Ginny looked down at Harry. He looked miserable. Maybe they could go home after the diagnostic spell was done and they got the potions they would need.
"I'll do the diagnostic spell and we'll see what's going on."
Waving his wand over Harry, he focused his wand over his bare stomach, performing the diagnostic charm.
"He's got gastroenteritis or more commonly known as the stomach flu," Healer Jenkins explained.
Harry groaned. "I figured. Then why does my stomach hurt so much?"
"Stomach cramps," He replied. "You must have the severe type. I could give you potions to help with the potions to help the cramps. I also would suggest using a heating pad to help."
Ginny nodded, knowing what to do for Harry when he was sick with stomach flu.
"I'll get you some maximum strength stomach soother and stomach calmers. One tends to relax the muscles in the stomach and intestines while the other soothes the acid in the stomach."
Harry sat up with some help from Ginny, pulling down his shirt.
"So, how long will I have this?" Harry asked.
"You should feel better in about one to three days," Healer Jenkins assured him.
"One to three days," Harry requested.
"That's how long the symptoms last. It could also be a twenty-four-hour bug which according to Harry's history that is the kind he typically gets." Healer Jenkins wrote down some notes in Harry's file for this particular visit. "Do you have any questions?" he asked.
Harry and Ginny shook their head as they didn't have any questions.
"No," Ginny answered.
"Alright." Healer Jenkins left the room for a moment, returning with a green bag from the hospital apothecary. "Here is the stomach soother and stomach calmer, I included some fever reducer since he's also running a fever. Needless to say, Ginny, you the doses."
Ginny nodded. "It's the same as the regular stomach calmer."
"Right." Healer Jenkins watched Harry lean into Ginny, his eyes were getting droopy and he looked tired.
"If his fever raises, or if his stomach pain increases, bring him to the office."
"Thank you, Healer Jenkins," Ginny said, sincerely.
"You're welcome. Feel better soon Harry."
After Healer Jenkins left the room, Harry turned to Ginny, begging, "Can we go home now?"
Getting a good look at her sick and miserable boyfriend, she nodded. "Yes, let's go home."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Upon arriving home, Ginny let Harry to the bedroom, helping him lay down in the bed. Sitting the bag with the potions on the bedside table, Ginny left briefly to get a cup of water for Harry to have to take his potions with.
Harry was lying down on the bed when Ginny returned. She sat down the cup of water on the bedside table, opening the potion bag. She decided to give Harry the stomach calmer first, then the fever reducer then would give him the stomach soother.
Reaching into the bag, she pulled out the purple vial. "Harry, sweetie, can you sit up for me?"
Propping himself on one hand, Harry took the vial from Ginny. He downed the first potion.
"Which one was this one?" Harry asked.
"Stomach calmer," Ginny replied. "Then I'll give you fever reducer and then the stomach soother. She took the empty vial of stomach calmer from Harry, handing him the fever reducer. He made a face as he swallowed the fever reducer potion that reminded him of sludge. Ginny handed him the cup of water, switching them with the empty vial, knowing he needed water after fever reducer.
"Slow sips, sweeties," Ginny cautioned, running through his hair, pushing the stray hair back from his face, moving sweaty hair off of his forehead.
"Can the fever-reducing potions have any flavor?" Harry pondered out loud. Some potions Ginny was able to get was flavored, many mint or cherry flavored. There were some potions that Harry would take willingly. Others, Ginny had to get creative on giving them to Harry, many times she bribed with ice cream or treacle tart."
It was no secret that Harry would wrestle someone for treacle tart and cookie dough ice cream.
"I know it tastes horrible, baby. But it would help you feel better," Ginny soothed.
"I know," Harry groaned. He could feel the stomach calmer started working.
"Last potion," Ginny promised, handing the stomach soother to Harry. Taking the all too familiar pink, Harry swallowed it quickly.
"That's all the potions. Need anything?" Ginny asked.
"No, not right now," Harry replied. He laid back down, turning to lie on his side. Looking up at Ginny, he watched as she sat down on the side of the bed.
Harry took his glasses off, laying his head down on his pillow. Turning onto his back, he grabbed Ginny's hand, placing her hand on his stomach, wordlessly asking for a stomach rub.
"Do you want me to rub your stomach?" she asked. Harry nodded. He felt Ginny's fingers grip on the hem of his t-shirt, pulling up to his ribs. He shivered a little as the cool air in the room met the warm skin of his abdomen. He then felt Ginny's soft hand on his belly, rubbing in the familiar soothing circles.
"How am I doing?" Ginny asked. "Does your stomach better?"
"Yeah," Harry sighed. While the stomach calmer took care of relaxing the muscles inside Harry Harry's stomach, Ginny's massage took care of the muscles outside of his stomach. "It feels really good."
Soon he's even breathing told Ginny, Harry was sound asleep. She kept massaging Harry's stomach until she was sure he was sound asleep. She pulled down his t-shirt, covering him with a blanket. She kissed his forehead and then crawled to her side of the bed. She picked up the book on her bedside table and read.
She stayed there beside Harry while he slept, never leaving his side.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry woke up sometime in the afternoon due to a sudden cramp that ripped through his stomach. He groaned, turned his head into the muffle the noise.
"Ginny?" Harry called. "Ginny!"
Ginny came running into the bedroom from the kitchen where she was sorting laundry.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"My stomach is cramping. Can I have the heating pad?" Harry begged.
Ginny nodded, heading out to the hall to get the heating pad. Harry kept it in with his first aid things in the cupboard on the other side of the flat. It was the only space that Harry had to store the first aid kit, but Ginny had a plan of buying a bin that would fit under his bed to keep things like the heating pad in. That way, this scavenger hunt wouldn't be repeated when Harry needed the heating pad.
Ginny found it and headed back to Harry's bedroom.
"Harry, I need you to lie on your back so I can place the heating pad to your stomach."
Harry listened to her, turning to lie on his bed. Ginny laid the heating pad on Harry's stomach, turning it on low. She smiled when she heard him sigh as the heating pad started to warm up.
"Better?"
"Much," Harry sighed. "Thanks, babe."
"You're welcome. Need anything else?" She asked.
"Could I get some apple juice?"
Ginny thought for a second. There was some in the fridge, enough for a glass. She would need to add it to the shopping list.
"Yes, I'll be right back."
Harry laid there, feeling content at the moment. The heating pad was soothing the cramps and the soreness he had been having.
"Here you are." Ginny handed him a cup of apple juice without ice, just how Harry liked it. Harry hoisted up, on one hand, taking the cup from Ginny.
"Thanks." Harry took slow sips of the juice, sitting it down on the nightstand.
"Need anything else?" Ginny asked.
"Snuggle with him?" He requested. Although he didn't need to, he threw in his puppy dog face.
"Okay," Ginny agreed. She crawled in beside him and snuggled up beside him.
She felt his forehead.
"Your fever is going down," she noted.
"The stomach potions have calmed things down in there. I don't feel as sick as I did."
"That good."
Not needing to talk any more, they snuggled up together, enjoying each other's company and the silence of the quiet flat.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry woke up, the next morning. He had slept the rest of the day away. Laying there in bed, he took a moment to take stock of himself. He felt a little better and a little sweaty.
Lifting his head to his forehead, he was relieved to learn that his fever had broken. That explained why he felt sweaty.
His stomach felt better, just a little sore from the cramps he had been suffering from. It had been a little over twenty-four hours since this bug had begun. Harry had hoped that it had about run its course.
"Harry? Are you awake?"
Harry had to smile to his girl's sweet voice. How did he get so lucky?
"Yeah, I'm awake."
"How's your stomach?" Ginny asked.
"Better," Harry murmured.
"Good." Ginny reached over, feeling Harry's forehead. "Your fever broke!"
"I could tell that," Harry informed her.
"You slept a long time," Ginny stated.
"I guess I needed sleep." Harry then realized what day yesterday was. Valentine's Day!
"Ginny, I'm sorry I messed up our plans for last night. I'll make it up to you," Harry promised.
Ginny smiled, leaning down to kiss her boyfriend, kissing his cheek.
"Baby," Ginny began. "We celebrated Valentine's early, this year due to your work schedule. We could watch the movies and eat popcorn tonight if you feel up to it."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I'm sure." Ginny leaned over, kissing Harry's forehead. "Besides I got to spend Valentine's Day with you. That's all that matter to me is that we're together."
"Ginny?" Harry said after a while.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for taking care of me."
"You're welcome, sweetie." Ginny kissed his cheek once more. "I will always take care of you. I love you."
"I love you."
The next year on Valentine's Day, they looked back on this day reminiscing as they thought of Valentine's past. Harry made it special as their first one as a married couple. He was glad that it wasn't spent like the one last year.
It was definitely a Valentine's Day to Remember.
