I do not own harry potter or related characters
"Come on Love, lie back" Bellatrix said gently to her little cousin Sirius who had been very sick for what seemed to her an eternity.
Sirius coughed into his fist and groaned in pain. His usually pale skin seemed even lighter. "Please Bella, can't I go look outside for just a little while it's beginning to snow." Sirius complained as a sudden wave of nausea and dizziness came over him.
"No dearest you are far too ill to be out of bed otherwise the doctor would not have said bed rest now lie back,you need your rest to be well. Andy and Cissy will be in shortly and we'll have some lunch and you'll get your medicine" Bella said pressing Sirius down onto his back and pulling the cover over him only to have him kick it back off immediately. "Too hot Bella, I feel so-" Sirius began to cough hard the gasped for breath. "Easy Sirius take it easy, Uncle Orion will be home soon to check on you too and if you start feeling better Regulus can come in and see you." Bella tried to be soothing. Sirius had spent a lot of time in bed lately.
Much to Sirius' dismay Bella replaced the blanket. "Doctor says stay under the cover you can't get a chill right now Sirius it isn't good. You'll be up and about in no time at all. I must go down to the kitchen and have a word with Cissy. You lie down, that means your head is not to leave that pillow. Understood?" Sirius nodded and watched as Bella walked out of the room and he listened for her footsteps going down the stairs. As soon as the foot steps had stopped Sirius climbed out of bed and onto the window seat where he could watch the quiet snow fall. It truly was miserable luck to be ill just when the first real snow of the season fell. Sirius loved the snow it was fun to out with his cousins and younger brother building snow wizards and throwing snowballs at each other.
Sirius leaned his head onto the cool pane of glass and
sighed. The cool window helped his fever. He closed his eyes imagining himself outside in the newly fallen snow.
He thought of what it felt like to catch the tiny flakes on his tongue how cold the snow felt in his hands as he packed it into a ball and then of how fun it was to pelt Bella and Regulus especially with snow. Sirius suddenly felt fatigue set in and began to drift off to sleep. He seemed to be asleep for only a few moments when he heard his name called and he turned to see who it was.
"Sirius, what on Earth are you doing up there. We just had a conversation about this didn't we?" Bella had come back and sounded very angry. Sirius remained silent for a moment then putting on a smile he turned to her. "Bella," He began sweetly knowing that his cousin would melt as she always did seeing his smile and hearing the tone of his voice. "I had to come over here. I was so very hot. I just had to cool down" Another coughing fit ruined his plan. "Well if you don't do as the healer says you won't be worrying about being able to cool down, you'll end up in a hospital if you get much worse." Bella said helping him off of the window seat and back into bed. "As it happens, I've told Kreacher to bring you a container of cool water and some cloths that I can place on your head for the fever, he will be up shortly but you need to be lying down now." Sirius sighed not about to resign himself to being controlled by illness.
"Bella, can I see him now, he is my brother after all. I should be able to visit him anytime I want to." Regulus called from beyond the door. "Not yet dear, soon though why don't you go help Andy, Cissy and Kreacher down stairs and then we'll see how he feels."
"But Bella I want him. He's got to play with me today. He said he would." Regulus whined. "I will keep my promise Reg but now is not the time. Go on and do as Bella asked, you can come in after that." Sirius said gently and Regulus walked down the stairs to help.
"Now then, Sirius you know I'd like for you to be out of bed and running round but you are simply too ill for such things. Uncle Orion said to stay with the healer's orders. I doubt the healer would approve of these antics. Go to sleep. Maybe later you can have a book or something. Don't look so down Love, we're only doing this for your benefit." Bella added sympathetically as the younger child looked away sadly.
"Look, I don't like it either. I don't want to see you in bed all the time. Stop moping about and relax. Your father will be home soon then we'll be out of your hair" Bella left the room leaving Sirius to wait for the old elf's arrival. The snow was falling gracefully from the sky and as hard as he tried, Sirius just could not ignore it. He got up steadying himself as the fever caused a wave of dizziness and made his way carefully over to the window and sat down his head once again pressed to the glass. His head ached as it came in contact with the window. Sirius sighed it felt good against his warm skin.
Suddenly he felt as though he was being moved and realized he ha gone to sleep. He opened his eyes feeling his nausea kick in and fatigue set in. He moaned at the small discomfort in his abdomen then looked over to see Bella beside him. "I told you about being up here. You're going to catch a chill" Bella scolded, moving her cousin closer to lean his head against her shoulder and placing her arm around him.
"Bella," Sirius called weakly. "What is it Sirius?"
Sirius felt his eyes begin to close as he whispered. "I-I feel so ill. So very ill Bella. I can't" Then silence as Sirius' head fell against her and he became silent. Bella' felt as though her heart had dropped into her stomach.
"Sirius, Dearest, wake up now. You need to get back to bed. Come on now" Bella's panic increased as she looked into the boy's paler than usual face and got no response.
Quickly she picked him up and carried him back to his bed and placed him under the covers just as Kreacher appeared in the doorway with the supplies. "Kreacher,I need you to listen to me carefully, send Regulus to his room then bring Cissy and Andy here. Sirius needs them. Put the water and cloths on the table here. Hurry go on now. Tell them it's very important" Bella wasted no time in dipping a cloth into the water ringing it out and placing it on Sirius's forehead. The elf apparated into the sitting room to carry out his orders. "Come on Sirius wake up. We need you to be awake. Show me you can open your eyes. Sirius," Bella looked around frantically for something that would help. Softly she called to him. "there is more snow now Love, open your eyes and have a look. You can't see the snow if you're asleep silly boy." Sirius did not move. Seconds letter Andy and Cissy rushed in to see their sister leaning over the bed tending to the boy.
"Bella, what happened?" Andy asked frightened looking from bella to Sirius then rushing to the bed. Cissy stood shocked in the doorway.
"I told him, I told him so many times to stay away from the window. Stay in bed He was sitting at the window yet again and I knew that I just couldn't win so I climbed up beside him and allowed him to lean on me trying to keep him warm and he moaned a little and t-told me he was feeling ill and then he did this. Tell me he'll be alright Andy. We must do something." Andy took hold of Sirius' hand and spoke softly stroking the boy's hair lovingly. "Hey Star, It's your Andy, Bella and Cissy are here with me, everything is going to be fine. We'll take care of you don't you worry. Cissy I need you to contact Uncle Orion through the fireplace is best I think tell him Sirius needs him now but first try to get his healer tell him to come at once. Cissy stood motionless. "Cissy NOW!" Snapping out of the trance she raced to the fireplace. "Bella look at me, He's going to be fine, you didn't do this. But I do need your help. He needs you. I know this is scary but He'll be fine keep that in mind. You did good putting this on him for the fever right now for your own benefit go down to the sitting room and take a break I'll stay here with him and when you're calm you can come back." Andromeda was always the strong one.
"What if he needs me?" Bella choked out through tears.
"then I will send someone to get you, I promise" Bella nodded her sister was right of course. The healer would come and the boy's father would be on his way, Sirius was a strong boy he'd make it and everything would be normal again or so she hoped.