Harry Potter and the Attack of the Stomach Virus
The clock on the wall, in the kitchen of Harry and Ginny Potter, read 7:10.
"Harry should have been up by now," Ginny said aloud, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in front of her. There had been a Death Eater sighting and Harry hadn't gotten home until midnight last night.
As Ginny sat debating whether or not to wake him up, Harry lay awake upstairs, staring at the wall. He felt hot and nauseated, whatever he had in his stomach wanting out. He lay there for another minute or so, his stomach gurgling loudly. He grimaced, clutching his stomach, trying to calm his upset stomach. He looked at the clock.
"7:15. I'll be late for work."
Slowly, carefully, he got up and moved to the bathroom. He got in the shower, hoping that he didn't have to jump out of the shower to throw up.
He was just finishing up when Ginny came upstairs. "Harry, sweetie, it's almost time to…oh." Ginny stopped short, noticing that her husband was no longer in bed. She turned to the bathroom and heard the water running. "Come downstairs when you're done. I'll fix you breakfast," she called. As she made her way out of the bedroom, she thought she heard a small groan from the bathroom.
Harry heard Ginny call him and when she mentioned breakfast, the nausea he was feeling was threatening to overwhelm him.
She headed back downstairs toward the kitchen, Harry appearing a moment later.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Ginny chuckled. "Harry, are you alright? I thought I heard a groan while you were in the bathroom."
Harry leaned against the doorframe where the kitchen joined the breakfast area. From the look on his face, it was clear he definitely wasn't feeling well.
"I think the lack of sleep is catching up with me and my stomach's a bit upset, but it should pass. I'll just take some toast and juice this morning."
"Okay, honey." Eyeing Harry from her place at the stove, Ginny began preparing his breakfast and heating some porridge for herself.
"He looks like he's sick. He'll never admit to it so there's no point in arguing with him about staying home from work" Ginny thought as she fixed Harry's toast and handed him the plate.
Ten minutes later, Harry picked up his messenger bag and kissed Ginny on the cheek.
"If you need me, Floo me at the office," Ginny said. "I'm going to work to renew my contract and I have an article to finish."
"Will do, love you."
"Love you, too. Have a good day and be careful."
When Harry was gone, Ginny let out a long sigh. "Wouldn't surprise me if I had to go and get him in the middle of the day," she mumbled to herself. "Too stubborn for his own good…"
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"Robards has become the latest victim of the stomach virus that's been going around, I'm keeping an eye on things until he gets back," Kingsley informed Ron after finishing up a discussion of the events of the previous night.
They were sitting in the break room of the Auror Headquarters in the Ministry of Magic, waiting for the other Aurors and Harry to come into work for the day.
"Hermione would hex me into next week if I came down with that thing. You know how busy she gets. It must be all over the Ministry – she was just telling me that it's been going around her office, too. We're all dropping like flies."
Kingsley shook his head with a chuckle. Over his shoulder, Ron could see a very disheveled Harry approaching.
"Hey, mate, how are… You don't look so good."
Kingsley swung around in his seat to see Harry leaning against the wall, breathing deeply. "I hope you're not coming down with that virus that's been going around," he said, giving him an once-over.
"You and me both, although I woke up with an upset stomach and nausea this morning," Harry said with a tired look on his face and a hand on his stomach, gently pressing in.
Ron eyed him from across the room. "How did you get past Ginny? Surely she wouldn't make you go to work when you're sick."
"That's just it. I don't think Ginny noticed."
Ron was surprised. It was hard to get anything past a Weasley, especially Ginny, and Harry wouldn't lie to her, because deep down he was scared of her wrath.
"What do you mean she didn't notice? One look at you, mate, and I could tell you don't feel good."
"She did ask me if I was okay this morning and I just said it was the lack of sleep and an upset stomach," Harry explained. "I have paperwork I need to catch up on anyway, and Ginny has a meeting with the Prophet to renew her contract. The last thing she needs is to have to play nurse to me."
Ron and Kingsley looked at each other.
"He's sick" Ron stated "I shared a dorm, a room, and a tent with him for seven years and we lived together for two years. I know he's sick."
The silence was broken when Kingsley said: "Something tells me that I will be calling Ginny soon."
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Toward lunchtime, Ron and Kingsley found Harry with his head lying on his desk, arms wrapped around his stomach, a small trashcan nearby, looking paler than he did that morning.
Kingsley looked at Ron, "Stay here with him. I'm going to go contact Ginny," Kingsley ordered. Walking to the fireplace, he threw in some Floo powder and said, "The Daily Prophet, Ginny Potter's office."
Ginny, meanwhile, was in her small office at the Daily Prophet, sitting at her desk, writing on the Harpies' victory over Puddlemore United and their advancement to the Cup. She was delighted with how well the team was doing without her, and it had been nice to catch up with everyone after the game. Some of the newer girls even got to meet Harry.
He was probably ready to kill me at least once that night, she reflected with a chuckle, recalling when the conversation had turned to her decision to retire so she and Harry could start a family. Some of her former teammates had made it sound like Ginny's job was now that of a housewife.
"Barefoot and pregnant," as one of them had put it. Ginny chuckled again, remembering Harry's attempt to keep his temper in check. And they thought my temper was bad.
"Ginny," a booming voice called.
"Kingsley! What is it?" Ginny jumped to her feet, seeing the Minister's head coming out of the Floo. "Is Harry okay? What happened?" She was now on the verge of panic – Kingsley only ever called her when emergencies with Harry arose.
"Have you heard of that stomach virus that's been going around the Ministry?" Kingsley asked.
"Yes, I have. As a matter of fact…oh, no… We visited Dad when he was just getting over it. I'm assuming you're calling to ask me to come and get Harry. I figured he was sick this morning."
"Ah, so you knew," Kingsley replied calmly.
"Yes, I noticed, but he said he was just tired. Give me five minutes."
When Kingsley disappeared in the green smoke, Ginny made her way to the editor's office. "Ryan!" she called to the assistant to the editor, who was stationed just outside the sports editor's office.
"Yes, Mrs. Potter?"
"Tell Eleanor I'm leaving. Harry's sick."
"Yes, Mrs. Potter."
Ginny glared her Weasley glare at the poor soul. "And for the last time, call me Ginny."
"Yes, Mrs. Pott – I mean…Ginny."
Ginny made her way to the Floo, she'd stop by later and pick up her work.
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Kingsley was there to greet her as she Flooed to the Ministry. "Ginny! Good to see you! Tell Harry I've given him the rest of the week off. Owl me if he needs more time."
"Thank you Kingsley, and thank you for contacting me," Ginny said before making her way to Harry's office. She met Ron just outside the open door.
"You're going to hex him for not telling you he was sick, aren't you?" Ron deadpanned before casting a sympathetic look in Harry's office.
"Considering it," Ginny shrugged. "Has he been throwing up?"
Ron glanced back at his ailing brother-in-law, who still had his head down on the desk. "I don't think so. You'd better get him home."
"I'm actually taking him to the Healer before we head home. Thanks, Ron."
"Anytime." Silently laughing, Ron moved out of the way for Ginny to enter. He knew how much Harry hated going to the Healer, especially while sick. Ginny had been known to drag him, literally to the healer. He didn't even see the ministry matron only if he needed to.
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Harry thought he'd be feeling better as the day went on, but it was now close to noon, and he was not. He laid his head down on his desk, hoping that the waves of nausea would pass, and didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until he felt a cool hand on his forehead.
"Harry," said a sweet voice that he recognized as Ginny's. He turned his head to the sound of her voice and looked at her with droopy eyes. At that moment his stomach lurched and a strong wave of nausea hit.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," he muttered.
Ginny reacted quickly, grabbing the nearby trashcan and shoving it into his hands just in time for him throw up. A quick cleaning spell afterward and the trashcan was good as new.
"Feel like going home?" Ginny asked, rubbing Harry's back. Harry nodded and she helped him up, picking his bag up off the floor. Ron patted him on the back as they headed out.
"Hope you feel better soon, mate. I'll hold down the fort."
They also passed Kingsley on the way to the Floo. "Ah, good. I told Ginny that you're off for the rest of the week. Forget paperwork – your health is more important. Hope you feel better," he said.
"Thanks, Kingsley," Harry said weakly, laying his head on Ginny's shoulder.
Kingsley looked at Ginny and nodded curtly. "Good luck. I hope you don't come down with this virus, too."
"That makes two of us," Ginny said as she picked up the Floo powder and threw it in the fireplace, ignoring Harry's cringe as she said, "Healer Johnson's office, St. Mungo's."
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Harry lay in a tight ball, with his arms around his middle, on the exam table in Healer Johnson's office, waiting.
"Sorry, Harry, I just want to make sure this is the stomach flu," Ginny said from her seat next to him. "I know Mum has that book, but I don't want to risk what happened the last time you had a stomach virus."
The last time Harry was sick with the stomach virus, he had ended up in St. Mungo's for dehydration. Ginny wanted to avoid that at all costs and recalled that that stomach virus had started out just like this – nothing but nausea and vomiting.
"Ginny, I don't feel so good," Harry moaned, wrapping his arms tighter around his stomach. Ginny brushed the hair out of his eyes, two big green orbs that screamed, "Take care of me!" looking back at her.
Harry grimaced as another strong cramp seized his abdomen and took a long, deep breath when it let up. "Gin," Harry said, gazing at his wife.
Running her hand through his hair, Ginny looked him in the eyes and said, "I know, sweetie."
"My stomach really hurts," Harry cried.
At that moment there was a knock on the door and Healer Johnson stepped in.
"Ah, Ginny, Harry. What brings the two of you here today?"
Harry groaned as another cramp ripped through his stomach. He clutched it tightly.
"The Ministry has been infected with the stomach virus and I think Harry might have it," Ginny told the Healer, not taking her eyes off her husband. Healer Johnson started inquiring as to when the symptoms had begun, whether Harry had been vomiting, and how much water he'd consumed since. He then asked Harry to sit up to begin the examination.
Ginny helped Harry get in a sitting position on the examination table. She moved him slowly, as to not aggravate Harry's queasy stomach.
There was a reason Harry didn't like Healer Johnson. He was trained by Healers at St. Mungo's and had a doctorate from a Muggle medical school. In his examinations, he used both practices. Harry was sensitive to magic and wasn't a big fan of his Healer's poking and prodding.
Healer Johnson started out by checking vital signs, in which they learned that Harry was running a fever of 101.3. After checking his eyes, nose, ears, throat, and neck, Healer Johnson pulled out his stethoscope and started listening to his heart and lungs.
Ginny sat there looking at her husband, who looked back with a pleading look in his eyes that said, "Get me out of here." It wasn't until Healer Johnson told him to lay back on the table that Ginny spoke up.
"Are you going to use magic now?"
His answer caused Harry to groan inwardly.
"No, not yet. I'm moving on to the part of the Muggle exam called the abdominal exam. I start by taking my stethoscope and listening to Harry's bowel sounds and other noises in his abdomen, and then I tap around and palpate his belly. Now, Harry, if you would pull up your shirt…"
Harry pulled up his shirt, looking at his bare stomach and then turning his head to Ginny as Healer Johnson placed the cold stethoscope on his warm belly. Harry felt the bell of the stethoscope move across his mid to lower abdomen. Ginny reached with one hand and held his hand while running her other through his hair. Harry closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Ginny kept an eye on him and occasionally looked at what Healer Johnson was doing to her husband's stomach.
That was when the Healer started tapping and then palpating Harry's stomach. Harry laid there as Healer Johnson proceeded with his torture. When Harry felt Healer Johnson's hand go deep in the middle of his gut, he made a pained face.
"I'm assuming that face means it's too much pressure."
Harry nodded, focusing on his deep breathing.
"Not much longer," whispered Ginny, still running her hand through his hair. Harry turned to look at her and Ginny noticed the pained expression on his face.
"Okay, now I'll move on to the magic part of the exam." Healer Johnson ran his wand over Harry, running diagnostic spells. "You're correct, Ginny. Harry does have the stomach flu." He allowed Harry to sit up and said, "You'll be good as new in a week. I'm sending a note to dismiss you from work for the rest of the week." Turning to Ginny, he added, "Make sure he drinks plenty of water. I'll give you some fever reducer and stomach soother, too."
"Thank you, Healer Johnson. I'll contact you if we need you."
"You're very welcome. I hope you feel better, Harry. And Ginny, have you taken anything to prevent yourself from getting the virus?"
"Yes, my dad had the virus and I think that's how Harry caught it. I've been helping my mum since Dad's been sick and she's given me a potion to prevent me from getting it. As a matter of fact, she made enough for me and Harry. I've been taking it ever since." She paused and turned to her husband. "…Harry hasn't."
"Okay, I'll see the two of you some other time."
After Healer Johnson left the room, Harry turned to Ginny and whined, "I wanna go home."
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Ginny had been working at her desk for an hour, ever since they'd gotten home from St. Mungo's. Harry was now asleep on the couch. Ginny looked away from her work and over to her husband. His eyes were closed, his glasses still on his face, his hands pressing the middle of his stomach. She'd given him his potions and placed him on the couch so he could be close by while she worked. She had stopped by her office and collected her work to take home, avoiding her coworkers as she had been dragging along a very sick and very tired Harry.
It was when he moaned loudly that she got up and walked over to the couch. She knelt down and laid her hand on his forehead. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?"
Harry sat up, allowing her to sit beside him and pull him gently into her lap. With his head in her lap, she started running her fingers through his messy black hair.
"Just take care of me," Harry said. "I know I'm usually a pain when I'm sick, but honestly, Gin, I've not felt this horrible in a long time."
Ginny knew this was true. She had seen Harry sick before, but never like this. Not even the last time he came down with the stomach virus. She slipped her hand under his shirt and started gently rubbing his stomach. As she rubbed small circles on his stomach, Harry relaxed a little and moved her hand to the place where it hurt the most. Ginny noticed as she was rubbing Harry's stomach that his once tense abdomen became softer and more like putty under her hand.
Looking at Harry's face, she saw that her massage had put him to sleep. Getting off the couch, gently positioning Harry off her lap and in a comfortable spot, Ginny went to the kitchen and fixed herself some lunch and a glass of water for Harry. Going back into the family room where she had left him, she noticed that he had turned over and was now lying on his stomach.
Ginny walked over to the couch and started rubbing circles on his back. Harry opened one eye, looked up at Ginny's concerned face.
"Thanks, Gin." Harry laid there as Ginny rubbed his back, trying to relax him. In a split second, Harry was a few shades paler with a green tinge.
"You okay?" Ginny asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"I feel nauseous like I'm going to throw up" Harry replied, voice partially muffled by the pillow.
"Poor thing" Ginny cooed as she rubbed Harry's back.
Harry groaned as a wave of nausea wash over him.
Suddenly he jumped off the couch and made a beeline for the bathroom. He had barely gotten his head over the toilet when he started violently throwing up. Ginny came running in after him and started rubbing his back soothingly.
After he was done, he leaned against the wall next to the toilet. He kept his eyes closed when he felt Ginny's hand on his forehead. Ginny inhaled sharply and assisted her husband from the first-floor bathroom to the master bathroom upstairs. The next thing Harry knew, he was sitting on the toilet, lid down, the back of his shirt being pulled up.
"Arms up, Harry. You're much warmer than you were at the Healer's. I'm going to make an ice bath to help your fever."
Harry raised his arms up and Ginny pulled off his shirt. Once she had him stripped down to his boxers, she made the bath and conjured ice cubes. She also found a bucket in case he was to be sick during the ice treatment.
Harry lowered himself into the tub of ice and water and instantly shivered. Ten minutes, he told himself. Ten minutes and I can get out. He didn't notice Ginny get in behind him until he felt her hands back on his stomach, rubbing in the same circles as she did earlier.
"How are you feeling, sweetie?" Ginny asked as the ten minutes came to an end. Harry leaned his head back, lying against her.
"I've been better. I'm starting to get cold."
Ginny stopped rubbing Harry's stomach. She then helped him out and handed him some clean clothes and dry underwear. She left him to change and went into the bedroom, where she turned the bed down and fixed a sick bucket within reach.
When Harry came out of the bathroom, he walked over to his side of the bed and collapsed into it, lying on his stomach, completely exhausted. Ginny sat on the bed, watching her husband sleep and rubbing his back.
"Ginny," Harry groaned into the pillow.
"Yes, dear?" Ginny replied, her hand never leaving Harry's back.
Harry turned his head to look at his wife. "If I rolled over, would you rub my stomach again? It calmed the cramps."
Ginny stopped rubbing his back. "Sure, sweetheart, I'll do anything to help you feel better."
Harry took the opportunity to roll over onto his back when his stomach wasn't cramping bad and the nausea wasn't as severe. Ginny moved to be closer to him. Sticking her hand under his shirt, she felt her husband tense when her cold hand made contact with the warm skin of his stomach. Pulling his shirt up slightly, Ginny started to rub slow and soft circles on the warm flesh of his belly.
"Feeling better?" Ginny asked.
"Much," Harry replied.
Ginny's stomach rub helped with the cramps and eased the soreness in his stomach. Ginny noticed it also helped him sleep. Many nights since they'd gotten married when Harry was stressed and couldn't sleep, she'd rub his back, neck, shoulders, and stomach to help him fall asleep. When Auror training got the best of him, she did the same routine to help ease his sore muscles. If it helped Harry sleep, she'd do it, especially when he was sick.
Ginny remembered one piece of advice Sirius had given her before he died. "Massages of all types help Harry to fall asleep, especially rubbing his neck." That conversation replayed in her head as she rubbed her sick husband's stomach, afraid that he'd wake up if she quit. She glanced at the clock and realized it was time for another dose of potions. She decided that instead of waking Harry, she'd spell the potions into his stomach.
Harry sighed in relief when the potions were spelled into his system. When she was finished, Ginny went downstairs to the kitchen to fix herself some dinner and get more water for Harry. She also fixed some dry toast, hoping he'd keep it down. A half an hour later, she learned that this wasn't the case since Harry's nausea returned.
Ginny had fallen asleep not long after she had come back upstairs. Harry ate the toast and drank the water she brought, only to bring it back up twenty minutes later, waking Ginny up in the process. On and off all night, Harry threw up in the bucket Ginny placed on his side of the bed. While he threw up, she rubbed his back until he laid down again and she moved her hand to his stomach.
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The next morning Ginny was relieved to see that Harry was finally sleeping. She spelled his potions into his stomach, cleaned the bucket with a cleaning spell, and left the room.
Harry spent the morning on the couch in the family room. He sweet talked Ginny into allowing him to watch some TV. Much to Ginny's dismay, Harry's choice of entrainment was The Simpsons. Unfortunately for Ginny, it was a marathon of the popular episodes, all of which Harry had seen.
As the week went on, Ginny continued to care for her ailing husband. She cleaned up vomit, rubbed his back and his stomach, and continually gave him enough water to overflow the Black Lake at Hogwarts. She fed him toast, soup, and crackers as trial and error to decide whether or not his stomach was ready for food. At the end of the week, Harry was a lot better.
On Monday the following week, Harry was getting ready to leave for work. Ginny came into the kitchen with the Daily Prophet and the mail. In the mail was a red envelope.
"Who would send you a Howler?" Ginny asked, puzzled, as she watched the envelope open.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER" Harry cringed at the tone of his mother in law's voice.
"I SHOULD HEX YOU INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. WHY DIDN'T YOU INFORM ME THAT YOU WERE SICK?! WHEN I SPOKE TO GINNY SHE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION YOU WERE SICK! I HAD TO HEAR ABOUT IT FROM RON WHEN HE CAME DOWN WITH THE VIRUS TWO DAYS AGO! HERMIONE WOULD HAVE HEXED THE BOTH OF YOU, BUT ONLY CHANGED HER MIND WHEN RON SAID THAT YOU HAD GOTTEN THE VIRUS FROM ARTHUR! THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE SICK YOU ARE TO LET ME KNOW RIGHT AWAY!"
The envelope then turned to Ginny. "Hope you remember to take that immunity potion, dear. Love you both."
"By the way…" Harry pulled Ginny into his lap. "Thanks for taking care of me."
"Anytime, baby." Ginny kissed him and they began another busy week, only this time no one got sick…with the stomach virus, at least.