Title: For You I Will

Summary: Severus has never done anything for anyone, but what will he do for one small boy named Harry.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot

A/N: Of course it is AU. I also would like to thank my beta Nita

Chapter 29

The next morning, Severus went into Harry's room early to see how he felt, but found the bed empty, but heard Harry's voice coming from inside the kitchen. Severus smiled, pleased that the boy was feeling much better, and took his time in the shower, letting the water drown away all the fears he had felt.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he inquired once he took his seat at the table.

Harry reached for the pumpkin juice and poured himself another glass before answering. "I guess I feel better. I mean, last night I felt horrible, but then when I woke up, I felt better."

Severus and Harry finished their breakfast, with Severus speaking about the new spells they would learn today. He praised Harry on how fast a learner he was, telling him he would be advancing quickly. They spent a good part of the day practicing different spells, Harry using a stick Severus had Gertrude fashion for him to look like a wand.

"Can't I use your wand again?" Harry begged, eager to show Severus he could do the block.

"My wand is connected to me. It could possibly harm you. I was a fool to let you use it yesterday."

"I just want to show you I can do it," Harry said, pouting, his lip jutting out just a bit.

Severus knew better, but he also knew he could not deny the child the chance to try. With a sigh, he handed Harry the wand.

"Hold it just as I have showed you. I doubt that you will be able to block it, but you may try."

Harry held the wand in his hand, and waited for Severus to toss the book from the shelf.

"I'm ready,■ he said.

Severus went over and grabbed a small book from the shelf, one with barely twenty pages in it, and tossed it at Harry. Harry swished the wand and suddenly the book fell at his feet.

"Well done, Harry."

"That was too easy. You tossed a baby book at me."

"Indeed," Severus said, selecting a slightly larger book. Each time, he chose a bigger book till at last, he grabbed a rather large tome.

"Try this one, but do not worry if it is too large for you to block."

Harry was tired, but he didn't want to admit it to Severus. He held onto the wand and gritted his teeth to keep them from chattering. He would block this and show his Dad that he could do it. Severus tossed the huge book, two hands, in fact, to do it, and Harry saw it coming for him. Determination set in, and he put all of his energy into it.

Severus expected Harry to have to move out of the way. He expected the book to make it past him, so he was not expecting the book to fall short, and the rest of the books to fly from the shelves. He looked at Harry in amazement, wondering just how powerful his child would be, when he saw the child fall to his knees.

"Harry!" he shouted, running to the child, who had dropped the wand and was now wheezing.

"I don't feel well," Harry said, his body seeming to sag into Severus' arms. Severus was quick in picking up the child and laying him on the couch.

"I should have known better than to let you try. My own eagerness for you to learn has caused this."

"No, I felt bad the other day. I just thought I could show you I could do it."

Severus shook his head. "Nothing is more important than your health, Harry. Off to bed with you."

Harry stood up and walked into his room, his feet feeling like they were lead. Severus helped him into the bed, and went to fetch a fever reducing potion again. This time, Harry grimaced at the taste, and Severus smirked.

"Yes, they say it is not the best tasting thing in the world, but it should work. I shall be in the sitting room if you need me."

Severus tucked Harry in and closed the door, hoping that all Harry needed was a little rest.

Severus was sitting in his chair when an owl came fluttering up to the window, a note tied to its leg. The owl was unmistakably Lucius' and Severus wanted to know what the man wanted. After removing the note from the owl's leg, Severus opened it.

"Severus,

I extend to you an invitation to join me and our other associates. We shall be meeting in two weeks. Please send your answer soon."

Severus could care less about Lucius or his needs. His sent his statement back with the owl and finished reading the paper, waiting for lunch to be served. His mind wasn't on Lucius and how they wished to resurrect the Dark Lord to power again; his mind was on Harry. Lunches came and went, and still no Harry. Severus checked on the boy, but he seemed to be sleeping so peacefully he didn't want to wake him.

Severus finished up the potion brewing in his lab and even took another shower, but again, still no Harry. Now he knew the boy was truly ill. Going into his room, he felt Harry's head, and felt the fever inside. This puzzled Severus, for the potion should have worked. Severus sent Gertrude to fetch another, and he helped Harry to drink it. He was still puzzled when he settled in for the night. Over and over in his mind, he tried to figure out what was wrong, until at last, he drifted off into a troubled sleep.

Severus didn't sleep long, however, when he felt someone tugging on his sleeve. His reaction was swift as he pulled his wand from under his pillow, both lighting the room, and having his son at wand point.

"I don't feel well," Harry said, his sweat soaked hair showing the fever still raging inside him. Severus was out of the bed and on his feet in an instant. He picked Harry up as the boy looked like he would fall down any minute and placed him on the bed.

"The potion should have worked," he said out loud. Again he called for Gertrude and summoned yet another potion. It had to work this time, but after more than an hour, the fever still had not gone away Severus was twisting his hands with worry.

"Gertrude shall be getting Master Harry a cool cloth for his head."

Severus watched as the house elf placed the cloth on Harry head, and sat down beside him on the couch.

"What hurts, Harry?" he asked, hoping the child would answer.

"My head hurts. Can you turn off the lights?"

Severus gasped as the only light in the room was coming from the fireplace, and that, he could not douse. "Anything else, Harry?"

"Just my head, my arms, and my legs. They feel like Dudley used them for a punching bag, but don't worry; I have been sick before and I'll be all right in a day or so, I always am."

Severus stood up from the couch, pacing back and forth in front of it. He couldn't figure it out. The potions seemed to work before, and now they weren't, and then it struck him why. His own legs felt as if they would go out from underneath him.

"Harry, I am afraid your magical energy was drained practicing the blocks. I should have known better than to let you try. Now you are sick and no potion will work on you till your body has time to let your magical core replenish."

"Don't worry Daddy, I'll be all right," Harry said, his body starting to shiver again. Severus' own heart broke. He couldn't take the boy to Hogwarts, or even to St. Mungos. Harry would be recognized immediately and sent straight back to the Dursley's, while Severus spent months fighting the wizarding world to get him back. No, everyone had to think Harry was safe and sound in Surrey. Even though Harry was Severus' son now, Albus had made it perfectly clear that the boy had to remain with his relatives to be safe.

For the next two hours, Harry would go from having chills to tossing all the covers off of him. He begged Severus at times to turn off the lights, and Severus sat beside him, holding his hand, telling him that it would be all right. It wasn't till Harry began moaning early the next morning, he began leaning over the couch. He sicked up all over the floor, and kept retching till he gagged.

Severus patted Harry on the back till the he stopped gagging, and settled back on the couch. Harry fell back to sleep, but the fever raged on. Severus took enough time to get dressed, and then he paced the floors.

"Can I please have something to drink," Harry begged, waking up.

Severus handed him a glass of water.

"Sip it slowly."

Harry took three sips and lay back down on the couch, but no sooner had he gotten almost back to sleep, he was retching again. The small amount of water he had drunk was gone now, and again his throat was on fire.

"Please Daddy, let me have some water," Harry begged an hour later.

Severus didn't want to see the child sick again, but the pleading eyes and begging got to him and again, he caved and let Harry sip some water. The dry heaves started soon after and Severus himself felt tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.

The next time Harry begged for water, Severus refused, though he did hold Harry, rocking him till the child fell back to sleep. Knowing Harry could not go on like this much longer Severus stood up. He paced the floors, wondering just where he could take the child. He didn't trust modern Muggle medicine, as they sometimes destroyed a wizard's core.

Severus fell back down on the couch, staring down at Harry who trembled beneath the blankets.

"I am sorry I did not see this sooner."

Harry rolled over, opening his eyes, his fever glazed orbs of green staring directly at Severus.

"Daddy, I can't see you. Daddy cut off the light it is hurting my eyes."

Severus' heart lurched. "I am right here Harry." he told the child, picking him up.

"Daddy, my head, please, just turn off the lights."

Harry started to tremble in Severus' arms, and then his body shook so hard, Severus had a hard time holding onto him. This was the last straw. Grabbing up Harry in his arms, Severus started towards the door. He wouldn't let his pride stand in the way of Harry's health. If Muggle medicine was the only way to help Harry, he would go.

A/N: See you next week!