I Thought It Was The Flu
Chapter 7

By Corgi

To say Poppy Pomfrey was angry was an understatement. She was livid. If any of the students saw her now they would forever be more afraid of her than Professor Snape. The reason for her anger currently resides at the Lair, watching over one Harry Potter. She needed to bring the young man back here. Why couldn't Albus understand that? No, he wouldn't let her, not unless she told him who, what, where and how! She couldn't tell him she was bound by her oaths when receiving her license to practice to protect her patient's privacy. No the old fool wouldn't allow her to do that.

She had to think, but first she needed to calm down before an injured student came through the doors looking for her. She walked over to her potions supply cupboard and rummaged around for a calming draught. She finally found one in the back of the cabinet and downed it one mouthful. While waiting for the potion to kick in, she set about reorganizing the potions using the mundane task to help the potion calm her. Finally, she felt she wasn't about to rip her own hair out. She retreated to her office and summoned a house elf and requested tea and some sandwiches. Before she could blink twice, the little being returned bearing the requested items and she thanked the helpful elf.

While she ate and drank, she began weighing her options. She knew if she didn't get Harry back here to Severus she'd lose both the older wizard and the child he was carrying. Sirius would be devastated as well, thinking his last link to his godson had perished with the man Harry had loved. Really, she had no other options. She spent an hour thinking of ways to convince Albus to let her bring the young wizard back to Hogwarts and realised she was wasting her time. Albus, like Severus, was stubborn once his mind was made up. It was part of the reason Albus understood Severus better than the rest of the staff.

Her thoughts were broken when four students were dragged in by their fellow classmates with leaves sprouting wildly all over. Fluid dripping off the clothes of the victims indicated yet another potions accident down in the dungeons. Hopefully Severus had been far away from the explosion. She didn't know what effect improperly brewed potions would have on his baby. After dosing the children with the antidote and keeping an eye on them for an hour just in case, she shooed them out the door and returned to her dilemma.

The way she saw it, she could either obey the Headmaster and leave Harry at the Lair and possible risking Severus' and his child's lives, or sneak Harry away and reunite him with Severus and their unborn child. Really, if she looked at it logically, her job meant nothing compared to the oath she took. Like Muggles, medi-wizards and witches took the Hippocratic Oath, but unlike Muggle physicians, medi-wizards and witches are spell bound into the oath. If they go against the letter and spirit of that oath their magic is forever destroyed. In that light, Poppy had no choice what so ever. She had to spirit Harry away. Now just how to do that? Her main stumbling block would be incapacitating Albus. The man was just too powerful for her to stun with a spell. Maybe Sirius Black would have an idea about distracting the old fool. If Black had a means of distraction, then Poppy could bring Harry back via the floo. Now if there was someplace to hide the two men, Poppy would be set.

When she looked up at the clock in her office she noticed it was time for dinner. She made her way to the Great Hall for the evening meal. She took her usual seat next to Professor Sprout and spent the meal discussing the new magical, medicinal plant discovered. Flora was very excited about the discovery and was overjoyed at being one of the few chosen to make an attempt at cultivating it in a controlled environment. Poppy took the opportunity to watch Severus and gauge how he was feeling without his knowledge. She really didn't like what she saw. She had to bring Harry to him as soon as possible. She'd have to put her plans into action tomorrow before it was too late. She spent the rest of her meal plotting, while making the appropriate comments to Professor Sprout to cover her inattention.

Morning came around much too soon for Poppy's weary mind, but she needed to get moving. She dosed herself with a vial of Pepper-up potion. Madam Pomfrey gathered those things she'd need for Harry and Severus today and a second bag full of medications for the long haul. The second bag she shrunk and hid in one of her pockets. Glancing up at the clock, she decided she wouldn't be too early to catch Severus; the man was a notoriously early riser. The same couldn't be said for Black, but she'd have to wake him up.

The matron strode down to the dungeon, radiating grim determination as she did so. She knocked on the portrait guarding Severus' chambers and was surprised to see Black answer the door.

"Good morning, Sirius. I need to check up on Severus."

"Good morning. Severus is just finishing his breakfast." Sirius responded as he stepped out of the way to let Poppy in.

She glanced around the room until she found Severus sitting in one of the arm chairs. He was paler than normal though she was happy to see that Sirius was making the thin wizard eat. Firm in her resolve to get Harry away from Albus, she made her way across the room to Severus.

"Good morning, Poppy. I see you're here to poke and prod me again." The level of exhaustion in the man's voice was noticeable to both Poppy and Sirius.

"Yes, Severus, I'm here to examine you again. I'll be here every morning until the baby's born. I don't want to overlook anything. I do need a favour from you before we begin. I've a patient that needs a safe house. Said patient is a high level personage and I need a place no one knows the location of. I'd bring the person here, but Hogwarts wouldn't be safe."

"Most of the Order's safe houses are known by Albus. In fact, all of them are known to Albus and at least one other member, so if you need a truly secure location it won't be one of those." Severus had a thoughtful look, but Poppy couldn't tell if he was searching his mind for another location or figuring out who Poppy was trying to hide. "There is a cottage on my family's lands that is secure. There's some very high level shields and spells on the place to make it hard to find. The ministry and Albus don't know it exists. Would that do?"

"That would be perfect Severus! Thank you!" Poppy exclaimed with relief. She now had a place to hide the men until Harry was better.

"Let me call one of the manor's house elves and make sure the place is ready for occupation. They've been keeping the place in repair though it wasn't in use. It won't take them long to fix anything they haven't kept up with," Severus said while moving towards his desk. When he reached his desk, he rifled through one of the draws removing a small box and removing the contents he called out a name. "Miffy!"

A small crack was heard and Miffy the house elf appeared before her master with a low bow and a quick look around to determine if there was a threat to her master. When she straightened up, she looked up at Severus awaiting her instructions.

"Miffy, would you and the others get Thornwall Cottage ready, please? Madam Pomfrey will be bringing a patient there to recover and no one is to know the patient is there."

"Yes, Master Severus, Miffy will see to it." With another clap, the little elf left to do her master's bidding.

"The cottage will be ready in a matter of moments," Severus turned to Poppy before continuing, "Miffy will make sure the floo system is opened for you to bring your patient in."

"Thank you, Severus; I do appreciate the use of the cottage. Now into the bedroom with you! I need to run some scans."

Severus headed into the bedroom and laid down on the bed with an annoyed expression on his face. Poppy gave him a small, amused smile and placed her bag on the nightstand and began to rummage through it looking for the nutrient potion she brought down for him and a mild sleeping potion to mix into it. Once that was done out of Severus' sight, she pulled the vial out and placed it on the nightstand and removed her wand from her pocket. She quickly began the scans and found the baby to be quite healthy though Severus' health was on a decline due to the baby's pull on his resources. All this information made Poppy more determined to bring Harry back; even if she had to hit Albus over the head with a rock she was going to retrieve the younger wizard today!

"The baby's very healthy Severus, but your resources are running thin. You need to eat and sleep more. Try small meals through out the day, that way you won't feel nauseous or uncomfortable. Drink this nutrient potion and I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day."

Severus downed the potion after a brief nod of acceptance concerning the medi-witches' instructions. He gave her a look of suspicion when he detected the taste of sleeping potion, but quickly fell asleep before he could roar at her. Poppy pulled the blankets over the sleeping man and hurried into the sitting room to talk to Sirius. Once in the room, she quickly placed silencing and locking charms on the room before turning to the former fugitive.

"Sirius, I need your help. I don't want you to say anything to Severus about this until after the fact. Harry was found, but Albus has him hidden away for his safety."

"Poppy, that's fantastic! How is he? When is he coming back?" Sirius bounded around the room much like a puppy.

"That's the problem I need your help for Sirius. Albus doesn't want him here at Hogwarts because his magic is seriously depleted and he's lost copious amounts of blood. He's stable but defenceless. Do you know about Severus' condition?"

"I know he's pregnant and I know Harry's the father, but why doesn't Albus believe we can't protect him here? I realize the remaining Death Eaters want to kill Harry, but that's no reason to keep him away from his home."

"That's exactly what Albus is afraid of. He's adamant that Harry stay in hiding, but if we don't get Harry here we'll lose Severus and the baby. In male pregnancies both parents need to be in close contact for the health of the carrier and the baby's development. I need a way to put Albus out of action long enough to smuggle Harry to Severus' cottage. Do you have any ideas? I will hit him over the head with something if I must, but I would rather not if I can help it. I just can't simply stun the man; his personal protections are too strong for me to do so."

"Let me run to Hogsmead and get some Lemon drops. I'll treat them with a strong sleeping potion. I know Severus has a tasteless one in his stores. That should get Albus out of your way long enough to get Harry into hiding. Are you going to bring Severus there too?"

"Yes, I want Severus there too. He needs to be in close contact to Harry during the pregnancy. I'll nip up to Albus' office and get another bag of those blasted candies from Minerva. I'll just say he requested some during yesterday's visit. I'll be right back."

"Okay Poppy, I'll retrieve that potion and start packing Severus' belongings. I haven't unpacked yet."

"Are you sure you want to suffer Albus' wrath, Sirius?" Poppy asked before she pulled down the charms.

"Despite how I act, Poppy, I know how much I owe Severus for those potions that returned me to health after Harry and the others pulled my body from behind the Veil at the Department of Mysteries. I'll do anything to help him and Harry. I might not be too keen on Harry's relationship with Severus, but I won't interfere if he's truly happy and I won't allow Albus to hurt them."

"That's perfectly fine with me, Sirius. I'm not too keen on breaking my oath or losing my magic because Albus is being stubborn." Poppy gave Sirius a nod as he left the room to get the lemon drops for Sirius' plan.

An hour later she was briskly making her way to Harry's room at the Lair. Albus was sitting next to Harry who was dazedly looking at the ceiling looking very pale and tired.

"How are you today, Harry?" She asked as she pulled out the vials she needed the young man to take.

"I've been better," Harry whispered hoarsely as he eyed with distaste the various potions she was lining up on the bedside table.

"You'll be good as new before you know it!" Poppy said meaning every word though not in the way Albus thought she would.

"You see, Harry, everything will be fine, my boy." Albus butted in patting Harry's hand.

"Oh, before I forget. Minerva sent you a bag of lemon drops. She thought you might be running low."

"I could always count on Minerva to know what I need before I do. I was just going to send her an owl asking for some." Albus chuckle as he took the bag from Poppy and immediately opened the bag and popped one into his mouth after offering some to his guests. Poppy couldn't believe her luck as Albus sucked the potion off the candy and tipped over asleep.

Poppy levitated the sleeping Headmaster into another bedroom after pulling the remaining candy from his mouth. Once she had him safely disposed of, she hurried back into Harry's room and caught the young wizard attempting to make his escape.

"Oh no, you don't young man!" She scolded as she pushed him back onto the bed.

"I have to go, Poppy. I have to get back to the school!"

"I'll take you to Severus as soon as you take these potions. Severus has been frantic since you disappeared."

"He has?"

"Yes, he has. Now drink up. The sooner you're done, the sooner we can leave." She smiled as she watched Harry drink each potion as quickly as he could. "Now lean on me and we'll floo to Severus' place." She grabbed a handful of floo powder and shouted, "Thornwall Cottage!" They disappeared in a flare of green fire.

Once at the cottage, Poppy led Harry into the cottage's master bedroom and called for a house elf by pulling the silken cord next to the bed.

"What would mistress like Miffy to do?" The house elf from earlier asked.

"Please watch Harry here until your Master Severus arrives, please." Poppy then turned Harry after the house elf's nod of affirmation. "Harry, get some sleep until Severus arrives. If you need anything ask Miffy here for it."

"Okay, Poppy." Harry replied and turned to thank the house elf for her help.

Poppy left the room and returned to the fireplace and fire called Sirius. Sirius' head appeared in the flames and he started questioning her immediately.

"Did you get him, Poppy? Is he alright?

"Yes, he's here, but tired. Get Severus here on the double." She saw Severus' form entering the room over Sirius' shoulder and called out. "Severus, I need you help here immediately! Please!"

"Move out of the way I'm coming through," Severus came through without asking any questions of Poppy. "What's wrong with your patient and what do you need made?" He asked without preamble.

"See for yourself, Severus. He's in the master bedroom with Miffy."

Severus strode to the door not noticing that Sirius had arrived and closed off the floo. He made his way to the bedroom and stopped in stunned shock. A cry of "Harry" was ripped from the pregnant wizard's throat as he rushed to the bed.

Harry's eyes popped open and the first smile Poppy had seen from the green-eyed wizard since he was found lit up his face when he saw the Potions Master. The younger wizard leapt from the bed into the other's arms and both simultaneously cried out 'I love you'. Both Poppy and Sirius had tears in their eyes as they witnessed the reunion, but Poppy knew the worst was yet to come during this dangerous pregnancy.

tbc