Title: A Painful Night
Summary: Lily gets sick and her dad helps her feel better.
Pairing/Characters: Harry and Lily Luna Potter
Emotion: Helplessness
Rating:K
Warnings: N/A
Notes:N/A

The bed was empty. The bed was empty and the window was open. Harry looked around the room, under the bed and in the cupboard. No one was there. Okay, don't panic. Harry raced out of his daughter's room and straight to the kitchen. When he passed the bathroom he heard some shuffling around and then a small groan. He pushed the door open and found his missing five-year-old daughter curled up on the floor.

He wanted to be able to feel relief at the sight of his little girl when moments ago he thought she'd been kidnapped, but she was lying on the bathroom floor groaning, it was nothing to be relieved about.

"Lily, what's wrong?"

Harry walked over to his little girl and placed a hand on her trembling shoulder. Her hands clenched into fists around her night shirt as she pressed her arms deeper into her stomach.

"Feel sick," she muttered out.

Harry forced her to look up and stroked her cheek until the pain in her eyes softened a little. "In your tummy?"

Lily nodded and her eyes welled up. "It hurts," she said. "Tummy hurts."

Harry moved his hand to her long hair and ran his fingers through it as he winced in sympathy. A stomach bug, no wonder she was curled up, and it looked like a bad one. "Okay sweetie, there isn't much I can do—"

Before he could continue Lily's eyes widened and she looked to the toilet and then to her dad. Her eyes were frantic.

Harry, without being asked, picked her up and carried her to the toilet. She pulled up her dress and sat down just in time. Harry closed his eyes and stroked his daughters head and she cried. He hated that he couldn't do anything to help her, but that was the curse of the stomach bug.

"It burns," Lily wailed.

Harry continued to whisper soothing words as she cried. He felt his own eyes well up, he felt so helpless.

The bathroom door creaked open and Harry turned to see his wife entering. Lily didn't even notice her entrance, hunched over like she was.

"Stomach flu," Harry whispered when he saw her concern.

Ginny's winced and nodded. "I'll put some tea on, peppermint is meant to help unsettled stomachs. Hopefully it will help."

Harry nodded and watched as she left.

"Daddy?"

Harry turned to face Lily. She was still hunched over, hugging her stomach, but she was looking at his with watery eyes. "Hurts," she said.

Harry wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. "I know sweetie. Mummy's making some tea that might help."

Lily made a face at the thought of drinking tea but she didn't argue, which told Harry just how sick she was feeling.

"You'll feel better soon. A stomach bug only lasts a sort time."

"Promise," she said.

Harry leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. He looked directly into her eyes so she knew he was telling the truth. "I promise."

(w.c 503)

WolfWinks –xx-