Disclaimer: I own nothing! J.K. Rowling owns everything!

Potter Manor

It was a week later and nothing had changed. Christmas was just around the corner and Ginny was having her parents and siblings help out. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter?" The healer inquired. "Can I have a word out in the hall."

Ginny gave Harry a worried glance before getting up. "After much consideration on your son's condition the other healers and I think it best to discharge Albus tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But he hasn't improved at all! If anything he's worse!" Ginny was all strung up. Harry put a comforting hand on her back.

The healer looked as if she knew this was unorthodox. "We've looked over the poison several times and we cannot find a reason for this reaction. We think that Albus would make more strides in a home environment. He's been on bed rest for over a month. He's got a lot on his mind and a lot of time to dwell on it." She explained.

"You think he's making himself sick?" Ginny couldn't believe this woman.

Harry tightened his grip on her shoulders. "Thank you." He interrupted.

"Harry I can't believe you just her leave! She didn't explain anything." Ginny cried into his jacket.

Harry saw James and Lily appear at the end of the hall. "What's wrong?" Lily's eyebrows furrowed in concern.

Their mum wiped her face before taking Lily's hand and leading her to the tea room. "I don't understand. Al hasn't gotten better. Why are they releasing him?" Harry could tell that James was worried. They all were.

"The healers think being in the hospital this long is hindering your brother's recovery." James even more confused.

"They're giving up on him aren't they?" James's temper flared. He couldn't believe that all the magic in the world couldn't help his brother.

His dad took his shoulders forcing him to meet his eyes. "They are not giving up. They have simply decided to try a new approach. Now let's talk about your plans for Christmas. Your sister said something about the Longbottom's." James knew his dad was trying to cheer him up.

"Well the plan involved St. Mungo's, but I was thinking since we usually go over to Gran's they could come to us. I mean I know it will be crazy, but I doubt Al will be up for apparation or floo yet." Harry nodded in agreement.

The aurors had caught Halzer and interrogated him. Harry was certain he knew nothing about the attacks on his son. The next few days were chaos around the Potter house in Godric's Hollow. Teddy was staying over in James room to help out and people were in and out all day. Al spent most of his time sleeping or reading like he had done during his fourth year and during his silent period.

"Hey can you help me with my potions homework?" Al nodded and put his book down on the bed next to him.

Al still felt weak. He was able to make it to the bathroom and sit up without help, but coughs, shakes, and gets sick daily. "I can come back later if you're not feeling well." She could see that he was exhausted. Dark rings encircled his eyes and he was as pale as a ghost.

"Lily! What did Mum tell you?" James barked. "If you want help with your potions essay ask Uncle George."

"James it's fine I'm not going to break. What's the essay over Lils?" James raised his hands in defeat and left the room.

Al was sick of people being worried about him. Both Georgia and Scorpius had been begging for him to ask his parents to let them visit. Somehow he just didn't see it ending well.

"Mum?" He asked as she tucked him in more. "Would it be alright if I had some friends over?"

"These friends wouldn't be Goyle and Malfoy would they?" She asked like she already knew the answer. He just nodded not meeting her eyes. "I'll have to talk to your father. I think we all agreed that some separation would be good for a while."

A few days later Al was feeling better. He even managed to come downstairs for a solid meal and help Lily with some homework in the family room. "Lily this is a simple cure for boils. Don't over think it too much." He urged.

"It's only simple to you because you're a savant for potions, Al." She agreed again.

Albus got up not wanting to argue anymore. "On that note I'm going to the lou." He was halfway to the bathroom when he collapsed rasping for breath.

Once he managed to get himself up he leaned on the bathroom counter. Instantly sick came up and covered the sink in blood. His legs gave out making him fall onto the cold mustard tile.

James, Fred, and Uncle George were thinking up pranks for the next term when they hear a crash. "Lily? That better not be your potion exploding!" Teddy yelled from the kitchen.

"Me? I thought it was you guys setting off fireworks." Lily said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Where's Al?" Fred inquired.

Lily shrugged, "He's in the lou."

James was the first one to dart out of the kitchen and into the hall lavatory. The last time the family had heard a crash like that was the night Albus got sick for the first time. "Al!" He screamed banging on the door. There was no response. Teddy flicked his wand causing the door to swing open. Albus was laying on the floor passed out old with blood running the front of his shirt and face.

All their owls were out of the house. "Al!" James hollered slapping his brother's face without a response.

"Teddy let's get cleaned up him cleaned up and back to bed. James owl your parents as soon as Marauder returns." Uncle George whisked his wand to float Albus back into his bed.

That night everyone was on edge. Albus had woken up, but was weaker than before and was having trouble keeping food down. He had already been having trouble maintaining his weight. Al was skinny as it was, but because of all the sickness he had become almost skeleton like and now he had started vomiting only blood.

There was a small knock at James door before the light streamed in from the hall. "Can I sleep with you?" James smirked at how Lily still acted like a five year old even though she was in her third year at Hogwarts now.

James wrapped his arms around his sister. Teddy was staying over at Victorie's house this weekend so the room felt empty. Lily started to shake slightly and James knew she was crying. Finding Albus like that a few days ago had been hard on her.

"What's the matter?" He tried to sound as nice as possible considering it was 1:00 AM.

"I don't want Al to die." She wiped the tears away with the sheets.

James and Albus had never really had a close relationship. They didn't hate each other, but never got along. James always saw Al as a baby. Before he got sick he was quiet and suppressed. Then he was always sick, weak, and whiny. Now James was seeing the complete opposite. He didn't even know his own brother. Even though Al was physically incapable of doing things he still insisted on people treating him as nothing was wrong. He kept fighting and refused for people to pity him.

"Do you ever talk to Al when we're at school?" James never did unless he had to. Albus never liked pranks. They had nothing in common other than their last name and house at Hogwarts.

She pulled her orange tabby cat Willow onto the bed who had followed her in the room without James noticing. "Of course. How do you think I'm passing potions? He's always in the library with Rose or in the astronomy tower with Georgia or Scorpius. Do you?"

"Not unless I have to." There was a silent pause as they both thought about the past couple of days. "What's he like? I mean around the Slytherin's?"

Lily faced him thinking hard. "Kind of like he does around us. He's still shy and quiet. Scorpius is crazy hyper though. I think that's why they are such good friends. Georgia is kind of cold, but I think Al gets her in some weird way. Rose still doesn't like her and it's been weeks since they started dating."

"Why didn't he tell me?" James envied his sister's relationship with Al. She was so close to him. Most younger brothers go to their big brother's for advice. James always went to Teddy for advice. The last time Al actually asked him for a favor was his third year.

Lily shrugged, "He thinks you hate him. Playing pranks on him, fighting with his friends, picking on him."

"I don't." Lily hugged her brother.

"Then tell him that." She knew he and Al James had fought a lot in the past year. James was always the prankster. Blood of the Marauders is what their dad called it.

The past couple weeks James had been nice and sweet. "I just never realized how hard I am on him. When he used to get sick I always told him to stop whining. I knew he couldn't help it, but I always thought he over played it to get attention."

"Al hates being sick. Why else would he lie about his potion not working? He just wants people to stop worrying about him all the time." That night there were terrible storms that made the whole house restless.

Review please! More torture to come! Sadly I am coming to the end of what I have written so updates will be a little less speedy. :(