A/N: In the last chapter I forgot to comment on Guest's review: You misunderstood me - you've nothing to be embarrassed about! You weren't presumptuous at all. We love it when people make theories :) It's interesting and sometimes they're even right.

Chapter 14 – Did You Have a Doctor Look at You?

The next Wednesday Remus did not come to school. James texted him, asking what was up.

Remus reached out for his phone and texted James back with shaking hands.

Ill

He rolled onto his side groaned in discomfort as he put the phone on the nightstand. Mrs. Weasley had placed a cup of tea and some oatmeal on the stand but he had barely touched it.

At five Regulus knocked on the door to the Lupin house. A short stout woman with red hair as fiery as Lily's opened. Regulus took a nervous step back. "Um... I'm here to see Remus. I'm a friend from school."

The woman smiled and stepped aside. "Come in before you let out all the heat. Oh, Remus will be pleased to get some company, even though he hasn't done much other than sleep all day." She sighed and shook her head. "The poor boy. Dreadful illness he has."

Regulus hesitated. The woman had only stepped aside and the entrance hall was rather small so he would have to pass by her very close. "Do you mind?" he said, sounding a little snappy. "I can close the door behind myself, you know."

"Oh sorry," she said with a smile on her lips, but her eyes told him that she thought he was rather rude, and she left for the kitchen.

Regulus saw himself up to Remus' room where he stopped in the doorway, afraid to go in. What if what Remus had was contagious? "Remus?" he called. When he didn't get an answer he called again, a little louder.

Remus opened his eyes. "Regulus?" he said, surprised. He hadn't thought he would dare come to see him. "Come in. I don't think it's contagious," he said in a weak voice.

"No? Did you have a doctor look at you?" asked Regulus, still standing in the door.

"Yes, and a nurse," said Remus. "Mrs. Weasley is my nurse. I take it she greeted you downstairs?" He coughed. "The doctor doesn't think it's contagious."

"Okay…" said Regulus and hesitantly walked in, sitting down on a chair a few meters away from Remus just to be safe. "So what's wrong with you?"

"Just a bit of a cough. I probably didn't dress warm enough." Remus smiled at Regulus. "Thank you for visiting me."

"You look too ill for 'just' a cough."

"I get much more ill from simple things that regular people. A flu could even kill me if it's bad enough so that's why I have to stay in bed so it doesn't develop."

Regulus suddenly remembered something and gulped. "W-we kissed the other day. Maybe you got it from me. Maybe I'm immune but still carrying it. That can happen. I probably did make you ill. We shouldn't have kissed. I knew we shouldn't have kissed! It's unsanitary, like I said!" he blurted and stood up in agitation.

"I didn't get it from you," said Remus. "It's been days since we kissed." He closed his eyes and took in a short breath, feeling a sharp sting to his lung.

Regulus sat back down but shifted restlessly in his seat. "Did you tell your mother? I'm sure she agrees you could have got it from me."

"I told her, yes, and she agrees with me. It would have shown earlier if it was from the kiss." He eyed Regulus with a serious expression. "I wouldn't regret kissing you even if it had made me ill. Which it didn't."

Regulus' eyes settled on Remus. "I don't think you should go around kissing blokes. You should look out for your health. That's what I do, and I'm rarely ill. And you - it's worse for you because your condition is dangerous."

"You want me to go through life not kissing or being close to anyone?" asked Remus, suddenly scared that Regulus would break up with him. "I care a lot about you and as I said I don't regret kissing you and I don't want to go through life isolated. My mum thinks the way you do. Wanting me to live in a bubble, but I don't want that. I want a normal life. As normal as possible, anyway."

"So your mum doesn't approve of me?" said Regulus. "She was just pretending to be happy for us and liking me?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Remus quickly said. "She is very happy about us dating and doesn't think I could get a better boyfriend because you're so neat and careful. She's really happy for us. No, I meant that she keeps me away from anything that can make me ill and if she had her way, I would be home schooled because she thinks there are too many germs at school."

"There are! I wish my mother would let me home school," sighed Regulus. "I don't see what you want to go to school for. It's dirty and full of nasty people. It's suffocating."

"I like people and if I had not gone to school I wouldn't have met you," said Remus.

"I suppose..."

They were both quiet for a while, Remus lying with his eyes closed.

"Do you want to sleep? Should I go?" asked Regulus.

"No... Please don't go," said Remus and opened his eyes just barely. He was dead tired but it felt so nice to have Regulus there. "I enjoy your company. I just need a minute to collect myself."

There was a knock on the door and Mrs. Weasley stuck her head in. "Remus, have you eaten your soup yet? You need to eat," she said when she saw the nearly full bowl. "I'll just reheat this." She looked at Regulus. "Do you want some tea or anything, dear?"

Regulus shook his head. He had accepted food and drink from Mrs. Lupin because he trusted that she was very careful with hygiene and used only organic products. But he had only just met this woman.

Mrs. Lupin came home ten minutes later. "Oh you're here? How wonderful," she smile when spotting Regulus. She went over and kissed Remus' forehead. "How are you, luv?"

"I'm ok. Just tired," Remus mumbled, not opening his eyes.

"Maybe I should go," said Regulus and stood up. "Looks like Remus needs to sleep."

"No..." mumbled Remus and forced his eyes open. "I really want you to stay."

Mrs. Lupin sighed and brushed Remus' hair back again. "I think you need rest and Regulus can come back tomorrow if he doesn't mind." She smiled at Regulus. "Do you want a ride home? I insist. It's snowing again and we don't want you to get ill too."

Regulus shook his head. If there was too much snow he would have to walk his bike, but he would rather do that than get in a car with Mrs. Lupin. He hated driving because a car was a confinement where he was forced to sit close to people. Sirius he could handle, but he avoided going with anybody else. "It's fine. I don't mind cycling home."

When he had left, Mrs. Lupin said, "I wish he would let me drive him. The weather is terrible and it's going to take him a long time."

Remus nodded, already half-asleep. "You... you could catch him and ask if we should call Sirius. Maybe he would be more comfortable with him picking him up."

Mrs Lupin hurried downstairs and looked out the front door but Regulus was already out of sight.

"So that's Remus' boyfriend, is it?" asked Mrs. Weasley. When Mrs. Lupin nodded, she continued, "Very handsome boy. But rather rude. He wouldn't come into the hall until I had moved out of it, and he was quite snippy about it."

"He has problems with being close to people," sighed Mrs. Lupin. "But he's a nice boy and Remus is very fond of him even though his has these intimacy issues. "She turned her attention towards the stairs and worry filled her face. "Do you think he's doing any better?"

"Not well," sighed Mrs. Weasley.

"I wish I could do more for him," said Mrs. Lupin. "We are already using so much money on treatments and research, but no luck." She went to sit down by the kitchen table and buried her face in her hands. "I'm so afraid I might lose him one day."

o0o0o

Regulus came by after school the next day. Remus was asleep so Regulus pulled out a history book and started reading the chapter they had been given for homework.

Remus slept for about half an hour before he opened his eyes and spotted Regulus sitting reading. "R-Regulus?" he said, happy to see that he had returned.

"Oh, hello. How are you doing today?"

"A bit better," said Remus and sat up in bed. He actually wasn't feeling good at all but he didn't want to worry Regulus.

"That's good."

"Have you been here long?"

"Just about half an hour." Regulus was quiet for a long awkward moment, not knowing what to say. "Um, do you need anything?"

"A cup of tea would be nice. I think we have some green tea if you want something for yourself as well."

"O-okay," said Regulus, wondering if he would run into Mrs. Weasley if he went down to the kitchen. He tiptoed down the stairs, hoping she wouldn't hear him. But once the kettle was boiling and Regulus was putting teabags in mugs she came into the kitchen.

"Hello, dear," she smiled. "Oh you're making tea? How lovely. I could have done that, you know, but it's so sweet of you to take care of Remus. Do you need anything?"

"Do you have honey?" asked Regulus, eying her warily, hoping she would keep her distance. She seemed like one of those pushy people with no social skills.

"Yes, it's in the cabinet by the sink," she smiled. "Anything else?"

Regulus shook his head and hurried up the stairs. "Here," he said, placing the mug on Remus' nightstand before quickly retreating to his chair at a safe distance. "There's honey in it. Mrs. Harris always puts honey in the tea when Sirius and I are ill."

"Thank you," smiled Remus and took the mug, blowing steam away before taking a sip. "Tastes really good," he said and put the mug back down. He was feeling a bit dizzy but the hot tea felt good in his sore throat. After a few more sips he lay down and closed his eyes.

A bit later Regulus asked, "Do you want to sleep? Maybe I should go and give you some peace."

"I wish I could lay with you and just feel you close to me," Remus mumbled. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Regulus. "But thanks for coming by. It means a lot."

"Yes, well..." said Regulus, shifting in his seat. Then he got an idea. "I can read for you if you want. I'm sure you have some homework you need to read. In English for instance?"

"I'd love that," smiled Remus and reached out for his phone. James had texted him the pages he needed to read. "I have about ten pages in English," he said, scanning the text. He pointed at his school bag by the desk. "My books are in there."

"Only ten pages?" asked Regulus, flipping open the novel they had been assigned to read. "That's just one chapter! But I'm sure you'll get more chapters the following days, so I'll just read as long as you can stay awake."

"Thank you," smiled Remus and rolled onto his side to face Regulus, resting his head on his arm. "I would get a lot behind if you didn't read to me. I usually catch up when I get better but it would seem it's going to take a while," he sighed. "I just hope I'm well before Christmas."

"That's in two weeks. Of course you'll be well by then," said Regulus and made himself comfortable in his chair.

He read for Remus until he suspected he had fallen asleep. He had been lying with his eyes closed most of the time but now his breathing had become slow and steady the way sleeping people's did.

o0o0o

Mrs. Lupin worked late that night so Mr. Lupin was the first one home at seven thirty. He tiptoed into his son's room. "Remus? Are you awake?"

"Mm..." Remus hummed and rubbed his eye with his palm. He looked around confused, realising that Regulus had left and he felt his heart sink. He would have liked to say goodbye. "Hello, dad," he said and coughed, taking in a sharp breath as he finished. His chest hurt an awful lot. More than it had the day before.

"Not feeling any better?" asked his father, frowning in worry as he sat down next to the bed, putting a hand on Remus' forehead."

Remus shook his head and tried to breathe normally. "What time is it?"

Mr. Lupin looked at his watch. "Nearly eight. Your mother should be home soon." He sighed. "I think we will have to call the doctor again tomorrow."

Remus nodded, not putting up a fight. "Dad... my chest hurts," he mumbled and coughed again. He shivered a bit and pulled the duvet up over his shoulders.

Mr. Lupin decided to call the doctor right away.

"Hello, Remus," smiled the doctor when he came by an hour later.

Mrs. Lupin who had come home by now stood with her husband and looked nervously at the doctor as he pulled Remus' shirt up so he could listen to his chest. "How is he?" she asked anxiously. "Does he need to go to the hospital?"

"Well," said the doctor, taking off his stethoscope. "Let's not be so hasty. I will give you some stronger cough syrup, Remus and then we will see how you're doing tomorrow. And you must drink plenty of fluids. It's very important. Do you understand?"

Remus nodded and pulled the covers up over his chest again.

Mrs. Lupin went over to tug him in and then turned to the doctor. "Thank you for seeing him. We were so worried about him. He doesn't seem to be getting any better."

"Check his temperature once in a while and call if it gets higher."

Mrs. Lupin saw the doctor out and then got Remus some tea and some water. "Here, dear," she said and helped him sit up so he could drink.

Remus wasn't at all feeling like drinking anything but he forced himself to take a few sips.

"The whole glass," she insisted.

"I can't," gasped Remus and tried to push the glass away. It hurt in his chest every time he swallowed.

"You must!" said his mother in a sharp, scolding tone. "Do you want to go to the hospital? Do you?"

Remus gulped and looked nervously up at her. It was rare for her to scold him and especially when he was ill. "No. But it really hurts…" He took the glass to his lips once more and forced some water down.

"I'm sorry, baby," said Mrs. Lupin, running a hand over her son's sweaty hair. "I'm just so worried. I don't want you to get so ill again."

"I… I know," said Remus and closed his eyes as the pain lessened. "I just don't want you to be mad at me."

Mr. Lupin watched as his wife took the glass and kept running her hand over Remus' hair. He wished he could do something for his son but all he could do was pull extra hours so they had more money for experimental treatments.

"Oh, I'm not mad at you, baby," said Mrs. Lupin, wiping a tear from her eye. "I could never be mad at you."

A/N: To see Zayhad's illustration to the chapter go to deviantart dot com and look up Zayhad. She has a folder in her gallery with the story's name on it.