A Nasty Bout of the Stomach Bug
Summary: Set in Third Year (POA). During a flu outbreak, Harry comes down with a stomach bug. Harry has never been sick at Hogwarts, so Lily tries to make the best of it.
AN: This was a difficult fic to write as I wanted this to be a Lily taking care of Harry story and there are none that are published for me to reference from. I hope you enjoy reading this fic.
Lily never remembered the hospital wing being this crowded in all her years as a student or the school healer. A few days ago, Hogwarts was a busy place, students going to class to class, the library, and it was so noisy in the Great Hall it was hard to hear yourself think.
Now, there were empty spaces at all four tables where students sat, most of them moved to the hospital wing and others to their dorms.
It was the official start of flu season in the Muggle world, which meant even those in the wizarding world, could still get it. Unfortunately, there was also a stomach bug floating around. Most of the students who were dorm-bound had the stomach bug, while everyone else had the flu. The more severe cases were moved to the hospital wing, under the watchful eye of Madam Pomfrey and the care of Lily.
Potions were canceled due to the need of Professor Snape brewing potions and to help care for the sick students.
It had gotten to the point that Professor Dumbledore in many words sent a letter to St. Mungo's asking for assistance, hoping to prevent the school matron, healer, and potion master from being overwhelmed.
"Lily, reinforcements are coming this afternoon," Madam Pomfrey told the young healer.
"Oh, good," she sighed.
Lily began making a list of the potions they were running low on for Severus when he came in the hospital wing.
"Lily, I need four vials of fever reducer before I head to Ravenclaw tower," Professor Snape said.
Lily headed to the storage room and called over her shoulder, "We're almost out of fever reducer, is more brewing?" She returned with the two remaining vials of fever reducer, amongst the potions of headache potions, stomach soothers, flu potions, and other potions.
"Yes," Severus replied. "It will be ready by this afternoon." He took some of the potions from Lily and started transporting them into a box to help transport them from the Hospital Wing to Ravenclaw tower.
Lily fixed another box for Severus with potions he will need when he gets to Ravenclaw tower. Currently, there were twelve students, six boys and six girls that had the flu in Ravenclaw tower.
"I should return this afternoon," Professor Snape announced to Madam Pomfrey and Lily. "Send a few of the healers up to Ravenclaw when they get here. There are at least three students who seem to be getting worse. I'm not capable of healing them."
Lily asked for their names to add to the list of students that the healers would need to see and said, "We'll send some of the healers up there. Let us know if you need any help. Should someone check on Professor Sprout?"
"I'm going to," Madam Pomfrey said, gathering some potions and her wand so she could head to the Herbology professor's personal quarters. Severus picked up the box of potions and strolled to the door, heading to the Ravenclaw tower.
As Severus was leaving, Professor McGonagall entered the hospital wing and headed straight for Lily.
Before she could stop herself, Lily blurted, "Please, don't tell me that Harry is sick."
The Head of Gryffindor shook her head, immediately, causing Lily to sigh in relief. "Harry's fine. He seemed to be in Transfiguration this morning," she assured her former student and mother of one of her lions. "Actually, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind checking on the Head Boy."
"Percy's sick?" Lily asked.
"Yes, Miss Clearwater just informed me that he wasn't in class this morning and I went to check on him."
"I'll send Healer Matthews," Lily said, turning towards the floo when she heard it roar. "They're here."
A group of Healers began tumbling out of the floo, some of them falling on their faces and others, catching themselves. One of the healers approached Minerva and Lily.
"Lily, Minerva, what's the situation?" the brown-headed woman asked.
"We've got proximity sixty students, most of the second to seventh years, with the flu. Ravenclaw is approaching quarantine because almost every student is sick," Professor McGonagall explained.
"Ten of the sixty are in the hospital wing. The more severe cases we're keeping in the hospital wing," Lily added.
A balding healer approached the group of women and nodded to Lily.
"Okay, so who do I need to see first?" Healer Matthews asked.
"The Head Boy, although, it might be better if Healer Morris goes and sees Percy," Lily pondered.
"Oh, I have a patient already?"
The voice caused the women to jump. Lily turned and found the smiling face of her son's primary care healer. She smiled softly. "Yes, and no, it's not my son."
"Oh, I figured it was," Healer Morris replied.
Lily smiled. "Knock on wood," she did just that. "Harry's a third year and has somehow managed not to get sick."
"Really," Lily's friend Janice joined the group.
"I mean he's had an occasional headache or stomach ache, not the flu or a cold since he's been here. I don't recall a time he was sick since he started school here."
"How's he avoided to get sick?" Healer Morris asked.
"Immunity potions, I'm waiting on the teen strength one to be available and then I give it to Harry, tonight."
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, causing the two healers to look at her. "Healer Morris, if you would follow me and I'll show you to the Head Boy's dorm."
Healer Morris began to follow Professor McGonagall, then stopped and said to Lily, "If Harry does get sick, just let me know and I'll check on him if you want."
"Thank you," Lily said, sincerely.
Janice approached Lily after the redhead gave them an update on the situation.
"So, Harry's not sick?"
Lily shook her head, "I hope he avoids the flu, but the stomach bug, I'm more worried about."
"How come?"
"Because, if there would be anything that Harry would most likely get, it would be the stomach bug." Lily sighed as she leaned against the wall of the hospital wing, in between the doors to the storage room and her and Madam Pomfrey's shared office. "At least, if he did get sick, I would have help and not be alone in taking care of him."
"That's right, you have Sirius and Remus here. They could help you with Harry."
"Yeah, but then if Harry does get sick, he just wants me," Lily smiled. She was actually glad that Remus got the job as Defense Professor. Sirius came to help him and together, they made a great team. It also gave Harry somewhere else to go if he needed an escape from Gryffindor tower.
"Of course, he would want you. You are Mum. No one can help you feel better when you're ill, then a mother." Janice placed a comforting hand on Lily's shoulder. "You make sure he takes an immunity potion right?"
Lily nodded. "It costs me a chocolate frog."
Janice laughed. She heard from Lily about how it sometimes took bribery in order to get Harry to take potions and immunizations.
Janice left to help another healer who was heading to Hufflepuff, leaving Lily in the hospital wing.
Lily had just finished putting away the new potions that Janice had brought with her for the seriously ill, Remus entered the hospital wing.
"Hello Remus, what can I do you for?"
"I need another immunity potion. I think it's time for another dose. I'll need a second one for Sirius."
Lily dug around the immunity potions from St. Mungo's and smiled in triumph when she saw that there was some immunity potion for those ages thirteen and up.
She collected two adult strengths and handed them to Remus
"Here you are."
"Thanks, Lily," Remus said.
"You're welcome." Remus was about to leave when Lily called him and he stopped.
"Remus, Harry has you for his last class today, right?" Lily inquired.
Remus thought a moment and then nodded. "Yes, he does. Why?"
"Could you, send him to me after class? I found some immunity potions for teenagers."
"Yes, Lily." With that Remus left, in search of Sirius.
Lily let herself relax, looking down at the vial she held in her hands. After she had Harry take this (after a bribe of a chocolate frog), she wouldn't have to worry about Harry getting sick in the middle of a bout of the flu.
"Hopefully Harry would avoid getting sick," she thought as she continued her work.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Are you feeling okay, Harry?" Hermione asked, voice sounding concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry deadpanned. In all honesty, he felt awful. His stomach kept churning and clenching.
"I'm going to the restroom, I'll be back in a little bit," Harry told his friends and ran to the nearest boy's bathroom. His stomach gave an alarming lurch just as he crossed the thresh hold. He entered the first stall, locking the door behind him and slid down the wall.
He huddled into a tight ball and clutched his stomach. "I wish I went to hospital wing instead of Remus's class. I'm definitely sick," Harry muttered to himself.
Harry tightened his grip on his middle, feeling his stomach cramp tighter. The best way he could describe it was a hand squeezing his stomach and intestines.
His stomach lurched one more time and this time, Harry leaned over the toilet, throwing up the breakfast and bite of lunch he was fighting to keep down all day.
He groaned, laying his head on the toilet seat, wishing that his mother was there with him. Anytime Harry woke her up sick, Lily would stay with Harry, rubbing his back when he threw up and rubbing his stomach to help soothe the cramps.
Harry heard the bell ringing from his place on the boys' restroom floor. He couldn't find the energy to get up and get to class.
As Harry was in the restroom, fighting the nausea that threatened to overcome him, Sirius and Remus were beginning their lecture on Magical Creatures when Sirius noticed Harry wasn't in class. It wasn't like Harry to miss class, something must be wrong.
He walked over to where Hermione was sitting beside the chair Harry usually occupied empty.
"Where's Harry?" Sirius whispered the bushy headed third year.
"He went to the restroom. I don't think he was feeling well, though," Hermione replied.
Sirius thanked her for telling him and motioned to Remus he was stepping out. Remus nodded, having noticed that Harry wasn't in class and knowing that Sirius must be going to find him.
Sirius approached the door leading to the boys' restroom and opened the door quietly. He had seen that someone was in the first stall.
"Pup, are you okay?" Sirius asked, calling Harry by his pet name that only he used. Pup had been his nickname since Harry was a baby. Even now at thirteen, Harry answered him when he called his godson Pup.
"I think I'm sick, Sirius," came the reply from the locked stall door.
Sirius whispered the unlocking spell and locked the door, opening it and then reaching Harry, kneeling down beside him.
"When did you feel sick?" Sirius asked, knowing when he takes him to Lily, she would ask the same question.
"This morning, I didn't really think anything about until my stomach started hurting in Hagrid's class."
"What hurts other than your stomach?" Sirius asked, wanting to make sure that Harry didn't have the flu.
"Nothing. My stomach hurts," Harry mumbled. His belly clenched and he groaned, leaning into Sirius's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go to the hospital wing," Sirius decided. Seeing that Harry was feeling weak, he helped Harry off the floor of the restroom and then picked him up to carry him. Harry was too sick to care or to protest that he would walk.
"If I feel like I'm going to throw up, I'll let you know," Harry informed his godfather. Carefully as he could, Sirius walked to the hospital wing with Harry in his arms. They were lucky that no one was in the corridors until they got to the double ornate doors of the hospital wing.
"Poor thing, he must be sick," Janice murmured upon seeing Sirius and a sick Harry.
"Is Lily here?" Sirius asked, shifting Harry in his arms.
"She is." Janice held the door open for Sirius and let him enter the hospital wing. He told the healer thank you and went in search of the auburn headed woman.
"Lily," Sirius called.
"Hello, Sirius, who do you…?" Lily trailed off when she recognized the raven black hair sticking up in all directions.
"He's sick, Lily," Sirius informed the now concerned mother.
Lily motioned for Sirius to follow her and she led him into a private exam area.
"Sit him on the table," Lily ordered.
Sirius sat Harry down on the table, hold him up when Harry leaned against him. Lily reached her hand to his forehead, feeling for a fever.
"He's definitely sick," She murmured. "He feels like he's running a fever."
"I'll wait outside. I assume you'll keep him in your quarters?" Sirius asked.
Lily nodded, "Yes."
She placed her hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Sweetheart, are you feeling sick?" she asked her son.
Harry nodded against her shoulder. "Mum?"
"I'm here, Harry. When did you feel sick?" she requested.
Harry winced, knowing Lily wasn't going to be happy with what he was about to say. "This morning, I thought I might feel better as the day went on."
Lily sighed. Harry was just like James. They never told Lily when they felt sick. Unfortunately, Harry was more prone to nausea than James, so Lily tended to find out when she would find Harry vomiting into the toilet.
"What's wrong?"
"My stomach hurts," Harry replied. As if to make its point his stomach gurgled loudly. Harry groaned, hugging his stomach all the tighter.
Lily sighed to herself, this would be the first time that Harry had gotten sick while at Hogwarts. If he was ever sick at school, it was something simple that Lily could cure with a headache potion or stomach soother and a belly rub. But this was different. Madam Pomfrey told her that the stomach flu that had been going around only lasted anywhere from twenty-four hours to three days.
She looked down at her son's face. He looked up at her, miserably. She knew that he must be feeling really awful, otherwise, she wouldn't have known until much later.
"Sweetheart, can you lay down for me?" Lily asked soothingly.
Harry slowly laid back on the examination table. Deciding to check for a fever first, Lily waved her wand over her sick son and nearly gasped when the numbers appeared, glowing their usual green.
"102," Lily murmured. "We'll get some fever reducer before we go to my quarters."
Harry didn't say anything, even when he felt Lily pull up his sweater, then his shirt. He shivered slightly when the cold air of the hospital wing met the warm skin of his abdomen.
She pulled out her Muggle stethoscope, placing the earpieces in her ears and the bell on Harry's abdomen. Lily listened for a moment, leaving the bell firmly in place. After another few minutes, she removed the stethoscope from Harry's stomach and returned it to her robe pocket. She picked up her wand to perform the diagnostic charm.
Lily waved her wand over her son's bare stomach and watched as his abdomen glowed red. She sighed.
"You definitely have the stomach flu," she murmured. Helping Harry sit up, she noticed that he leaned into her shoulder. She remembered this behavior when he was sick with the flu at age ten.
"Mum, I think I'm going to throw up again," Harry warned. Lily quickly summoned a basin and got in front of her sick son just in time for Harry to start heaving what was left in his stomach. Her motherly instincts kicked in as she rubbed her son's back as each wave of nausea washed over Harry.
It wasn't until Harry was dry heaving that he quit and leaned into Lily's embrace, wrapping his arms around his stomach.
"Let's get you to bed," Lily stated. She sent a Patronus to Sirius to let him know she was ready for his help.
Sirius entered the exam room a minute later, looking at Harry in concern.
"Stomach flu," Lily told him. Sirius winced in sympathy. "Poor pup," he whispered, and gently picked up Harry off the exam table, carrying him bridal style to Lily's private quarters. Harry leaned his head against his shoulders, his arms never leaving his stomach as it began to churn uncomfortably.
"What's wrong with Harry?" Janice asked as Sirius passed her carrying Harry.
"Stomach flu," Lily answered.
"Poor thing, he must feel awful if Sirius is carrying him." Janice turned to the box of potions that the healers had brought from St. Mungo's and pulled out some stomach soothers, calmers, and anti-nausea potions.
"Just in case," Janice said as she pulled out a few vials of fever reducer and handed it to Lily.
"Thanks, "Lily said, almost breathing the word. She walked out of the hospital wing, vaguely hearing Madam Pomfrey said "Good luck and may Merlin be with you," and headed to her private quarters.
She walked straight into Harry's room and found her son on the bed and Sirius sitting in the chair next to the bed, rubbing Harry's head.
"Need me for anything, Lily, let me know," Sirius quietly informed Lily.
"I will," She promised. When Harry was sick as a child, she and James took turns taking care of Harry. She remembered when he was sick with the flu and James stayed up with Harry, watching cartoons.
She walked swiftly to the wardrobe and opened the door. Yes, it was a good thing that she kept some of Harry's clothes in her quarters. There was a few of his T-shirts, three pairs of jeans, a few sweaters, jumpers, hoodies, a pair of lounge pants, pajamas, two different shoes one of which was his extra school shoes and a complete set of Gryffindor uniforms and robes.
She selected a pair of Harry's pajamas and approached the bed. Laying down the clothes, she waved her wand and banished what Harry had on to the laundry pile in her bathroom.
Gently as she could, she managed to get on his pajama pants, the shirt was a different tale.
"Can you sit for me a second?" Lily asked her son.
Harry let Lily pull him up into a sitting position and slip on his T-shirt. Lying back against the pillows, Lily noticed how droopy Harry looked.
"Go to sleep, sweetheart. I'll be right here," she whispered, pushing back the fringe on her son's head.
Harry listened to Lily and soon was fast asleep. Lily settled into the armchair next to Harry's bed and got comfortable.
She knew she would most likely sleep in that chair tonight.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry woke up an hour later, his stomach churning and cramping. He moaned slightly, muffled by the pillow, curling into a tighter ball, then what he already was. His arms tightened its hold around his waist.
A soft and gentle hand was placed on his back, rubbing in circles.
Harry cracked his eyes open and looked up at the face of his mother. "I think it's time for a stomach soother," she decided and picked up her wand, summoning the vial.
At the glimpse of the very familiar pink potion, Harry inwardly sighed in relief, if for a moment. Before Lily could uncork the vial, Harry leaned over the side of the bed and retched into the waiting basin. Lily had placed it there, knowing that Harry would likely be spending the majority of his time heaving his stomach contents.
Lily rubbed his back soothingly, summoning the stomach calmer as well. Even though both potions did the same thing, the stomach calmer, worked better for stomach cramps.
When Harry laid his head back against his pillow, Lily used her wand to fill a cup she placed on the nightstand with water.
"Here, rinse your mouth out and then we'll give you the potions. Maybe they'll help your stomach feel better." Lily handed Harry the cup of water. "Sip it slowly," she advised.
"I know," Harry croaked. This wasn't his first time feeling sick as a dog. He remembered very well the flu he caught before Christmas when he was ten. Lily never left his side, unless it was to take care of herself it was only when James was available to take over.
Here at Hogwarts, she had Remus and Sirius. Of the two of them, Sirius would be most likely to come and help Lily if she needed it.
Harry placed the cup back on the bedside table and laid back down in the bed.
Lily tucked the blanket around her son, despite Harry's high fever, he was shivering slightly. Harry curled up under the warmth of the blanket, which helped with the coldness he was currently feeling. A soft hand rubbed his back in soothing circles, while another rubbed his head.
He looked up at his mother, even though he had taken his glasses off and his vision was blurry, he knew she was there.
Soon Harry let his eyes droop closed and he fell asleep.
Hearing the even breathing, Lily looked down and seen that Harry was asleep. She smiled softly and leaned back in the armchair. Picking up her wand, she summoned the book she was currently reading.
She wanted to stay close by if Harry needed her.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry woke up again, this time around one in the morning, his stomach cramping and the feeling of nausea overwhelmed him. He curled into a ball, hugging his middle, groaning slightly as each wave of nausea washed over him.
"Mum?" he called.
Lily jolted awake and was beside her son in an instant. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"My stomach really hurts and I feel like I'm going to…." Harry never finished the sentence. His stomach gave a mighty lurch and he dove for the basin Lily had left beside his bed.
Lily watched helplessly as Harry heaved into the basin. All she could do was rub his back soothingly as he threw up. Once he was done, he laid back in his bed, feeling the cramping in his stomach increase.
He pressed a hand to his stomach, trying to find relief. He looked up at his mother, about to ask for another stomach calmer.
Lily flicked her wand at the basin and Harry's stomach contents disappeared and the basin was cleaned. Another flick and the vomit scent in the air was gone. She then summoned a stomach calmer.
"Here, this will help settle your stomach," she soothed and helped Harry sit up to take the potion. Harry swallowed it, thankful that Lily's stomach potions were flavored. This one tasted like strawberries.
"Lie back, sweetheart. I'll rub your belly."
Harry laid back against the pillows and let Lily pull down his blanket, then pull up his shirt. In the pale moonlight shining through the window, Harry watched Lily's hand as it rubbed slow soothing circles on his abdomen.
Soon, the massage had relaxed Harry's stomach enough to let the sick teen fall back to sleep.
Lily continued her massage for another five minutes, wanting to make sure that Harry was really asleep. Then when she finished, she pulled down his shirt and tucked the blankets at his waist.
A part of her was relieved that Harry had the mild form of the stomach bug. She just had to deal with vomiting, stomachaches, and cramps.
She lightly kissed Harry's forehead and went back to her makeshift bed. She slept the rest of the night until she heard her alarm from her bedroom going off.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily entered the kitchen quietly the next morning. She knew that Harry was still asleep. When she left him, he was lying on his stomach. This told Lily that Harry woke up again with cramps, only they weren't severe enough to wake Lily. She made herself a cup of tea and began to make some ginger tea for Harry.
She looked around the small kitchen and found a banana. It was still good, thanks to the charms Lily placed on it when she bought them a month ago.
She found some cereal and made her a bowl with some strawberries, she found. With her breakfast ready, Lily quickly walked into Harry's room. The teenager was still asleep. She returned to the eating area and ate her breakfast in silence.
She listened for sounds from Harry's room, whether they be signs of him waking up or throwing up.
With her breakfast finished, she flicked her wand at the mess and headed back to Harry's room with the banana and a cup of tea in hand.
Harry just woke up when Lily entered the bedroom.
"How are you feeling this morning?" she asked, upon seeing that Harry was awake.
"I still feel sick," Harry answered. He noticed the cup in his mother's hand and pointed at it. "What's that?"
"Ginger tea," Lily replied. She set the cup down on Harry's bedside table beside the banana. "Want to try to eat anything?"
"Not right now," Harry answered, honestly. His stomach was gurgling, he could feel it bubble under his skin.
Lily reached over and placed the palm of her hand to her son's forehead. "Lay still," she instructed. She picked up her wand and muttered the spell that would tell her Harry's temperature.
"100," she read. "It's gone down. I think it's time for another dose of the fever potion. Do you need a stomach potion?"
"Would the soother help with the bubbling I'm feeling right now?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
"Then I want a stomach soother." Harry sat up in his bed, waiting for Lily to get the potions ready. The first one was the stomach soother. This one tasted like peppermint. The fever reducer followed.
"Feel any better?" Lily asked after a minute or so had passed. Most the stomach soothers were fast acting, which Harry liked the best.
"Some," Harry replied, laying back down in the bed.
Lily looked around the room and noticed that most of Harry's Quidditch books and magazines were in his dorm.
"I know I'll regret this," Lily sighed before she called, "Dobby!"
Pop! The house elf, Harry saved from the Malfoys appeared in front of her.
Harry's head poked out of the covers for a second and groaned, "Oh God," at the sight of Dobby.
"What can Dobby for Master Harry's mother?" he asked.
"Can you go up to Harry's dorm and get his Quidditch books and magazines for me?"
"Yes, Mrs. Potter." And with a snap, Dobby was gone.
"Thanks, Mum," came Harry's voice from under the blanket.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily peaked in on Harry an hour later. He had fallen asleep with Ron's The History of the Chudley Cannons open on his stomach. Apparently, Dobby had thought it was Harry's. The book was Ron's birthday gift from Harry. Lily closed the book and took off Harry's glasses.
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek and tucked the blanket around him.
Quietly, she left the room and headed to the sitting area.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The sound of retching woke Lily up. She didn't know when she fell asleep and that didn't matter at the moment. She ran into Harry's room to find it empty. She turned and headed into the bathroom and found Harry huddled infront of the toilet.
Lily kneeled down beside Harry and rubbed soothing circles on his back. Something that told Lily that this illness has about run its course is that Harry wasn't puking so violently.
"Are you done?" Lily asked when Harry leaned back against her.
"Yeah."
"Want to move back to your room?"
"Yeah." Lily helped Harry up from the floor and led him back to his room. Upon returning to his bedroom, Harry laid down on the bed. Not really thinking about it, he curled up on his side, hugging his stomach with one arm.
"Is your stomach hurting?" Lily asked. Harry nodded.
"I don't feel sick to my stomach, it just hurts," Harry explained. Lily sat down on the side of her son's bed.
"Lie on your back, sweetheart." Harry obeyed his mother and turned on his back. She pulled up his shirt and slowly began to rub circles on his stomach.
"Does this feel okay?" she asked.
"It feels better," Harry answered.
The slow circles continued until well after Harry fell asleep. Lily continued the massage until she was positive that Harry was asleep.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The sun rose above the Scotland hills, on the far side of Hogwarts castle. Lily woke up with the sunlight streaming through the window in Harry's room.
She realized she slept in the armchair next to Harry's bed. She looked over at her son and smiled. He was asleep, his face was relaxed and the color had returned to his face. She reached over and placed her hand on his forehead.
"Cool as a cucumber," she whispered and pushed back his sweaty black hair.
Harry's eyes cracked open and looked at his mother. "How are you feeling?"
"Better."
Harry sat up, in his bed, grimacing at the sticky feeling of the sheets and his pajamas.
"Go get a shower and change into clothes, you'll feel better."
"Okay." Harry got up, collected some clothes and headed to the bathroom, and shut the door behind him.
When Lily heard the shower running, she flicked her wand at the bed and the sheets were exchanged for new ones and the air in the room smelled fresh and clean and not of sweat and sick.
Then Lily headed into the kitchen. It was a testament to how sick Harry felt that he didn't eat much. All he kept down was a piece of toast Lily tried last night before Harry went to sleep.
She felt relieved that Harry was on the mend and decided since it was the weekend, Harry could stay with her tonight and return to the tower tomorrow.
Lily fixed herself and Harry some porridge and toast with some fruit she had.
She looked up from the stove when Harry entered the kitchen, in his red and black T-shirt, and black lounge pants.
"Feel better?" she asked.
"Yeah, what's for breakfast?" Harry noticed the porridge and fruit.
"This is it." Lily motioned to the food. "Hungry?"
Harry's stomach answered with a growl. For a second Harry winced until he realized his stomach was growling because of hunger and not because it was upset.
"Thanks, Mum," Harry said, sitting down at one of the kitchen chairs.
"You're welcome."
As they ate breakfast, Lily and Harry caught each other up with what was going on in each other's lives. Lily didn't see Harry much except for meals in the Great Hall. Harry might stay with Lily in her quarters when he was sick or visit for a little bit, but other than that, they didn't see each other
"Mum."
"What is it, sweetheart?" Lily asked.
"Thanks for taking care of me," Harry said.
Lily reached over and pushed back Harry's still damp hair from his face. "You're my child. I will always take care of you when you aren't feeling well, always."
From then on, Lily's words rung in his head when he was sick. It didn't matter what was ailing Harry if he was sick, he wanted his mother. And Lily was there to nurse her son back to health, especially a few years later when he once again caught a nasty bout of the stomach bug.