Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Hi everyone! Clearly this isn't the epilogue to Christmas in the Highlands but don't worry, I am working on it and it should be up soon. In the meantime, I've been trying to write a story with a sick Draco for years now and finally came up with an idea that is unlike anything I've ever done before. Read the first chapter and see the note at the bottom for more details – enjoy!
Draco Malfoy rolled over in his bed and groaned quietly. He had barely opened his eyes before regretting it and he squeezed them tightly shut instantly. He felt sweaty and uncomfortable but at the same time the cold morning air in the dormitory was nipping at his nose and he burrowed further down into the blankets.
What had he done to deserve this? he thought as a harsh cough that made his throat feel like it was on fire forced him to prop himself up with his elbow. He continued coughing and the coughs became deeper and deeper and Draco was almost at the point of wondering if he was going to be sick or suffocate when he managed to get a gulp of fresh air. As he calmed his racing heart, swallowed gingerly, and wiped at his brow – sweat was now pouring off him – he looked around and found the dormitory empty. He wondered what time it was and where Crabbe and Goyle were.
Draco pushed his covers back and his feet had just touched the ground when the door swung open and Professor Snape entered.
"Professor," Draco said quickly. "What time is it?"
"Back into bed, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said briskly. Draco drew his feet back under the covers and asked his question again.
"It's almost nine o'clock in the morning."
Snape reached out his hand to test Draco's temperature but Draco pushed it away.
"Is there a reason no one woke me until now?"
He knew he was ill but it bothered him that people assumed he couldn't decide for himself on whether or not he attended lessons. After all, he had been taking care of himself for five years.
"Yes." Snape said sharply. "According to Mr. Goyle, you were moaning and coughing most of the night. When he informed me of this at breakfast, I told them to let you sleep. Now lie still."
Draco shot a nasty look at his favourite teacher but allowed the hand to rest on his burning forehead.
"I think it goes without saying that you're burning up," Snape said simply.
"No kidding."
Snape raised an eyebrow at his favourite student.
"I'll look past your tone given that you are unwell," he said coolly. "Have you been up to the Hospital Wing yet? I'm assuming you felt ill yesterday as well."
Draco shook his head.
"I don't need to be taken care of like a fusspot," he muttered. "I'll be fine."
"Will be, yes, but you are far from fine now." Snape answered smartly. "However, seeing as you were ignorant enough not to see the Matron before now, I had better fetch her straight away. Given the," Snape's eyebrow went up ever so slightly and the next word out of his mouth was chosen carefully. "Circumstances, you may stay here."
Draco groaned as he buried his head in his pillow.
"Really, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape from the doorway. "There is no need to be so dramatic."
With a swish of his robes, Snape left the dormitory and Draco glared up at the underside of his bed hangings. This was ridiculous; he was sixteen, he didn't need to be taken care of like a child.
A few moments later, all of which Draco brooded through, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape entered the room. It took Madam Pomfrey all of two seconds to have her hand lying on Draco's forehead.
"I don't understand why he isn't in the Hospital Wing, Severus," she said curtly. "He's burning up."
"I hardly think it's necessary," Snape answered coldly. "A few potions and some rest and he'll be as good as new. I'm more than willing to keep an eye on him today."
Madam Pomfrey did not look pleased but turned back to her patient.
"Open your mouth," she instructed, lighting the tip of her wand.
"No."
"Draco." Snape's voice carried through the dorm and with a tremendous sigh, Draco did as he was told. Madam Pomfrey peered into to his mouth, clucking her tongue. She slipped her wand into her apron pocket and felt Malfoy's glands.
"Don't touch me! Your hands are freezing." Malfoy exclaimed, shoving Poppy's hand away and pulling up his blankets as a shiver came over him. Madam Pomfrey ignored this outburst and glanced at Snape.
"Acute tonsillitis," she said. "There's nothing I can do to cure it and potions will only make him comfortable until it passes. He'll be contagious and should be placed in quarantine. I don't fancy an outbreak of strep throat."
"Then it will be just as easy to leave him in his dormitory," Snape said firmly. "We can move the other sixth-year boys to another room until Mr. Malfoy is not contagious which will also ensure that the Hospital Wing can remain fully operable."
Poppy sighed.
"I don't like leaving him here," she said, glancing at Draco and getting a nasty look in return. "But it seems like a reasonable solution. I'll speak with the headmaster and arrange for immunity potions to be administered among the students and staff as a precaution."
Snape nodded.
"Am I correct in assuming you will be active in his care?"
Snape nodded again.
"For the time being, give him a fever reducer," she instructed. "And one for pain – not the strong one, the mild one – and I'll come back after lunch."
Snape nodded for a third time and the Matron glanced at Draco.
"Complete bedrest," she said. "And drink as much water and juice as you can manage."
Draco stared at her blankly and Madam Pomfrey held the stare for a moment before moving towards the door.
"Keep me updated on his progress, Severus."
Snape nodded firmly and the dormitory door closed behind the Matron.
"Sir," Draco said. "Can I please get out of bed? I have work I need to do."
"No." Snape answered. "It can wait. A few days in bed will not cause catastrophic delays."
"But it's the perfect excuse to work on the - "
"I said no." Snape said firmly. "I'll be right back with your potions and when I get back, you had better still be abed."
Again Draco glared at his professor but even he had to admit the last thing he felt like doing was locking himself in the Room of Requirement for hours trying to repair the vanishing cabinet. He felt uncomfortable; his body was aching mercilessly and he barely had enough energy to sit up and argue much less wander around the castle. Draco was nearly asleep when Snape returned with the potions.
"Drink all of it," Snape instructed, handing Malfoy a pale blue potion. Malfoy did as instructed before swallowing the red one in the next vial. As soon as he'd finished the second one, he felt his vision swim in and out of focus.
"Professor," he said weakly. "Professor, this doesn't feel right."
"What doesn't?" Snape asked. He'd been reading the potion labels but when he glanced at Draco concern filled his face.
"Mr. Malfoy?" he asked as Draco sank back onto his pillows, sweat pouring off him again. "Mr. Malfoy, tell me what feels wrong."
"I … don't … know," Draco wheezed. "Dizzy."
With that, Draco's eyes rolled back in his head and he was unconscious.
Madam Promfrey bent over Draco's motionless form as she ran her wand over the boy.
"It appears to be a reaction to the potions," she said to Snape, who was standing against the wall and still looked concerned.
"Obviously," Snape sneered. "But I can't imagine why. I brewed both potions myself."
"One of the ingredients may have been off," Madam Pomfrey informed the Potions master. "I can remember a case at St. Mungo's where a chap was given the draught of peace but the porcupine quills had been taken from a mortally wounded porcupine. The potion did more harm than good."
"I don't need a lecture, Poppy," Snape informed the Matron. "I am an expert brewer; I know what happens when proper ingredients aren't used."
Snape glanced at Draco.
"I'll check my logs and see when I brewed these potions. If I still have the original ingredients, I'll see if they're spoilt."
He turned to the door but stopped with his hand on the knob.
"He will be alright, I presume?"
Madam Pomfrey nodded.
"He should be," she said. "It will take some time for the potions to clear up before he wakes. I'll move him to the Hospital Wing and monitor his condition until then."
"No," Snape insisted. "He'll still be contagious. I'll stay with him."
Poppy frowned.
"Surely you have your lessons to attend to, Severus."
"No … please." Snape forced the word out. "His mother's a friend and she'd like knowing I was looking after him."
Poppy sighed.
"I suppose it's alright," she said. "But if he's still unconscious tomorrow, I'll be moving him to the Hospital Wing. Alert me to any changes and once he's awake, I want to run a few more spells."
Snape nodded and strode out of the room, the potion bottles clutched tightly in his hands.
As I said, this is unlike anything I've ever done before. The following chapters will all be relatively short (1000 words or so) depictions of a series of hallucinations/dreams that Draco has while unconscious. In these dreams are going to be various people taking care of him – some expected and some unexpected. I'm very excited to explore characters I very rarely get to write for but I'd also welcome any suggestions! I have no idea how many chapters will come of it which means this is a very open-ended project … perfect for school, as the chapters are short and I can write them when I have a free hour or two during the week. Anyways, please review with comments and suggestions – thank you!