November - Harry, age 9
Harry laid on the couch, his body turned slightly towards the back of it as his arms curled around his front tightly. Lunch had been an hour prior and overall it had been a great day! Snape allowed him to help with a potion and then they had ham sandwiches!
Now the thought of food made his stomach churn, pulling his legs closer to himself. He had felt fine before! Harry whined softly, swallowing heavily.
He hadn't felt this bad for…well, he couldn't remember! "Snaaape," Harry released a heavy breath, feeling warm as he hid his face into the couch.
Snape had been in the kitchen when he heard the child call out for him. The sound of Harry's voice had made the man's stomach turn. He knew the tone well. Harry was on the verge of tears.
The man was on his feet and in the parlor within seconds. His eyes instantly falling on the child as he moved towards him, sitting on the edge of the couch beside him. "What's wrong?"
The man had hoped that he had judged the tone of Harry's voice incorrectly however, the look on the nine-year-old's face only confirmed the fact that he was moments from tears.
The child's shoulders shook as a sob forced passed his lips, whining loudly. "I-It hu-hurts," he whispered, rubbing his face as he shivered. The motion only made his whole body ache worse!
He felt hot, yet his body shook once more from a deep shiver. "Help," Harry whispered into the couch, closing his eyes tightly.
"What hurts?" Snape placed a gentle hand on the child's forehead, instantly noting that he was burning up.
"My tummy! Everything!" He whined, leaning into Snape's cold hand.
"Okay, calm down." Snape pulled his hand back, standing and quickly moving over to his supply closet. The man pulled out a silver tray before placing several vials as well as a thermometer on it.
Harry kept himself curled up, swallowing heavily several times. "Snaaaape!" He whined once more, pushing himself up as panic rose within him. He didn't want to get sick!
"Are you going to be sick?" Worry flashed across Snape's face as he moved back towards the couch, setting the tray on the coffee table.
Harry shrugged partially, staring down to his lap as his arms remained over his middle. Swallowing once more, tears blurred Harry's vision before he quickly stood and rushed to the bathroom.
Harry coughed before heaving into the toilet, sitting down on the floor and sobbing loudly.
Snape was a step behind the child, reaching out and gently rubbing his back as Harry sat down on the floor. "Okay," he said softly. "Just get it all out and then we will get some medicine in you."
The child continued to sob, his shoulders and back shaking as he coughed once more. His arms curled around his middle, swallowing before making a gagging sound from his throat. "W-water."
Snape waved a hand causing a glass of water to appear on the floor next to the child. "When did you start to feel sick? You were fine earlier."
Harry quickly took the glass, washing out his mouth before spitting it back into the toilet. Resting the cup back down, he rubbed at his cheeks. "A-after lunch," he whispered softly, leaning towards Snape.
"Do you feel as though you are going to be sick anymore?" Snape rested a hand on the boy's forehead once more.
"I-I dunno," he shook his head, sniffing while staring to his legs. His hands shook, wrapping them around his front once more.
"Okay." Snape frowned as his hand moved to rub the boys back once more. "We will wait another moment and see how you feel."
Several long moments before Harry slowly pushed himself away the toilet. "Think 'm done," He whispered, rubbing at his tears.
Snape gave a nod before standing up straight. He hooked his hands under the boy's arms, carefully lifting him. "Let's take your temperature and get some medicine in you."
The child wrapped his arms tightly around Snape's neck, his shoulders hitching as he took in a breath. He pressed his face into the man, closing his eyes.
The man walked down the hall and back into the parlor, sitting down on the couch with Harry in his lap. He leaned forward, picking up the thermometer. "Put this under your tongue for me." He held it out in front of Harry's mouth.
Harry opened his mouth at the request, allowing the thermometer to be placed under his tongue before closing once more. He sniffed, looking up to Snape.
"Keep your mouth closed and just nod or shake your head for me. Does your throat hurt?" The man eyed the child carefully.
He gave a soft sound before slowly nodding, curling his legs up as a shiver coursed through his body. "Mhm."
Snape waved a hand causing a fire to roar to life in the fireplace before he carefully pulled the thermometer from the boy's mouth. His eyes read the thermometer, a frown forming on his lips. "We are going to get you into pajamas and set up on the couch and then you can take some potions." The man stood once more, picking the child up with him.
Harry re-wrapped his arms around his guardian, glad that his stomach felt at least a bit better after that episode. Still, he whined while burrowing his head under Snape's chin as the man carried him with ease.
Fresh tears landed against Snape's neck as the child blinked, tightening his hold slightly. "'M sorry."
"You needn't apologize. It is not your fault that you are sick." Snape walked down the hall and into the nine-year-old's bedroom.
He moved over to the boy's wardrobe, pulling out a clean pair of pajamas. "You said this started after lunch?"
Harry nodded once more, turning his head to watch as Snape grabbed the clothing. "Yeah. I promise! I felt fine!" He coughed before hiding his face into the man's front.
Snape gently rubbed the boys back for a moment before tapping his fingers against it as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Let's get your pajamas on you."
He gave a soft sound, only moving off Snape's lap at the tapping on his back. "It's hot." Harry whispered, lower lip pouting out. He hadn't felt this terrible for so long!
Snape reached out, grabbing the bottom of the boy's sweatshirt. "Arms up please."
Harry did as instructed, closing his eyes as the clothing was removed. He gave a soft whine, dropping his arms back down for a moment.
Snape pulled the sleep shirt over the boy's head, helping him put his arms through before he unbuttoned his jeans and lowered them. "Step out of these." The man looked at the child, a lightbulb suddenly going off in his head. "Did you wash your hands before you ate lunch?"
The child blinked as he stepped out of the jeans, soon stepping into the pajama bottoms as he looked down to Snape's knee. Had he? He didn't remember. Snape always told him to—and Harry always responded that he knew.
His cheeks flushed softly, shoulders dropping. "I don't remember."
Snape frowned at the words as he continued to stare at the child. Harry had been helping him in his laboratory. He had touched several ingredients. Ingredients that were fine to ingest when mixed in a potion however, alone they could easily cause the child to become ill. "I'm not cross, Harry, however, I need to know the truth. Did you wash your hands, or did you just tell me that you did?"
"I-I-I didn't.." He whispered, shaking his head slowly as he spared a glance up. Harry raised a hand, using the bottom of his hand to rub at his cheek.
A sigh escaped the man as his frown deepened. "Get your owl." He stood, picking up Harry's dirty clothing and throwing it in his hamper before pulling the blanket and pillow from the boy's bed.
Harry moved into the bed, grabbing his owl from its usual spot. "'M sorry," he held the stuffed owl tightly as he rolled on his side to face Snape.
Snape bent down, picking up the child once more. He paused for a moment adjusting the child in his arms along with the blanket and pillow. "We will discuss that later. Right now, I want to get you settled on the couch and get some potions into you."
He nodded slowly, hiding his head into the man's neck as he was picked up. His left arm curled around Snape's neck as his right held the stuffed owl tightly to his chest.
Snape walked into the parlor, sitting on the couch once more with Harry on his lap. He moved the pillow and blanket to his side before reaching forward and picking up the four small vials from the tray. "They are all flavored so there will be no need to argue about taking them."
Harry shifted his head, one arm dropping to curl around his stomach as he looked at the small vials. He felt his shoulders droop as he nodded slowly. "My tummy's startin' to hurt again."
Snape twisted the small lid off of one of the vials, holding it out to the boy. "Take this. It will help with your stomach."
He took the vial, looking down at the liquid for a moment before swallowing it down as quickly as he could. He held it back out, lips turned down to a frown.
"Very good." Snape took the empty vial from the child, slipping it into his pocket before he held out the next one. "For your throat, little boy."
Harry sighed, taking it as well with a face. "Why so mannny?" He whined softly, swallowing the liquid as well.
"They each do something different." Snape held out the next vial. "Take this one for your fever."
"I don't want anymore," he shook his head, staring at the third and fourth vial before looking back up to Snape. Still, the child reached out and took hold of the vial and stared down to it.
"I am sure that you don't." Snape looked down at the child on his lap, his free hand moving to gently tap the small of his back. "However, if you want to feel better it is necessary to take them."
Harry only gave a soft whine before he swallowed the potion and held the empty vial back to Snape. "I hate thiiiis."
Snape took the empty vial from the child, holding out the fourth and final one. "You will be okay. We will get you feeling better."
The child tucked his head under Snape's chin, taking the final vial with a hummed whine before slowly drinking the final bit of liquid. After handing back the empty vial, he wrapped his arms tightly around Snape's neck.
"You are going to be just fine." Snape pulled the blanket from beside him, throwing it over the child's legs. "I am nearly certain that you will not lie about washing your hands, again will you?" His hand gently tapped Harry's back once more.
He shook his head rapidly, grabbing the edge of the blanket and pulling it up to himself. "'M sorry."
Snape hummed softly as he leaned back a bit on the couch, bringing Harry with him. His hand moved to gently pat the boys rear end. "Okay. Do not worry about that now." His other hand moved to rest on the boy's forehead. "How does your stomach feel now?"
"Better," Harry whispered softly, closing his eyes as he was pulled back against the man's chest. He sniffed softly, curling his legs up closer to himself.
"Very good." Snape's hand moved to rub the boys back. "Just relax. Try and sleep."
Harry nodded slowly, shoulders relaxing before sleep quickly pulled at his mind with the lulling motions of Snape's hand.