The Plague

The next week was the beginning of a cold/flu epidemic. Since the whole school was out in the storm during the quidditch match it seemed that the whole school eventually caught a nasty flu/cold virus that stuck around for a while. The week started with lessons and Icicle running around getting ready for her next ballet, The Nutcracker, which was showing that weekend. Harry, Ron and Hermione asked if they could go but they were told no because of some dark activity that had been stirring up around the world.

By the end of the week Ron and Harry were down with a cold/flu and both Hermione and Icicle didn't look too hot either. During the weekend Hermione finally fell victim to "the plague", but Icicle kept dragging her body around insisting that she was fine. Finally, after the last afternoon performance on Sunday, Icicle came home and spent the rest of the day sleeping on the bathroom floor.

Come Monday, school was canceled until further notice because most of the students and teachers were sick. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Figg and all the other teachers had the flu and Madame Pomfrey had also developed bronchitis because of running herself ragged taking care of all the students; the only other person that was able to do that was Icicle. Snape was given the task of making enough potions for the whole school but since he was sick, progress was pretty slow.

"Achoo…"

"Achoo…"

"Achoo…"

"Achoo!!!"

Harry, Hermione and Ron all sat on one of the couches in the Gryffindor common room surrounded by 4 boxes of Kleenex, a bunch of blankets, chicken soup, books, stuffed animals and everything else a sick teen would need. They were talking about Christmas break since it was just around the corner.

"What?! Your leaving me alone with these two?" exclaimed Icicle as she pointed at Harry and Ron.

Hermione had just broke the news to them that her parents had insisted that she come home for break. "My grandma is coming down for the holidays and she hasn't seen me in years so of course I am going home. Plus I am not worried about leaving you in their grasp but them in yours." smirked Hermione

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny." stated Icicle as she started to cough.

"I feel like my lungs are going to come out of my mouth," stated Harry.

The others coughed or blew their noses in agreement. "Snape and Pomfrey better hurry up with those potions." mumbled Ron as he rubbed his red nose.

"Medicine is for the weak. I plan on sitting here and starving it out…or am I suppose to eat? What is that saying?" asked Icicle.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "What ever it is it doesn't apply to bronchitis."

"That is right Miss Granger." interrupted Professor McGonagall, "If Icicle, hadn't ran her health into the ground then one of those methods stood a small chance of working. Here are your potions. Harry, Ron and Hermione you get these two and Icicle you get these six."

"Six!" exclaimed Icicle.

"Yes six, Miss Vera. Make sure that all of you take every potion." instructed McGonagall as she moved on to the other students.

Harry looked at his electric blue potion and then another one that looked like mud. Ugg thought Harry as he pinched his nose and downed the potions.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron all reached for the candy that they had lying around to cover the horrible aftertaste while Icicle seemed to just glare at her potions. "Icicle what are you waiting for? Take the potions and get it over with." said Harry.

"Easy for you to say. Every time I drink one of these dam potions Pomfrey always ends up spiking them so that I will sleep or something." complained Icicle.

"Just drink it," said Harry.

Icicle glared at Harry, and picked up a radioactive looking glass and started sloshing it around and then raised it as if she was going to drop it.

"Ugg.. no!" exclaimed Harry as he jumped up and grabbed the glass. Wow those potions really work fast, I feel a lot better, thought Harry.

"I don't want to glow in the dark," mumbled Icicle.

Harry handed her back the glass, "Well you are out numbered, we don't want you dead. Drink up now."

"I'll get you for this one Potter," threatened Icicle as she downed one potion and grabbed another. Pretty soon she was asleep.

"She was right, Pomfrey does spike her drinks," said Ron.

* * * *

Everyone seemed to recover from whatever ailed him or her by the first day of Christmas break. The only students that had signed up to stay were Harry, Ron, Icicle and a Slytherin. In other words the school was theirs.

Harry helped Hermione with her trunk and loaded it in a compartment by himself because Ron and Icicle were too lazy to get up.

Hermione gave Harry a hug and a peck on the cheek, "Have a Merry Christmas. And make sure that you, Ron and Icicle don't get expelled."

Harry smiled, "We'll try not to."

The train blew it's whistle signaling it's departure. Harry watched until the train was out of sight and then turned to walk back to Hogwarts. When he entered the school something or rather someone jumped on him causing him to fall.

"Harry I did it, I did it!" squealed Icicle.

"Did what?" asked Harry.

"I got the top Defense grade in the whole school! That means that Remus and Sirius can come for the next few weeks."

"Really? Wow! When do they arrive?" asked Harry.

"This evening at 6. So what are you doing today?" asked Icicle.

"I was thinking about sneaking out and going to Hogsmeade to go Christmas shopping. I haven't gotten anything for anyone yet," replied Harry.

Harry and Icicle started walking to the common room when Harry caught a glimmer in Icicle's eyes. "I'm sneaking out tomorrow to go shopping with Hermione, for both Christmas and because I owe her a shopping spree for her Birthday. If you want I could take you and Ron."

"Take is where?" asked Ron who was walking down from the boy's dorm.

"Shopping in the muggle world, want to go?" asked Harry.

"Umm…..sure. I still need to go buy some presents and what would be better then a muggle object for my dad." replied Ron.

"I'll go then," put in Harry.

Icicle clapped her hands together, "Then it is settled we leave at 9 tomorrow to pick up Hermione."

"Icicle's how in the world are we going to get out with out everyone realizing that we are gone? And how are we going to get our wizard money changed into muggle money?" asked Ron.

Icicle stopped abruptly and slipped into thought, "I am going to exchange your money right now so hand it over and ummm…. I think about the other question. Maybe we will just get into trouble."

* * * *

The day passed quickly and Icicle had slipped out after lunch to exchange money. Ron and Harry just ended up practicing quidditch all day long. At around 5:45 Icicle met Harry and Ron on the field.

"Come down!" yelled Icicle.

"Why?" replied Harry as he dove by her.

"Let's see…..because your Godfather is going to be here in about 10 minutes." replied Icicle dryly as she looked at her watch.

Before Icicle could say anything else Harry had landed and Ron soon after him. Harry motioned to Icicle "Get on and we'll fly over to meet them."

Icicle took a step back, "Hell no."

"Don't you trust me?"

"No."

After a while of fighting all three of them ended up walking. As the reached the gates of Hogwarts they heard someone walking down the path. Turning the corner, there stood Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. "Hey you guys!" exclaimed Sirius.

Harry ran and attacked his Godfather, "Sirius!"

"Ready for a Christmas Sirius style?" asked Sirius as he hugged his godson.

Harry flashed a grin that reminded Sirius so much of James, "You bet."

* * * *