November - Harry, age 7

Harry groaned softly as he rolled onto his stomach, curling himself up slightly while his arms tucked underneath his pillow. He felt... bad. That was the only way to describe it. His throat itched terribly and he felt so tired.

The seven year old whined softly, rubbing his face into his pillow as the sun started to peek through his window, making the child turn away and curl his head slightly under the covers to block out the assaulting light.

"Snaaaape!" He whined from under the covers, tightening his hold on the edge of them.

Hearing the whine, Snape moved down the hallway towards the child's room. Just a little less than a month prior the child had attempted and failed to lie about being sick in order to stay home from school. The man sincerely hoped that he was not about to deal with that once more.

He stepped into the child's bedroom, raising an eyebrow as he saw the boy curled up under his blankets. "What do you need, little boy?"

Harry heard his door open, tightening his hold onto his covers while curling further into himself beneath it. "I don't feel gooood," he whined softly, tugging the blanket down just enough to frown over to the man.

A frown formed on the man's face as he walked over to the child. Leaning down he pressed his hand against the boy's forehead. "You do not feel warm. What does not feel good?"

"My throat feels weiiird... and my tummy." Harry rubbed his cheek against this pillow, lower lip pouting out just slightly as he stared up to Snape.

The man raised an eyebrow at the words. This was all beginning to sound a bit too familiar to him. "Sit up and open your mouth so that I can see your throat."

Sighing softly, the child pushed himself up and wrapped his arms around his middle while leaning forward slightly. He did as instructed, opening his mouth and closing his eyes while his shoulders slouched down.

Snape peered down the child's throat, firmly tapping the underside of the small chin a moment later. "Your throat looks fine to me as well." Snape tapped the boy's chin once more. "If I remember correctly you claimed not too long ago that your throat and stomach hurt, however, that was a lie to try and miss school."

"But I'm not lyin'!" Harry swallowed heavily, feeling tears of the unfairness of it all well up and causing him to blink.

"Harry," the man spoke in a scolding tone. "You are heading in the right direction for a smacked backside." Snape stood up straight once more.

"But I'm nooot!" The child whined, raising a hand up to rub across his face before resting it across his middle. Snape didn't believe him! "I really do feel bad."

"You are not warm and your throat looks absolutely fine to me." Snape gave the child a stern look. "You are going to school today, not to Hogwarts. Now get up and get dressed."

"But Snaaaape." Harry tilted his head back into his pillow, whining softly as he turned onto his stomach. "You gottttaaa believe me!" A sound that seemed close to an early sob shook the child's shoulders as he turned away from the man.

Snape cringed slightly at the sound of the child's whine. The man swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain from snapping at the boy. "Get dressed and come downstairs and I will take your temperature properly."

"Okay," Harry relented softly, slowly pushing himself up with a small sniff as he watched Snape head to the door. Snape had to believe him! He wasn't lying! He rubbed at his face with a soft whine, shoulders slouching down as he stood from the bed and moved across the room to his dresser.

The man moved down the staircase feeling annoyance run through him. He was in no mood for the child's lies and nonsense. He was absolutely sure that this was just another sad attempt at spending the day at Hogwarts rather than school.

The man moved into the kitchen, tapping the table and causing Harry's breakfast to appear before he set a hearing charm on it and moved to the cabinet to retrieve the thermometer.

After dressing, which Harry felt took far more longer than normal, the child slowly moved down the hall and into the kitchen. He paused at the smell of the food, stomach twisting slightly. "I'm not hungry," he said honestly, looking over towards Snape while remaining at the entryway.

Snape nearly rolled his eyes at the words. "Come here so we can see if you have a fever."

Moving over, Harry wrapped his arms around his middle as he stood in front of the man and opened his mouth. Tears still lined the bottom of his eyes before he simply closed them with a sniff.

Snape leaned down, placing the thermometer in the child's mouth. After doing so, he hooked his hands under Harry's arms and lifted him, sitting him on the kitchen counter. "If you do not have a fever you are going to school. Understood?"

A whine was the child's only response as he closed his mouth, blinking and staring up to Snape as he frowned deeply. His arms tightened around his middle, looking down slightly. Like he had a choice.

Snape allowed several moments to pass before he gently pulled the thermometer from the child's mouth. He held it up, reading it carefully. "Completely normal." His eyes roamed to the child. "Now stop this nonsense and eat your breakfast." The man lifted the child off of the counter.

"I'm not hungry," Harry repeated as he was placed down, lower lips pouting out as he wrapped his arms around himself once more. "I'm not lyin! I don't feel good."

"You cannot go to school on an empty stomach. Eat a few bites and drink some of your juice." The man chose to ignore the words about the child not feeling well.

Harry moved over to the table, sitting but only looking down to the food. He wanted to be hungry.. .but it only made him feel more ill. "No."

Snape nearly started to argue with the child but quickly thought better of it. He was not about to buy into this game. "Very well. Go put your shoes and jacket on and we will go."

Tears blurred the child's vision as he slowly stood once more, rubbing a hand under his glasses to rub away the tears before they had a chance to fall. Picking up his trainers, he moved over to the couch while his frown remained. "I really don't feel good."

Snape followed the child into the parlor, sighing at the words. "You do not have a fever and your throat looks fine. School is important. You know that, you are not coming to Hogwarts to play today."

Harry pushed on the trainers, feeling his chin quiver at the man's words. He had only lied once before about feeling sick and now Snape would never believe him! The child removed his glasses, quickly rubbing away several of the tears that burned his eyes. "You don't c-care."

"If you were sick I would absolutely care." Snape moved over to the front closet, opening it and pulling out the child's coat. "However you are not. The thermometer proved that."

"Whatever," the child muttered softly, his shoulders still slouched as he stood and slowly moved over to Snape. He spared a look up to Snape before taking the coat away from the man and putting it on himself. Both arms wrapped around himself, looking back down to the floor.

The man nearly commented on the child's cheek but decided to ignore it as he picked up Harry's book bag and handed it to the seven year old. "Your lunch is already packed inside." The man moved towards the door.

Harry silently took the bag from Snape, instead of putting it across his back as normal, he simply held it down to his side. He gave a mute nod, rubbing at his face once more as his stomach twisted. "I don't feel good though," he tried softly once more, keeping his eyes trained on his feet as he followed the man slowly.

"You do not have a fever," Snape repeated the words once more as he walked out of the front door. He paused, waiting for Harry to join him before he shut the door behind them. "Your throat looks normal. If you still feel ill this evening I will make an appointment with the muggle doctor."

"You can't make a potion?" Harry frowned down to his feet at the idea of being forced to the doctor. Snape could normally fix everything! Or try to.

Snape was silent for a moment as he made his way down the front walk. "If you still feel ill after school you can take a Pepper Up potion. How is that?"

The child only gave a small nod as he trudged a few steps behind the man, focusing on Snape's feet to lore guide the way. He felt so tired.

The man reached out, taking the child's hand in his own before crossing the street. He nearly scolded the boy for lying but forced himself to refrain. Harry was going to school and Snape was sure that by the time he picked him up in the afternoon he would be back to his normal self.

Snape cleared his throat as the pair turned the corner. "Perhaps if you are feeling better by tomorrow we can go to Hogwarts for the weekend."

"And if I'm not?" Harry tightened his hold slightly within Snape's hand before simply holding it lightly. His eyes moved up to Snape, frown remaining.

"I told you, I will give you a Pepper Up potion this evening and we will see if we need to pay a visit to the muggle doctor." The man's grip on the child's hand tightened slightly before he crossed the street.

"Fine." The child fell just a step behind the man, looking back down to his feet as his other hand rubbed across his face. "My throat hurts," he muttered, tugging lightly at Snape's hand.

Snape sighed softly as he stopped walking, the child's school now in sight. "Okay, let me see your throat once more."

Harry paused, looking up to Snape. "And I'm not lyin'." He opened his mouth, eyes closing as he released a breath.

Snape leaned down, carefully inspecting the child's throat before he stood up straight once more. "It looks perfectly fine."

"I think you're lyin'." The child frowned at the words, swallowing as he closed his mouth.

Snape hummed softly at the words as he frowned down at the boy. "That's quite peculiar considering I think that you are the one who is lying."

"I'm nooot." Harry felt his chest hurt, shoulders giving a small hitch as he released Snape's hand to rub under his glasses.

The man raised an eyebrow at the whine. "One would think that after the last time you would have learned your lesson." The man reached down, firmly tapping the small chin. "Get yourself into school before I decide we need to discuss this habit when you arrive home this afternoon."

Harry chose to not respond to the words, pulling away with a small glare to the ground. Snape would never believe him again. He simply moved to the entrance of the school with a soft muttered, "Bye."

"Behave yourself," Snape called after the boy and have a good day." The man nearly rolled his eyes at the sight of the child and his dramatics.

Harry did not look back over his shoulder as he disappeared within the school, grimacing slightly. He wanted to run back and yell at the man that he wasn't being fair! But he knew Snape would be true to his threat and he simply did not have the energy to deal with anything. He would just have to do his best.

Snape moved through the school halls at a rapid pace. The man could not help the guilt that he felt, despite the fact that he knew that his reaction earlier in the morning had not been overly harsh. It wasn't as though Harry had never pretended to be sick in the past to avoid going to school.

The man turned the corner and walked into the small office to see the child sitting in a chair looking absolutely miserable. His eyes remained on the boy as he addressed the woman sitting at the desk beside him. "What are his symptoms?"

Harry tightened his arms slightly around his middle, staring down to his feet with his bag close to his legs.

The woman gave a sad smile towards the child before looking to Snape as the man walked in, clearing her throat softly. "He has a slight fever. While I cannot fully diagnose him myself, his other symptoms seem to possibly point to strep throat. He says his throat hurts and his tonsils are slightly inflamed."

As the woman spoke, Harry slowly raised his head up to look at Snape with a frown before slouching down into the seat. He hadn't been lying.

Snape gave a small nod at the words. "Thank you for contacting me. I will be sure that he sees the doctor as soon as possible." The man cleared his throat softly as he looked up at the woman before his eyes drifted back to the child. "I believe we should get you home, Harry."

The child felt his shoulders slouch a considerable amount, hoping Snape actually believed it and didn't just think he had somehow lied to the nurse. Picking up his school bag, Harry moved over to Snape and leaned slightly into his side as he moved out of the office.

As the office door closed behind them, Snape leaned down picking the child up. He adjusted him in his arms before taking Harry's book bag from him and carrying it himself. "I think we need to get you home and into bed. Hmm?"

Harry wrapped his arms loosely around Snape's neck as he was lifted, tucking his head against his shoulder. "I wanna stay with you," he whispered, eyes closing.

"I do not intend to leave you." Snape moved through the school halls once more before stepping outside. "We are going to get a potion in you, and then you and I are going to have a bit of a talk while you rest."

"Okay." He tightened his hold faintly as they stepped out of the school and down the stairs to the path. Harry rubbed his face slowly into Snape's neck, sighing while doing so. He cleared his throat, whining softly in pain that the action caused within his throat.

"Calm down." Snape adjusted the child in his arms once more before starting towards their house. "You can take a potion for your throat. Perhaps some ice cream would help it as well."

Harry nodded, eyes remaining closed before yawning widely against the man. "Can I have a little chocolate ice cream?"

Snape hummed softly at the request as he turned a corner. "You may, just a little, however."

The child nodded slowly, exhaustion washing over him while loosening his hold slowly. He wanted to say 'I told you so' but he didn't want to be scolded for the words either.

Snape crossed a street as his fingertips gently tapped the child's hip. "Did you ever hear the story of the boy who cried wolf?"

"Yeah... our teacher talked about it." Harry tightened his hold as they moved back onto the sidewalk, blinking his eyes open and looking towards the road while resting his chin onto Snape's shoulder.

"What do you remember about it?" Snape adjusted the boy slightly as he turned a corner.

"The boy kept telling the town a wolf was attacking... but it never was there. Then it was and no one believed him." Harry rubbed his thumb idly against the man's back as he frowned. "'M sorry."

The man let out a soft hum as he turned a corner, their house now in sight. "You needn't be sorry." Snape looked down at the child. "I apologize for sending you to school when you felt so poorly. However, it is important to remember that if you lie about things like feeling ill, when you really are sick I may have a hard time believing you."

Harry forced a small smile before allowing it to fall away, tucking his head into Snape's neck while closing his eyes once more. "I won't again...promise."

Snape started up their front walk as he gave a small nod. "Very good. We are going to get you into some pajamas and then I want to take your temperature once more."

"Weren't you teachin'?" He uttered softly, rubbing his head against Snape's shoulder briefly.

"I was." Snape opened the front door, walking into the house and closing it behind him. "However, I do not have to go back today." The man set down the boy's book bag before starting up the staircase.

"Oh." Harry lifted his head up, releasing one arm from around Snape's neck to rub at his face. "You're not cross?"

"Not at all." The man stepped onto the second floor. "As I said, I apologize for not listening to you this morning. I hope that you can understand why I thought you were lying."

"But I said I wasn't," he replied, frowning as he looked to his room as they stepped into it.

"Hence the reminder of the story of the boy who cried wolf." Snape moved over to the child's wardrobe, pulling out a clean pair of pajamas. "I need you to always be honest about whether or not you feel ill."

"Kay." Harry watched as Snape did everything, resting his cheek down with another rub under his glasses. "Do I gotta stay up here? Can I lay on the couch?" He knew that sleeping on the couch didn't actually make him better, but he always felt it helped! And he slept better with Snape not too far away too.

"I think that resting on the couch would be acceptable." The man sat down on the child's bed. "Let's get these sleep pants on you."

As Snape sat, Harry kicked off his trainers and slowly stood away from the man. Taking the pajama bottoms, he changed rather quickly before simply moving back to Snape's front and curling his arms snugly back around the man's middle.

"Do you want to leave your sweatshirt on or are you too warm?" Snape wrapped his arms around the boy.

"'M fine... kinda cold." Harry rested his cheek against Snape's chest, eyes closing. "My throat hurts," he whispered softly, moving his arms up to wrap around Snape's neck.

Snape stood, lifting the child into his arms as he did. He leaned down, picking up Harry's owl and handing it to him. "Let's go take your temperature and then you can take a potion or two and rest on the couch."

"Kay." The child wrapped his legs around Snape as he was lifted, tightening his hold with his right arm while his left took hold of the owl. "And you'll stay with me?"

"I will stay with you." Snape walked out of the child's room and started down the staircase. "However, you need to rest."

Harry nodded with a soft whine, resting his owl between him and Snape while they descended down to the first floor. "Can we still go to Hogwarts tomorrow? Will you really be takin' me to the doctor?"

"I think we may need to wait to go to Hogwarts, perhaps next weekend." The man stepped into the first floor and moved towards the kitchen to fetch the thermometer. "We will see about the doctor."

"I don't wanna go," he muttered softly, tightening his hold on the owl. He was sure Snape could fix it! Even if he hated potions, they were still much better that the doctor where he could get a shot and gross medicine. The child shuddered at the thought, swallowing painfully several times. "I'm thirsty."

"We shall see." Snape moved out to the cabinet, adjusting Harry to balance on his hip before he opened it and pulled out the thermometer. "Let's take your temperature and then you can have something to drink." The man slipped the thermometer into the child's mouth. "Under your tongue please."

Doing as instructed, Harry glanced up to Snape briefly before looking down slightly to the barely visible end of the thermometer. He wondered if Snape ever got sick... and if so did he feel as terrible as he did? The child gave a soft whine of complaint as he rested his cheek to Snape's shoulder.

"Just relax." Snape's tone was soft as his hand moved to gently rub the child's back.

After several long moments, he carefully removed the thermometer from Harry's mouth. A frown formed on his lips as he read it. "A potion for your fever and a potion for your throat." The man set the thermometer on the counter before moving towards his supply closet. "Is anything else bothering you?"

"No." Harry shook his head as he Snape moved. "Maybe hungry? My tummy kinda hurts. But I don't feel hungry."

"You don't feel like you are going to be sick, do you?" The man removed two vials before pausing and looking down at the child.

"No." That much Harry could tell as he kept his gaze on the vials with a small pout. Despite the flavored taste of them, he still didn't like them.

Snape adjusted the child in his arms before moving into the parlor and sitting down on the couch with Harry still in his arms. "Take these two potions for me and then you may have some ice cream."

"And still some chocolate ice cream?" Raising his head up, Harry reached and took hold of one of the small vials with a tiny grin.

Snape nodded at the words. "Yes, chocolate ice cream. I want you to drink some cold water too." The last thing the man needed was for the child to become dehydrated.

Harry nodded, swallowing the first potion before holding the empty vial back to his guardian and taking the second. "Okay." Without giving it too much thought, he quickly swallowed the second as well.

"Very good." Snape gave an approving nod before leaning forward and setting the empty vials on the coffee table. He tapped the table twice causing a small bowl of chocolate ice cream to appear. Picking it up he handed it to the child. "See if that helps your throat to feel better."

"Thanks," Harry breathed as he took the small bowel, raising his head up fully with a small smile to the man. Shifting, he leaned properly against Snape's chest while taking a small bite of the ice cream. He hummed as the soothing of his throat was near instant as he took another small bite.

Snape's hand moved to gently rub the child's back. "We will see about a bit of a nap when you are done."

The child nodded once, eyes settling down on the bowl as he scooped up another small bite. "Sorry you had to come get me," he muttered, taking the bite and scooping up another. Maybe he wasn't that hungry, as he raised the spoon up before lowering it down with a frown.

"You do not have to apologize for that." Snape's fingertips gently tapped against the child's back. "It is not your fault that you are feeling poorly."

Harry stirred the ice cream around slowly with the spoon before taking another small bite and letting the spoon rest back into the bowl. "I wanna eat it but I don't feel good."

Snape took the bowl from the child before leaning forward and placing it on the table. He waved a hand over it ensuring that it would not melt. "Does something hurt aside from your throat?"

"I just don't feel that hungry I guess." The child shook his head before soon tucking it under Snape's chin with a small whine. He wanted to be happy he was home, but he couldn't even enjoy it! Raising his arms up, Harry draped them loosely over the man's shoulders.

"Perhaps you should lie down for a bit." Snape's hand rubbed the child's back for a moment before he waved the same hand causing Harry's pillow and blanket to appear. "A nap may do you good."

"I wanna stay here." Harry tightened his arms slightly as he nestled his head further down to Snape's chest to further his point. "Please."

A small sigh escaped the man as he reached over and pulled the blanket towards him. He leaned back slightly on the couch. "Go on and make yourself comfortable."

The child grinned at the motion, nudging his head closer to Snape's neck while dropping his arms down to his front. Releasing a sigh, Harry closed his eyes as he stretched his legs out slightly. "Thanks."

Snape pulled the blanket over the child. "Try and rest. I am sure that it will help you feel better."

Harry hummed softly as he wrapped his hands around the blanket and held it to his front slightly. "Okay," he breathed softly, nestling his face slightly into the man's shirt before releasing a soft sigh. He felt exhausted and it was such a terrible feeling. He wanted to be able to go to Hogwarts! Slowly sleep crept over his consciousness and the child's body slacked slightly.

Snape sighed softly as he felt the child's breathing even out. He leaned back slightly further on the couch, careful not to disrupt Harry as he did so. It certainly would not hurt him to rest a bit with the child.