FEVER

Me-Love-You Owls with Pumpkin tarts and Watermelon pudding to HP-Azn and lilgodess4life!

Chapter 4: Contagious

Minerva paused halfway through her speech as Dean Thomas erupted again into a fit of coughs. "Mr. Thomas, are you sure you are fine?"

"Yes, yes, I..." he dissolved into coughs.

"He's been coughing since last night," Seamus supplied, amid a glare from Dean who was covering his mouth. He, like Hermione, quickly dusted his hand on his robes but no one noticed anything particular about it except that it was disgusting.

Minerva walked briskly towards the Gryffindor. "I think you better visit Madam Pomfrey," she held a hand to his forehead. "Gracious, Thomas, you are burning up. Finnigan, escort him."

"No, professor, I'm..."

"No, Thomas, you are not fine." Minerva interrupted him. "Even if not for your health's sake, I wouldn't want you to spread your cough to everyone near you."

Dean nodded in dismayed defeat as he let Seamus take him out of the room.

"Okay, everyone, back to page five. As I was saying, Transfiguration is a..."

* * * * * * *

"Wonder what's up with De..."

"Harry! Ron! Hermione!"

All three turned around to see Neville running up to them. "I'm back!" he announced excitedly.

"Thank goodness you are alright," Hermione said. "No boils?"

"Boil free," he answered, beaming. "So how did Defense go? I missed the first class."

"Way better than Potions," Ron said. "Although History has a 14 inch homework you need to complete in uh...two hours."

"Gosh," Neville looked shocked.

"Don't be silly," said Hermione. "He was sick."

"Hey, but good job, Neville!" said Ron. "Your potion managed to burn a large hole in Goyle's shoes! You should have seen his face." He pretended to take his shoe off and held it in front of him, mimicking Goyle's screwed up face as he said, "A hole in my shoe, professor. WAHH! BOO HOO HOO!"

Harry turned to Ron, laughing. "He didn't!"

"He added the last part in," Hermione said, laughing at Neville's face. "Don't worry, some dreams can only go that far."

"So what did Professor Black wanted to see you about?" asked Ron.

"Uh, nothing much. Just wanted to know whether I...uh..." He was saved by answering when they met Seamus along the bend. He was hunched over, sneezing and coughing loudly at the same time.

"Oh, no," Ron said. "Seamus, have you caught Dean's cold?"

Seamus waved meekly. "No, no, just some dust around."

Hermione happened to glance at Seamus hands as he waved it around, releasing the tiny particles of black powder stuck on his skin and she froze. Was it spreading? Was it dangerous? Suddenly backing off, she mumbled a hurried see-you-later then ran off down the corridor.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Dunno," Neville said. "Maybe she doesn't want to catch it either."

"AH-CHOO!"

All three boys jumped and backpedaled five steps. "Maybe she has a logical reason to," Harry said.

"Er...see you Seamus," said Ron. "Very good day."

"Yeah, see you." Neville said. Then turning together, they fled from the sneezing Seamus who was leaning a palm on the wall for support.

* * * * * * *

Hermione peered around the curtains half drawn around Dean's cubicle. "Dean?"

A loud cough then a shaky, "Hermione?"

Hermione drew back the remaining curtains. "Madam Pomfrey let me in. Only for ten minutes. I was...uh...wondering how you were feeling."

"Fine, I'm fine," said Dean and dissolved into coughs. "I'm sorry, it's really annoying sometime. Just can't seem to stop."

"What did Madam Pomfrey have to say?" asked Hermione.

"She said it was probably the flu," said Dean sourly.

"You think otherwise?"

Dean hesitated. "Maybe. According to her, I have got a fever and of course, plenty of coughs. A bad case of flu." Then he grew silent. "Hermione?"

"Yes?" she said at once.

"You are a smart girl," he said slowly.

"I wo-wouldn't really say that, but around that..." said Hermione awkwardly wondering whether it was a praise or something else.

Dean suddenly sat up straighter, looked around and motioned for Hermione to draw the curtains, stifling another cough as he did so. "Would you help me find something out?"

Hermione pushed the last of the curtains into place. "Sure, I guess."

"T-This is funny, but could you go to the library or any other reliable sources and help me find out about any kind of black stuff that could be coughed up?"

Hermione froze. "B-black stuff?"

Dean held up his right palm. Having hurriedly brushed away the black stuff from his hand, a few particles still clung to his palm. "I've been coughing up this stuff by the galleons. I don't know whether I should tell Madam Pomfrey but...I don't...she'll find out soon anyway...but because..."

"I understand," cut in Hermione hurriedly. "You are afraid."

"I am," Dean looked down at his hand. "I mean, I don't want to hear that it's a symptom of..."

"Death," said Hermione.

"Death," agreed Dean. "I don't know, people get morbid, I guess. And I don't want to spread it around if it can be, you know what I mean?"

"Yes," said Hermione softly. "I hope it's not something serious."

"Hermione, I hope that too with all my heart," said Dean, a tinge of desperateness in his voice.

"Don't worry, Dean," said Hermione firmly. "Rest well, I'll try to find it out for you."

And on her way out, as she turned to look at the wracking form of her housemate, she whispered. "And for me."

* * * * * * *

"1972!"

"Close."

"1973!"

"Close."

"1974!"

"Close."

"1975!"

"Are you just going to say every year out until I say 'bingo'?" asked Harry closing the Defense textbook.

"Rats, you found me out," said Ron. "What's the answer?"

"1976," said Harry slyly.

"ARGH!" said Ron. He snatched the book from Harry. "If I didn't like Defense so much, I wouldn't even bother reading the first chapter."

"I think Professor Black is fun," said Parvati from her corner of the common room.

"I can't wait till my first class," voiced Neville.

"Well, you'll..." began Ron but was interrupted by Hermione half stomping into the common room having climbed roughly through the portrait hole. "What's wrong?"

"Stay away," Hermione snapped as they began to rise towards her.

"Why?" Neville sounded hurt.

Hermione softened for a moment. "J-Just stay away, alright? I am really busy right now. Maybe later." She practically ran into the girls' dorm and closed the door with a bang.

"What's up with her?" asked Ron. He sat back down.

"She's busy?" Harry tried.

"Well, we'll never get to understand how a girl's brain works," said Ron.

"Ah, I think she..." Neville started.

Another loud bang and Hermione marched out, headed to the portrait hole and climbed out again, a notebook in her hand.

"I agree," said Neville, his 'defend-Hermione' speech forgotten.

* * * * * * *

"Has someone been drinking tea leaves or what?" Ron asked as they passed along the corridor on their way to dinner at the Great Hall. He motioned to the corners where the floor and the wall met. Black power like stuff lay on them, but not much.

"Divination uses tea leaves," Neville said brightly, happy that he knew something useful.

"That's more like powder," said Harry, who didn't bother to go near it either. "Maybe it's just dust or something."

"I always thought dust was gray," said Ron. "But anyway, this is a magic school." He grinned. "Maybe the water from the taps are purple."

They passed the spot where the particles lay and as they did so, the quantity of the stuff seemed to multiply.

* * * * * * *

"And you may begin!"

Harry helped himself to a small slice of pumpkin pie. Although he was gradually starting to eat more, he didn't require large or second helpings either. It seemed that when he was with the Dursleys, he had been programmed to eat less than absolutely necessary. Sirius had practically force fed him double the amount he usually ate before the term had started, but now, he was not here to do it. Good.

"I wonder again where's Hermione," said Ron who just didn't let the subject slip. "She was not here for lunch either."

"Why are you so worried about that?" Harry asked.

"No, not worried. Curious," said Ron. "Wonder what she's doing. So grumpy nowadays, and she doesn't mix with people now. She just sits right behind the class, alone and she wouldn't even talk to us."

"Maybe she's just plain mean," said Parvati sourly, who had gotten a earful from Hermione when she tried to start a topic, trying to be friendly.

"Could be, could be," said Ron. "But she was really friendly on the train. Seems like she isn't now."

"I'm sure she has her reasons," said Harry, not really taking the conversation seriously. They had been through this so many times.

"Kidney steak?" Neville offered Ron who took a heaping serving. "Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "No, thanks."

"Maybe she's eating in the kitchens!" Ron suddenly bellowed.

Heads turned to look at him and the hall grew silent.

"Keep it down, will you?" hissed Natalie, a Gryffindor student.

"Sorry," said Ron. He waved both his arms around like a windmill. "I'm sorry! It's okay!"

Slowly the hall returned to its usual noisy state and Ron breathed a sigh of relief turning to peek at the teacher's table to check for any disapproving glances. He found Professor McGonagall glaring at him and Dumbledore in his usual beaming profile.

"That woman's really scary," muttered Ron returning to his chips.

"What kitchen were you talking about?" asked Neville.

"Oh, yeah! The kitchen!" said Ron, lowering his voice this time. "A girl has to eat, right? But she's not here at all...where else can she find food? The kitchens!"

"Where's the kitchens?" asked Harry, lost in the cloud.

"I bet Fred and George knows," said Ron. "I'll ask them."

"I think if we didn't know where it was, it may be forbidden?" Nevile stuttered. "You want to go there?"

"What's the problem?" asked Ron. "I know Fred and George always go there to get midnight snacks. Want to come?"

"Are you sure it's okay to?" asked Harry, unsurely. He definitely didn't want to get caught by any of the professors.

"Look, trust..."

"Here she is, boys," cut in Lavender.

"Does the whole blasted school know that we are looking..." began Ron rather heatedly until Harry jabbed him to keep silent.

"She looks...not too good," said Harry noting the paleness in her usually rosy cheeks and she had clasped a handkerchief over her mouth.

They watched as she slipped a few pieces of toast into her pocket then quickly left the hall.

"She's weird," Ron said, disbelief on his face. "What's the deal around her?"

"I'm sure she has her reasons," repeated Harry again. He seemed to keep doing that nowadays. Ignoring the unsatisfied look on Ron's face, Harry finally took his first second helping of the pumpkin pie since school started, just to something other than look at Ron and repeat his assurance. Again. And if he didn't know Ron better, he would have thought he had something for that girl.

* * * * * * *

Sometime a week later...

Harry fished his book out under Ron and Neville's and dashed back to the portrait hole to rejoin his friends who were waiting for him down the hall for him to get his forgotten book. It was five minutes to his Defense lesson and also five minutes to about everyone's lessons when the hole opened and he saw Hermione closer than he had been to her for the week.

She looked exhausted, and she was wiping tears from her eyes, the tears mixing with something black and smeared all over her mouth.

"Hermione, what happened?" asked Harry in horror. She looked like she had over applied black mascara over her lips.

"Oh my God! Harry!" Hermione looked genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here? Lessons are about to start!"

She coughed midway and then quickly yanked her hand out of sight.

"What's that?" asked Harry, a little concerned as he yanked at her hand.

"It's nothing, it's..." Hermione pulled her hand away. "I..." she began to cough again. "Harry, stay away!"

"What?"

"I'll give it to you," said Hermione desperately.

"Give what?"

"I don't know! This...this disease!" Hermione burst into a fresh bout of tears. She slid down onto the floor and covered her face with her black hands. "H-Harry, I don't know what to do! What am I g-going to d-do!"

"What's wrong?" Harry was now fully worried. "Are you sick? What...what is that disease you are talking about?"

"I..." Hermione looked up with tearful eyes. "Look, class is probably starting right now..." she hiccoughed. "I...could you meet me at the library after class?"

"Of course!" said Harry.

"Alone?"

"Alone?"

"I don't want anybody else, please, Harry," the pleading in Hermione's voice led him to agree.

"I'll see you, Hermione." Harry moved aside to let her stand up and watched her run to her dorm to clean herself up.

"HARRY!"

Harry jumped, then remembered. Rats, the Defense class. He quickly jumped out of the portrait hole and rejoined Ron and Neville.

"What took you so long? Hurry! The class has already started!"

"Sorry," Harry apologized as they ran towards their classroom. "I couldn't find my book."

* * * * * * *

"If you were face to face with an opponent, and you both had wands. Knowing that he had more skills than you, and that taking his wand away would very much help you in winning the first step, how would you try to relieve him of his wand?"

They managed to slip in before Professor Lupin began his class (he gave them a Look but didn't say anything, just nodded as they apologized profusely) and now they stood in the classroom, void of tables and chairs except for the teacher's table on which Remus was leaning against, arms folded, his right hand holding his wand.

"Grab it?" suggested Crabbe who was beside Draco as usual.

The whole class was practically divided into two unspoken groups. It was always the Slytherins on one side and the Gryffindors on the other.

"Nice try, but the time taken to run over would probably be the exact moment he kills you off," replied Professor Lupin.

"Accio it," suggested Horace, a Gryffindor student.

"Er...a more practical way?" asked Professor Lupin.

"Expelliarmus," he finally said after a moment of long silence. "It causes your opponent's weapon to fly out of his hand. But you must be very fast and catch him at a time he is unaware of."

A chatter began to rise from the interested students.

"Lester," said Remus. "Can you help me in my demonstration?"

"Yes, sir," said Lester, proud to aid.

The students moved aside to clear a small pathway for the professor and student. Lester stood about ten feet away from Remus and had his wand clutched in his hand, raised slightly.

"Caught unaware," said Professor Lupin. "Very important. Don't make it obvious you are going to use it or he might be faster than you and bam! Goes your weapon. Now, Lester, catch me."

Before Lester could lift his wand higher, a shout of "Expelliarmus!" had already disarmed him, making his wand fly out of his hand and hit the wall opposite.

"Accio," said Remus and he threw Lester's wand back to him. "Speed is the trick. Now I want you to divide up in pairs and try this on your partner. Take turns."

"We'll take triple turns," said Ron quickly at Neville's despaired look.

"Thank you," said Neville brightly.

"Harry?" asked Ron.

Harry jumped. "Huh?" He had been too caught up thinking about Hermione that he didn't even notice that they had already divided up and some even practicing the spell.

"We'll have turns," said Ron. "Back to Earth, Harry."

"Okay," said Harry.

"Neville, want to do the honors?" offered Ron.

"No, you go first," said Neville hurriedly.

"Me and you first then?" Ron said, bowing. "May I have the first spell, my lady?"

Harry smacked his hand away. "Very funny."

Ron straightened up, grinning. "I wouldn't even bother to ask where the real lady is."

And Harry wasn't about to tell him he was going to see her after this. "Uh-huh."

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand flew out of his hand and few a couple of feet back, nearly hitting someone on the head.

"That's fast," said Harry distractedly.

Ron stared at him. "Ye-ah." Except that he had forgotten the spell halfway and had stumbled over a few times before getting the spell right and all the time, Harry had just stood there, spacing out. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Harry snapped out of it. "Accio, Expelliarmus!"

"Okay, you are," Ron grinned as he chased after his wand, just for the fun of it.

Remus observed every pair carefully, noting the mistakes some made and correcting them, but his attention was drawn to Harry who was losing his wand too many times. Even the stumbling Longbottom had managed to beat him three times in a row. What was that boy thinking about?

He knew Harry was better than the rest, for when he blinked a few times signaling that he had snapped out of his musings, he had been way faster to disarm whoever he had been practicing with. Then he promptly got lost in his thoughts again and lost a few more times before coming to again. Was something wrong?

He let them practice the rest of the period and then as the time was up, he called for them to stop. "Some of you did a good job, some of you just need more practice. You can come back when you are free and use this classroom to brush up your skills if you want to."

He looked around at the red faces of his students, who were all feeling very hot and sweaty. Some had obviously enjoyed it very much. "You can go now."

Before he could open his mouth to ask Harry what was wrong, he had already said a fast goodbye to his friends, sped past him and half-ran down the hallway. Now, what was up with that kid?

* * * * * * *

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Replies to Reviews from:

Dark Feline Huntress, Serebii, jeangab057, magicgirl10, athenakitty, Starlight Dreams, Froboy, MusicStarLover, Kateri1, AndiePotter -- Hugs to the max! Love you!
Invisible Child -- Not nice of you. Not kind of you. Not good of you. How sweet you are!
ChristinaLupin01442 -- Hmm...for now those black stuff doesn't do much except for making people ill, but maybe as time progresses, I may throw in some other stuff...I mean, you truly don't want them to start growing hair on their faces, do you? LOL. Thank you for your review! *beam*
Lissy -- Action! Like kicking and jumping out of windows? Haha, somewhere in the ending, I promise! I think... LOVE you!
Hp-Azn -- Big ears? She has big ears? I didn't know that...anyway, just know that she's the bad guy, end of story. Haha!
krysalys73 -- Oh dear, don't make me feel bad about that squid...okay fine! We'll save it later. *pouts back* HEY! It does not look like a (TV antenna! -- In denial I am) Cool, then don't read WTCT if you can understand, I try to make it a stand alone fic anyway. I just thought that some might want an explanation why Severus is nice or why Sirius is the Defense teacher and not in Azkaban, those stuff, you know? Shadow, you have a cat named that too! Where is she now?
Rakuril -- Snow Raine: *loudly* Draco and Mirial, 10 points from your houses for fighting and 10 to
your houses for fighting.
Hermione: She's illogical, please ignore. And I think we have established that it looks more
like an arrow...
Snow Raine: According to krysalys73, it looks like a TV antenna.
Hermione: Thank you for reading, by the way, Rakuril. More cookies to you!
Child of the New Dawn -- Hmm....for now, I think it cleared when he came through. Okay, okay, it
doesn't look like a broom, haha!
Neo Anderson -- Thank you! Cough up silvery liquid...hang on, Neo, I've got to go rent the Matrix now to copy that...That's a good idea too, the mental duels, maybe we could give that to Remus in one of his Defense classes, no? Good one! :) XOXO
MikiBaby -- *sigh* Figured. Maybe I should go write a LOTR fic and chuck that broom-arrow thing at the end!
Tati1 -- No, it doesn't kill! Neither do I want a dead Hermione...where would I bury her?! LOL
EmeraldKatsEye -- Ships? Nah, not at the moment, I'm a Harry/All person! (okay, fine, maybe more a Harry/Sirius person or Harry/Severus nut) Haha! I hope this in the IV doesn't poison you halfway! Have you asked for medical advice before you did that? LOL. Yay! Nice 'The Earth and the Moon'! Hear, hear, Malfoy's nice to Granger!
MiruSedna -- Well, your broom's no worser than mine!
Ash of Mine -- Thank you! Hmm....skip that resemblance thing then, I don't want Harry to look so awful! *bursts into tears* Let me keep his cuteness! Haha!
mscs3 -- *squints* You can see that if you do? Wow, it still looks like an arrow to me...gotta go write a LOTR fic for that...
Lyss33 -- No, I didn't sorta copy the lesson, I *copied* the lesson! Haha! I'm not a great know-it-all on lessons like these, I mean, what do the professors teach, which potion is for first years, which for second? You know what I mean? Plus, I just had to harm Neville...if not, I'll probably do it on Harry and *gasp* can't do that to him! The hero has to be boil free! LOL.
Wytil -- Lesson learned: Never ask an open question...


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