Summery: Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban when Harry was five years old. They lived hidden from the wizarding world. Now Harry is fifteen.

On the Run

Chapter Twenty Seven

Feeling Under the Weather

A week had passed since Harry had spoken to Dumbledore, and many of the staff had been keeping an annoyingly close eye on him. The one day of rest did little good to help him, but it did allow him to catch up on some much needed sleep. It was now February and he had to wear a cloak or heavy sweater everywhere he went. In America, where he and Sirius had lived it was usually sunny and rarely got too cold. At least not cold enough to wear a very heavy coat. Harry found he didn't like the winters here much. He enjoyed seeing snow, but he hated the cold weather. It got old fast.

Surprisingly the Dungeons were a comfortable temperature when Harry came for his evening lesson with Professor Snape. Earlier when he'd been in potions class the room was cold, but currently there was a fire burning in the fire place. The fire gave the room an eerie glow – but Harry found it less creepy than normal.

Professor Snape and he had been working for almost an hour in comfortable silence. He had been coming to his extra potions lessons in the evenings earlier and staying later when he didn't have too much home work. Professor Snape had informed him he had no problems with this arrangement, much to Harry's relief. They rarely talked much, and when they did it was about potions. It gave Harry time to think without being interrupted often. His friends, Ron and Hermione, seemed intent on keeping him to his thoughts for very long.

Harry sighed as he finished his potion. He wasn't too excited to finish because he knew that meant he would have to go back to Gryffindor Tower; and back to his homework. He grabbed the glass bottles and began to scoop the potion into them. Finally when he finished bottling the potions he cleaned up his work area.

"I'm finished Professor Snape." Harry told the professor reluctantly.

Professor Snape looked up from his own potion and nodded. "Place them in the third cupboard." He said pointing toward the corner of the room. Harry nodded and walked over with the potions in his arms. Professor Snape watched as Harry began to put them away. Unknown to Harry; he'd been watching him closely every time he had lessons with him. He had noticed that Harry had been particularly reluctant to leave. Finally he decided to address the young Gryffindor.

"You do not want to go back to your tower, Mr. Potter." It was not a question.

Harry looked up from the cupboard; a surprised expression on his face. "No sir." He finally said.

"You still have homework to do?" At Harry's nod he continued. "Stay here to do it then, if you wish."

Again Harry's face showed how surprised he was. After a moment he nodded. "Thank you Professor."

Professor Snape nodded and went back to his potions. The scratching of a quill alerted him that Harry had begun his homework.

A few hours later Professor Snape was still working on a particularly hard potion to brew, when he heard Harry begin to pack his bag.

"Professor." Harry said as he slung his book bag over his shoulder and stood in front of the professor. "Thanks for letting me stay."

Professor Snape nodded. "Any time, Mr. Potter." Professor Snape said as he inclined his head.

"Thanks." Harry said again before bidding the professor goodnight and leaving the potions room.

Harry took his time going to Gryffindor Tower. He didn't really want to be around everyone and hoped his friends had already gone to bed.

To his dismay Ron and Hermione were still awake and finishing home work.

"Hey Harry!" Ron said seemingly relieved to see Harry. Harry guessed it was because Ron didn't trust the Potions Professor.

"Hi Ron, Hermione." Harry said as he sat down near them on the couch.

"Why don't you finish homework with us?" Hermione suggested, Ron groaned behind her wanting desperately to get off the subject of home work.

Harry shook his head. "No I've already finished. I'm going to go to bed."

Hermione and Ron both looked at him surprised. "You've already finished?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, just now." Harry said before standing up. "Well good night."

"Good night." Hermione and Ron chorused.

Harry showered and changed into his night clothes then went to bed falling asleep almost instantly.

The next morning Harry woke up to being shaken by Ron. "What?" He asked tiredly, only wanting to go back to sleep.

"It's time to get up." Ron said, tiredness lingered in his own voice from his late night of finishing his home work.

Harry groaned but got up anyway. He made his bed and quickly showered. He and Ron walked tiredly down the circling stair case to the Common Room and met up with a very awake Hermione.

"Good morning Boys!" She said brightly as she saw them.

"G'morning." Harry and Ron both mumbled. "How are you so awake!" Ron cried in annoyance. Hermione just smiled and shook her head, obviously amused, then she narrowed her eyes at Ron.

"Well you wouldn't be so tired if you had done your home work earlier instead of flying your broom." Hermione chastised him.

"You were up as late as I was and I don't see you as tired." Ron complained, completely ignoring her previous comment.

"Come on, let's go to breakfast." Hermione said ignoring Ron's comment.

Classes were uneventful, and Harry found it rather hard to concentrate, not because of how boring it was, but because he had a head ach that kept mounting as the day passed.

Around lunch time it was bad enough for him to start blinking every time his head pounded, but thankfully his friends hadn't noticed yet. He just hoped he could go through the rest of the classes without anyone noticing anything was wrong, then he could go to bed and sleep off his head ach, until his lesson before dinner with Snape.

Care of magical creatures had just ended and he, Ron and Hermione were walking back to the castle and to their next class Charms. Harry was happy Charms was next because then he could lay his head down for a while and hopefully relieve some of the misery he was in. His head ach was much worse then it had been earlier, Harry assumed this was because he had been outside and the light and sounds were aggravating it along with the cold weather. Ron and Hermione were not helping either, they were bickering; about what Harry didn't know, nor did he really care.

Walking up the winding stair cases Harry found him self getting steadily dizzy and nauseous. Finally reaching the top Harry sighed in relief, but winced as Ron and Hermione's voices grew louder.

Harry's vision began to blur and he felt himself fall before everything turned black.

Ron and Hermione froze when Harry suddenly collapsed and rushed to his side. Turning Harry on his back they could see that he was unconscious and obviously not well.

"Go get a Professor!" Hermione cried to Ron who nodded and stood up and ran down the hallway. A few minutes later he returned with Professor McGonagall who knelt by her fallen student.

"Mr. Weasley, go to my office and fire call the school nurse." Professor McGonagall instructed. "There is floo powder on the mantle." Ron again nodded and ran back to the Transfiguration class room.

"Is he okay, Professor?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"He's probably just come down with a cold." Professor McGonagal said to her student, though Hermione could see that she wasn't really telling the truth; or the full truth at least.

A moment later they could hear footsteps. Looking up they saw Ron and Madam Pomfrey running towards them.

"How long has he been unconscious?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she knelt down next to Harry and began to examine him.

"Not long." Hermione answered. "A few minutes maybe."

After a few more minutes of examining Harry's still form she spoke. "Let's get him off this floor and into the infirmary."

Remus, Dumbledore and Professor Snape had been informed of what had happened to Harry, but only Dumbledore and Remus could come to the infirmary. Remus had a free period. Professor Snape was informed because of his scheduled lesson with Harry that evening.

Remus, Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione were waiting for news on Harry, who was still being examined by Madam Pomfrey.

Finally after what seemed like hours the doors to the infirmary opened and Madam Pomfrey entered the hallway.

"Is Harry okay?" Ron asked before anyone else could.

"He'll be fine." Madam Pomfrey answered. There was a collective sigh though out the room. "He's suffering from exhaustion mostly."

"How long will he have to stay in the infirmary, Poppy?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked.

"A week, I think will be sufficient enough."

"When can we see him?" Hermione asked.

"Tomorrow." Madam Pomfrey answered.

"Why can't we see him now?" Ron asked.

"Because he's resting at the moment." Madam Pomfrey answered exasperatedly.

"Why don't you two go back to your classes?" Dumbledore suggested, though Ron and Hermione knew it was an order. "You can see Mr. Potter later."

After Ron and Hermione left, Madam Pomfrey led Headmaster Dumbledore and Remus into her office.

"Is he really okay?" Remus asked quietly.

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "He's stressed and hasn't been taking proper care of himself. With some uninterrupted rest, and regular meals he will be fine."

"Is there anything else we can do?" Dumbledore asked.

"Just keep a closer eye on him to make sure this doesn't happen again." Madam Pomfrey answered sighing. "It's not surprising this happened. With the trial, and being thrust into a new world and new school, and being separated from Sirius. It's a lot to handle. Also there is the stress of testifying."

"He's going to have to do that in a few months time, too." Remus answered sadly. He wanted Sirius to be released from Ministry custody, but he also knew how stressful it could be to testify and he didn't want Harry to have to go through that.

It was already nightfall when Harry stirred. Slowly he opened his eyes. He looked around blearily and found that he was in the infirmary. He recognized it from when he was examined earlier in the year when he first came here.

The last thing he remembered was heading to Charms with Ron and Hermione, then… he remembered getting very dizzy.

"Harry?" Someone to his right asked. Looking over he saw Remus and Dumbledore. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." He said automatically.

"Not according to Madam Pomfrey." Dumbledore said in a somewhat chastising voice. "She says you haven't been taking care of yourself."

Harry groaned. "I'll be fine." He finally said annoyed.

"Either way, you've earned yourself a week stay here." Remus informed him.

"A week!" Harry said sitting up quickly, and regretting it as his head started to swim. Someone must have noticed because he was gently pushed back down on the pillows.

"Be thankful it's not longer." Remus warned. Harry sighed exasperated. He didn't want to spend a full week in the hospital wing. Though, he could tell from the tone in Remus' voice that he knew from experience. He looked up as Dumbledore began to speak.

"Also, you will be moved back into my quarters."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Because," Dumbledore began. "You have not been taking care of yourself. Even after our enquiries to your health you denied anything was wrong."

"I don't need to be baby sat!" Harry said annoyed.

"Be that as it may," Dumbledore said, not wanting to get into an argument. "I made a promise to Sirius that you would be looked after, and that is what I intend to do."

Harry didn't argue like they had expected, he just closed his eyes, as if to calm himself, and began to speak, his tone of voice worried with some tiredness leaking through. "Are you going to tell Sirius?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. He has a right to know."

Harry nodded somewhat reluctantly. He knew that Sirius was worried about him on top of everything else, and he knew that Dumbledore telling him about what was happening with Harry would just cause him to worry more. Dumbledore's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Get some rest, Harry." He said as he stood with Remus. "I'll be in to check on you later."

"Good night, Harry." Remus said as he turned to leave with Headmaster Dumbledore.

End of Chapter Twenty Seven

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A/N: I hope you like the new chapter! I got a few reviews of people wanting Harry to collapse, well there you have it! More will be said on why Harry hasn't asked for help when he wasn't feeling well will be in the next chapter. Please REVIEW!

Next Chapter:

Court Day.