Chapter 2
The Fever
Harry was flying around on his Firebolt, obviously watching for the snitch. He flew around above the game watching it below. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The fall air filled his lungs. He opened his eyes and looked closely for the snitch. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shinning and there was just enough of a breeze to rustle someone's hair gently. He watched with the eyes of a hawk, looking for a glimmer of gold to indicate the snitch. He watched and observed. What was that? Was it a glimmer of gold at the far end post? Yes! Yes it was! There's the snitch! Harry dived toward it, feeling the fall cool air speed by him. He could hear everyone cheering him on. He realized he was racing a buldger. Come on faster... Almost there! He reached out his hand and snatched the snitch, but no sooner did he have it did the buldger meet his head. Sudden blackness took over his eyesight as he fell. He could hear the crowd around him screaming. He felt himself hit the ground and felt the wind get knocked out of him. He heard people racing from the bleachers and crowd around him. His eyes flickered open, he saw people around him but he could barely see the images. He was breathing heavy. Hermione and Ron where the first ones there.
"Harry?" Hermione asked between sobs.
Harry couldn't respond. He tried but it was too hard, too tiring that a hand on his shoulder and a voice told him not to say anything. He didn't recognize the voice and tried to look at the person who said it but it was impossible. His vision started to fade to black as his breathing increased. His eyes rolled back and he could hear Ron and Hermione, crying.
"Harry, NO!"
"Harry, don't die on us," Ron said.
That was all Harry heard. Blackness and sudden coldness took over his body.
Harry bolted awake. He sat up in his bed quickly, but went back down more slowly and groaned. His head was pounding, but it wasn't his scar this time. He laid in his bed staring at his ceiling as hot and cold flashes continuously took over his body. He started to drift back to sleep when Aunt Petunia pounded on his door. "Wake up!"
He slowly and steadily got out of bed and got ready for another day of work. He knew he was ill but there was no way he could convince the Dursleys that he was. He looked in a mirror and noticed his bangs were matted to his forehead. His face was flushed and his forehead covered in sweat. He wiped his forehead. He stared at his reflection, drifting into a daze. He was brought back to reality by his Aunt Petunia pounding on the door. "GET UP!"
"I'm up, I'm up," he mumbled and he dragged him self out of his room and carefully down the stairs. He entered the kitchen to the usual sight in the morning, the Dursleys sitting at the kitchen table. Aunt Petunia cutting up a grape fruit for every one. Dudley sitting there impatiently waiting for his breakfast. Uncle Vernon sitting across from Aunt Petunia, reading the news paper. Harry sat down across from Dudley and looked at the piece of grape fruit that Aunt Petunia had placed in front of him. As hungry as he was, he couldn't eat it. Aunt Petunia stared at him so he picked it up and started nibbling at it. Uncle Vernon's voice boomed over the newspaper. "So, Petunia, did you hear back from her yet?"
Aunt Petunia started fidgeting in her seat which obviously meant no. Uncle Vernon put down the newspaper he was reading. Harry's had his full attention on them. "Well," Aunt Petunia said in a disappointed tone, "she said it was to late of notice. She had already had made plans."
Uncle Vernon sighed in defeat. He turned towards Harry. "Well, I guess your going to meet your grandparents after all."
Harry perked up at this. He smiled. Aunt Petunia looked at him with disgust, "Well, I guess we might have to go and find you something decent to wear. Come on, we should leave now so we can be back before they get here." She said all this as if it was forced and for her, it probably was.
So Harry was dragged into the first clothes store in London. They found an appropriate family dinner outfit for Harry. Aunt Petunia had him try it out for size, paid for it and than was out the door as quickly as they had come. They arrived home at 12:30. Aunt Petunia made lunch for every one and soon had Harry working. He only had to do a small amount though, compared to what he usually got. He only had to finish trimming the rose bushes, then get ready for his grandparents visit. Harry quickly did the task and walked into the house. He went upstairs and took a shower. When he got out he got dressed in the clothes his Aunt bought him earlier that day. He tried desperately to fix his hair but it was no use. He headed downstairs to the kitchen to find Aunt Petunia still very busily getting ready for the visit. Dudley was sitting at the kitchen table, already in his outfit, watching TV. Harry looked at his Aunt with excitement.
"Aunt Petunia?"
She stopped moving a turned around abruptly, "What?"
"When are they going to arrive?"
She sighed and looked at the clock. Harry too, looked at the clock. "In about twenty minutes. Dinner isn't even close to ready so just stay out of my way." She turned and started stirring something in the pot on the stove.
Harry turned and walked upstairs and into his room. Hedwig still hadn't returned. He was saddened at the sight of her empty cage. ::I wonder where she is? I hope she's ok. :: He sat down on his bed and looked around. He still felt awful. His head felt light headed and now his vision was going in and out of focus. He tried to read one of his school books but it was terribly difficult. By the time he finished reading the section he heard his Aunt Petunia yell up the stairs. "Harry! They are going to be here in five minutes!" Harry put the book away and went down stairs to find Uncle Vernon giving orders. "Dudley, you help your grandmother into the house. Petunia, dear, you greet them when they enter and you," he said to Harry. "You are to sit in the dinning room and stay there."
"OK."
Harry walked into the dinning room and sat down at the table. He didn't know why they were making such a big deal about this. They were only Aunt Petunia's parents, weren't they? He heard the doorbell ring and his heart skipped a beat. They're here! Thoughts started racing through his head making his head spin. ::What if they don't like me? :: He heard voices from the front door. ::That voice? Why does it sound so familiar? :: He heard Aunt Petunia greet her father. He heard a female voice talking to Dudley. His heart was pounding with anticipation. His vision started to fade and his head continued to spin but he tried to ignored it. He was moments away from meeting his grandparents. He saw someone round the corner. ::This is it::. He heard someone speak but didn't recognize the voice, "Harry?" That was all he heard as he blacked out.