Chapter 26 - Sickness

Wednesday 10th February

Wednesday morning, Harry woke with a grotty feeling and a saw throat. He knew from experience that meant he was getting sick. Harry hated it when he was unwell. No one cared, and the feeling left him stuffy and with a fuzzy head for days. Then of cause, the added problems of his claustrophobia were added when the Durselys locked him up to stop him from making them sick. At Hogwarts, no one had noticed, or if they had, they hadn't cared.

Harry was proven correct in that no one noticed or cared; when at breakfast, no one mentioned it. Or he thought he was proven right. His mentor family had.

"He's sick", Isur hissed.

"Yes, and now he has a choice to make", Luke hissed back.

"What?"

"He was told to own up about being sick or be put on more checks. In this case, back to weekly. Give him till the end of the day to own up. If he hasn't by tomorrow morning, then we force him" Nymira caught on.

"We let him suffer" Isur looked horrified.

"He has to learn. There is probably a reason for it. A story behind it that we'll soon learn" Nymira nodded.

"Mention it once Isur at lunch. Ask if he's okay as he's looking a bit off. He will probably brush you off. But you asked him and gave him a straight-up opportunity to own up. When he does, remind him that he can tell you or the healers when he is sick, and not doing so if he is will make things worse for him. So do it quietly and not in front of his friends. That will give him the afternoon to think" Luke looked at the fae.

"You really think he won't."

"From his background, yes. But we have to know, and this won't hurt him. The healers will put him on bed rest after finding out if it is something more than a cough or cold. Fighting it off himself builds his immune system. The fact he hasn't got sick yet shows it isn't the first time he has fought something off without help."

"I don't like it."

"None of us do, Isur" Nymira smiled sadly. "But we have to know, and he has to have that choice."

"Alright"

Harry found it more challenging than usual to concentrate on his lessons that morning. Charms weren't too bad as they were doing a practical task from the theory they had done the day before. Maths, though, was a nightmare. Duelling was again practical, which he was thankful for, but Latin was just as bad if not worse than maths. Harry found himself tempted to skive of lunch, but in the end, he went. He did leave early, though, to head to get changed for the afternoon.

"Harry"

"Isur?"

"Harry, are you alright you're looking a bit off."

"Yeh, I'm fine."

"Alright, but remember you can come to the healers or me if you are feeling ill. I don't want you put back on weekly checks" Harry frowned as Isur headed off. He didn't want to go back on weekly checks, but it's not like they would care or do anything anyway. So shaking his head, he turned to get ready for martial arts. As the afternoon wore on, though, he found it more and more difficult to concentrate, both from suppressing his cough, fuzzy head and what Isur had said.

At Dinner, he was aware of Isur and the others watching this time. Harry hated that, them watching. He wasn't a little kid. He had raised himself and could care for himself. Then, shooting a glare at them, Harry stood and headed to art. He had that club mostly on his own.

"You okay, Harry? You been quiet all day?" Jessica asked this time.

"Yeh, just something on my mind"

"I'm always here to talk if you want." But that was it; he didn't want to talk.

That night, Harry focused on listening to Lærer Moore and Earth-Fae, who taught magical talents. Tonight he was talking about Parseltongue, which made him really glad he had pushed through the cold to come.

"Parselmouths are a specific type of beast speaker. It is not the only type of its kind. There are Oratoravem which are bird speakers, for example. Beast Speakers as a whole are more common. It is rare to have one specific talent though there are still several parselmouths in the school. Parseltongue is the ability to speak to all snakes and any creature that speaks the snake language. It is also a powerful healing ability when you learn to tap into it. This is why the school tries to pair parselmouths up to learn. But there are also lessons for those students as they get older.

"Parseltongue, like any language, has different dialects depending on the area, age of the snake and the type of snake. Beast Speakers sometimes have trouble understanding the different dialects from those they first heard. Essentially learning that dialect and nothing else. Like with the language potion, you know that dialect, but another dialect can give you some trouble. Parselmouths, on the other hand, have an innate knowledge of all the different dialects. Sometimes it takes them a little to tune into it, as they say, but it isn't that difficult with practice. Some even have an easier time than others.

"Such as a parselmouth who also has a strong talent or interest in healing, will be a better healer than someone without that. Some people are just more suited to one area than another. For example, there are beast speakers who have an easier time tuning in to the dialects and some who have more of the calming aspect of the talent. The talent is linked to your personality..." Lærer Moore continued into the history and how the talent was received in different cultures. Harry wasn't surprised to hear that a Parselmouth was hated in England. After all, his birth country was very closed-minded about several things. But it was nice to hear that Parselmouths were well respected in India due to all the poisonous snakes they had.

However, Harry was tired and really starting to not feel well by the end. He really hated being sick because although he had homework, Harry knew there was no way he would get any done tonight. Thankfully he was ahead somewhat and didn't have anything due tomorrow. He could rest tonight. He would just have to push himself tomorrow. It wasn't like anyone would bother or worry that he was sick.

The following day Harry felt worse. It had been a long time since he had felt as bad as he did. But it didn't make much of a difference. He still had a class to get to.

"You look really rough, mate. Aren't you better just staying in bed today" Arghama looked at him.

"No, I'm fine." Harry turned to head out, catching Richard looking at him through narrowed eyes. Harry just shook that off, though. One, he was feeling too tired to bother, and two, it was nothing new for Richard. It was a testament to how tired and off Harry felt, that he missed more concerned looks throughout breakfast.

"Harry, we need to talk."

"I have class, Isur" Harry looked at the older boy seeing Nymira and Luke with him.

"We're skipping", Nymira stated.

"I'm going" Harry turned to walk and flinched as his arm was grabbed.

"No, your coming with us."

"Let me go", Harry hissed, trying to get his arm free as Isur pulled them out the great hall.

"No, your sick and coming with us" Harry stiffened at those words. No one had ever noticed he was sick before.

"Where are we going?" he asked tentatively.

"Infirmary" was Lukes answer.

"No, let me go", Harry pulled only to find his second arm grabbed and felt Nymira move behind him. Harry was glad he had left breakfast a little early since no one was in the halls to see him dragged up the stairs to the infirmary.

"Ah, Harry, good to see you come" Dr White met them at the door.

"Let me go."

"He didn't want to come."

"I can see that. Let's get to the exam room, and we'll see if this is a cold or something else." Harry found himself forced up and in with Luke and Isur as Nymira stayed out. Then, as he turned to leave, Luke blocked the door with his arms crossed.

"You need to be checked, Harry."

"Just because I'm a human. I can look after myself" he glared at them, biting back another cough.

"No, because you are a sick student. All mentors bring in younger students if they don't want to come. Older students get watched by friends and teachers. Even Alpha beings such as Werewolves and Vampires."

"Remember we told you about having to bring Nymira and Isur in before. You are no different. Now let the Doctor check you over. If you are fine, you have only missed one class. This fighting makes us believe you are sick and need the day off."

Harry glared at the vampire, wondering if he could get past him. He didn't think he could, though. Luke was graduated, and he was just a second year. Not good odds. Sighing, Harry turned to see the Doctor questioning Isur on what he had noticed.

"May just be a cold. Ready to let me have a look, Harry."

"No. Not that I have a choice."

"In matters of health, no. Sorry to say you don't. No student does, especially someone on watch, be it Human, Alpha, Beta or Omega."

"Alphas can be put on watch?" he raised an eyebrow there, trying and partly failing to suppress another cough.

"Oh yes, we can. Cases of Abuse, kidnapping, and we have our own watch score. More for Alphas who might be at risk of taking things too far with Omegas, Humans or Betas to make sure they don't cross the line to abuse themselves and such. It kind of goes against the strong protective Alpha reputation. Betas can be the same sometimes, even Humans." the Doctor explained. So Harry sat on the bed with a sigh.

"Now, let's take a look" a light was soon shone in his eyes, and he blinked before the Doctor checked the lymph nodes in his neck. Harry couldn't help flinching at that one, but the fight was going out of him, and he didn't protest the thermometer to take his temperature.

"Slight fever. Bad cold, mild flu. We'll give you something to help fight the temperature, but otherwise, you're staying here to rest and where I can keep an eye on you."

"No, I have lessons."

"No, you need to sleep and rest to fight this. I want to make sure it doesn't get worse, and I can't trust you to come back yourself if it does" Harry scowled and jumped off the bed. He eyed Luke but knew there was no getting past the vampire.

"Luke?"

"I'll stay with him"

"No need. Arm Harry" Harry glared at the man but didn't fight, holding out his wrist with the medical band. Dr White tapped it with his wand, and the band turned from orange to orange with black stripes.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you can't get past the infirmary doors. It will shock you if you touch them and freeze you if you get past them. It also lets the other doctors know you are not to be trusted when saying you feel fine."

"I didn't know you could do that."

"Easier for those with bands. But we do have some that we can use on you or another student if needed. You just never gave us cause to need to use them" the Doctor looked at Isur, who went red.

"Alright, so I wasn't good coming, but at least I stayed put once here."

"There is that" the Doctor nodded.

"I'll get you some things from your room, Harry", Harry sighed, not bothering to respond to them.

It wasn't long, and he was soon settled in a bed with the curtains drawn. Luke was gone and back again quickly with his PJs, chess set, gobstones and drawing supplies, so at least he wasn't bored. Even if he was miffed with his Rist Grand Stor, Harry still played a round of chess with him before falling asleep.

Harry woke later violently coughing, unable to suppress it. Unfortunately, his dream hadn't been that pleasant, so waking up wasn't the worst thing.

"Easy, Harry let it out and breathe", he heard Luke's voice behind him, helping by rubbing his back.

"Why you helping?" he croaked once the coughing stopped.

"Because you are like my little brother Harry, family, remember. Family cares for family, even if you are mad at me at the moment" Harry shot a glare at Luke before settling down with a sigh. Even if he hated it, it was better laying down and resting. Harry had always hated being locked in his cupboard when sick. Partially the dark, partially the envy of Dudley, partly the punishment he knew was coming when he was better. There was no good from being sick.

"I know you are mad. You can be all you like. But we have to be careful with sickness here. Some creatures have lower immune systems; others have stronger ones. But the cold, even with keeping things warm inside, it's easy to get very sick very quickly. So far, no one has died from it, but there may be a time when it is. So everyone is watched by someone else, even the teachers. You don't have to like it, you can be mad and me and the others all you want. But that's the facts. Yesterday was a one-off, from now on if you are sick, you're given an hour or so tops, and then if you don't come yourself, you'll be sent by a teacher. Don't come then, and someone will come and find you."

"You all like jailers. You're as bad as the Dursleys" Harry turned over and pulled the pillow over his head, so he didn't have to listen. He knew it wouldn't really stop the sound. But Harry hoped it would stop Luke from talking. He knew it was childish. But he didn't care right now. Harry sighed as he started coughing again. He hated being sick.

"I take it he is still mad at us?" Isur asked as Luke sat down at Dinner. They were going to get something to eat before seeing Harry, before their next set of classes.

"Not just mad foaming more like it."

"He's probably been suppressing his emotions. This may just be the thing that tips that control over the edge. He's been away from them for 3 months now. So even if you count school, that's a lot of change and a lot of pushing. So I'm not sure how much more it will take" Nymira frowned.

"I am guessing until after he comes back for next term. Then it will show. He will get over this, and it's when we start pushing with the nightmares and when he comes back. That is when it will kick off" Luke nodded.

"I've been talking more to Rose. She struggled after being rescued but could fool her parents by faking it. Then the Lærers noticed and she came here. The different environment and the pushing, because she lived with the doctors was too much. But they were aware before; they were pushing before she came. She thinks Harry has been able to play it so far. His nightmares because he always has them. So when he says they are not bad, they are not bad for him but bad for everyone else. So we're pushing, but not a lot. She doesn't think it will take much more. Maybe except this and maybe the counselling. But it won't take much after she doesn't think. So the next time he gets sick or needs help of some sort. Depending on what happens, it will either be next month or the latest when he goes home. Rose doesn't think he will last much longer. But will probably get through this term by pure force of will to prove he can. Almost like a survival instinct."

"She knows best, so we take that time frame" Luke looked at them, and they nodded.

"How do we do this, though?" Nymria asked.

"We wait. We wait and watch but be ready to grab him and help him. When he goes to counselling, we ask how they want us to handle that. They will probably put us onto his band first, and he isn't going to like that."

"The calm before the storm" Isur nodded, and Nymria sighed before nodding as well. This may not be the best situation, but they had been given Harry for a reason, and they weren't going to let him down.

Harry refused to speak to anyone from his mentor family for the next three days he spent in the infirmary. Agnar came to see him each day after class, bringing the work they had done. The Doctors wouldn't let him do any of it, though, until Saturday. Still, it was also accompanied by an extension note saying he had a week to get it all in. Harry hadn't expected that, but it was welcome. He was released Sunday evening, and his band was returned to normal. But it was with a warning he was back on weekly checks, and next time it would be twice weekly. Harry wasn't sure whether to believe them or not. All the boys in the dorm watched when he came in, and Harry wondered how much they knew. Right now, though, he wasn't in the mood and instead just headed straight into his room. He would work in there before bed.

Harry couldn't help but feel almost like he was back at Hogwarts for the next week. It felt like everyone knew and was staring at him, even if he knew logically that wasn't the case. Harry had been at the school long enough to notice now that people were allowed sick days. Susan had missed 3 days the first month, and Oliver had been off two days just before he had. But between the other transfers from Hogwarts, his roommates, friends and mentor family watching him along with some of the staff, it definitely felt like it. He didn't feel connected anymore, almost like he was out of place and off-kilter.

Harry went to class, did his homework, went to clubs, seminars, and tutoring, but that was it. He refused to spend more time with his mentor family than he had to, and even then, he listened to Luke but didn't ask questions more than necessary. Every morning, Harry would get up and see Agnar eyeing him and asking if he was alright. It was like no one trusted him anymore; no one listened that he was okay. Even at Hogwarts, it had never been like this.

Sunday 21st February

"Harry", a soft voice spoke as he wandered around the library, avoiding swimming with his mentor family for the second time that week.

"Rose?" he turned and looked at the older girl.

"That's right."

"They didn't send you looking for me again, did they?"

"Ah, so you're avoiding them again. Just not hiding this time. What are you missing?"

"Swimming", Harry shrugged.

"No harm then" the Omega werewolf sat down, and Harry sighed, looking at her.

"What do you want?"

"So everyone is the enemy fair enough" Rose nodded. "Guess after they forced you to the infirmary, that's understandable. I hated my mentor after she did that the first time. The second time I wondered why? The third time I began to think maybe, they did care. But it was only after the fifth time did I really start to believe it. Then again, it was only after the 7th did I actually start to think maybe I was a bother to , it wasn't until my second year I started going sporadically on my own. And only when I was given my own Liten last year I started going regularly. They never called me a nuisance and said it was a chore. Just that this was one way, people showed that they cared. My parents said that every time they forced me to therapy and various teachers when they tracked me down every time. Like I said, I was a right mess and a little devil" it was hard to believe that coming from the soft-spoken girl. She was only a few years older than him, but Harry couldn't picture it at all.

"Right" he looked away.

"All I am saying is they are not going to stop. No one is going to stop. It doesn't matter what you try. It's hard, I know, but people do care. Like I said last time, the more you push them away, the more they will try and help you. That's what friends do. So that's what families do. It took me a long time to learn that. I still struggle with it sometimes; I'm not going to lie to you about that. It can be hard, especially for people like us. I didn't go through the same thing. I do have my parents. But things aren't the same, never will be the same as before I was kidnapped. Sometimes I do wish for those days when I was a little carefree kid."

"Your point!" Rose laughed at that.

"Try and meet them halfway, Harry. If not them find someone to talk to. I'm here if you want. Outside of that, as long as you are not hiding and are eating, there is no harm in avoiding them. No one will push you to go swimming or talk as long as it's not affecting your health or school work." with that, she stood and walked off. Harry sighed again. Now he wished he was back at Hogwarts with the monster.

Hey Hermione.

I hope you're having an easier time with your mentor than I am. Classes are great, but...as you can guess, I had a fallout with Isur. Not just him but his mentor and so on. It's like being back at Hogwarts with everyone watching me. All I did was catch a cold.

Anyway, besides that, I'm having fun. It's hard to think I've been here over a month, and it's halfway through the term. I'm not really sure what else to say, to be honest. I'm busy, but without a monster or mystery, it's like the days are speeding by, and every week is almost the same once you get into a routine.

Hope you are having fun.

Harry.

Hey Ron.

How are you doing and getting on? Ginny beat you in any class yet? You're probably about even in some actually and further ahead in others. Think of it as having a competition to push and be better. You can't let Ginny be better than you when you're a year older.

Things are busy here, you settle into a routine, but it is strange. How are things with your mentor? I'm having a fight with mine. They're all watching me because I caught a cold. Honestly, anyway, talk to you again.

Harry.

Harry sighed at that and looked out the doors onto the balcony. Hedwig hooted and swooped through the door. She didn't really get many letters these days. Agnar had told him that it was safe to send her to Iceland since it wasn't too far, not like from England to Romania. So she could handle the trip once a week. So now he was using her to send letters to the hostal. Ron, Hermione and everyone else he sent through the post box. The box never stopped blinking. He had quite a lot of backdated post. But there was never time to do it. Harry was writing to his few pen-pals, but that was it.

Sighing again, he took the letters from Hedwig. He had sent her off yesterday before he had hunted through his post box for the letters he wanted. Everyone else was going into the decorative chest he had transfigured at the start of term, in a filing system he had worked out. The letters had tapered off a bit, though, since everyone was back at school.

Good to hear from you, Harry. I'm glad you are doing well in your lessons. We don't have mentors at Euro-Glyth, really. No need for them. We're working hard to and all of us have applied to come to see the Repository again. One of us has to be excepted soon. Mary applied to. It's always strange when the lot of you are away as it's much quieter, but then you probably got a little of that from when you were here before the schools broke up.

As for the OSS. I've always been steady with them, so I don't really have much to say other than be careful. Just talk and ask its always worked for me.

Anyway, we will see you soon.

Take care.

Tabitha

Harry smiled a little at that. It was nice knowing that a small thing like a school wouldn't separate him, and they weren't going to force advice on him about things they didn't understand.

Hey Harry.

How are you feeling now? Well, over the cold, I bet. Never fun being sick. You might want to try giving your owl extra exercises. The little ones fawned over her and kept feeding her. But I know you will watch that.

Harry looked up at his owl and eyed her.

"Guess you didn't need to eat on the trip back, hue" he got a hoot and lift of the wings in response and laughed. Hedwig would watch herself.

I don't really have any experience with mentors, but you fight and get over it if they're anything like brothers. It's like Robert wants to watch and look after me, but I'm growing up and don't want him to. At the moment, he is still going on about finding a house and moving in with him. But I don't want to. I want to stay here at home with you a lot. He deserves to move out, get a job and develop his relationship with his girlfriend without me around. We fight, but we love each other and get over it. Same with friends, really. We fight and then get over it.

OSS, you'll have to ask the girls about that. Not even broaching that territory. Glad I'm under the BCS. If Tabitha didn't mention it, we did apply to see the Repository. We'll know after Easter if we got accepted or not.

Take care, Harry and see you in a month.

Jakob.

P.S. Robert got grounded again for sneaking out.

Harry laughed at the last bit before flicking to the twin's letter. He blinked at the sight of two letters as they usually took turns writing. Still, he got the impression they always read his letter together.

Harry.

I know we always write together, but it just seemed better to write this down separately this time. I bet the others have already said we don't get mentors at Euro-Glyth. Jakob was muttering something about must be like brothers, so I bet he said about that. All I will say is go with the flow. You must all be pretty stubborn to be holding out after over a week. I could already tell from the short time that you would only do that on something you feel is important.

The watching, I know that feeling. Sometimes it feels like everyone is watching and knows what is wrong even if you haven't said anything or it isn't known. I felt like that after moving to the hostal. That everyone knew I didn't live with mum anymore. After a month, I settled and then two months later, I learned no one had when it came up in a conversation. It was just my paranoia about the situation, and want it to be private.

Harry, with the OSS, that's up to you. I know and have seen some of what they can do. But I bet people have already told you all that. I don't want to repeat it, and I'm not going to. If you want to rant, though, I am here. It's easier if you have someone to rant to. What I do know, though, is that the OSS never really goes away. Since I was a kid, I've been dealing with them, and they can still annoy me and surprise me sometimes. I have come to learn, though, that it is better than the way AMS is in ignoring some people. Better more than less. I do wish they would back off sometimes, though.

Write if you need to.

Demelza

Harry.

Demelza and I decided to write separately this time because we both have different views on this. Fortunately, Demelza hasn't dealt with the OSS in some of the ways I have. Yes, I am getting straight into that. The others have probably gone through the whole mentor thing. Harry, there was a time I was on extra checks. Both me and Demelza are similar. But we can also be very different at times. A big one is that while she quickly accepted the hostal, I didn't. I didn't instantly trust them and kept that I was a sick secret.

The extra checks are more an annoyance than anything. The counselling and being forced to go was a real pain. I just wanted to hide from it, so the school set it up. They came there and used to escort me from class. That was a little embarrassing. It been known that I had a problem. That's actually how it came out at school that we had moved to the hostal. No one knew before that. We both preferred it that way.

The OSS knows all the tricks in the book; I am saying that now. They work with the schools, and the schools work with them. There is no escaping it, and trying doesn't work. It's your choice if you want to try, but this is just my experience. Yours might be different. I know it is hard, Harry, but it took me a long time to realise they just want to help. Sometimes they just have a strange way of going about it. Sometimes we just have to learn that for ourselves. So if you want to talk, I am here.

School for us is good. The others probably again mentioned the Repository, so I won't. It is picking up for exams, though. Hard to think this is mine and Demelza's next to last year at school. Seems like we have been here forever, and now everything is changing. I know what I am doing after, though, even if Demelza doesn't. I bet she just follows me anyway. So tell you when I see you.

Eveline.

Harry frowned a little at the girl's letter. It was similar but different to what Rose had said. To what others had been saying. But he didn't want to talk. Didn't want their help. Didn't need it. He could look after himself. So, putting that letter to the side, he turned to Erlendur's.

Harry.

Sounds like you are having an exciting time. I am glad you are settling in and getting into a routine. Always the best and helps the time go faster. You are not the first to fight with your mentor, and you won't be the last. Even Alphas have those fights. Sometimes people click and don't fight; other times, they do. Just go with it, like you would fighting with a friend. Your mentor is like a strange brother/ friend relationship. If you really struggle, just talk to the teachers. They will know what to do, and if you really need it, they can help find you a different mentor. But you are not going to be left without one.

The OSS is your choice. I am glad they took you to the infirmary as it sounds like that cold was heading to the flu or worse. Those sorts of things can get serious, even here. If we caught it here, I would force you there myself if I thought it was more than a cold. I am sorry they felt they had to use the bands, though. What that means is they figured you would sneak out and run. Hopefully, they explained about illnesses being passed on and being harmful to some types of creatures like fairys.

I don't know what else to say, Harry. This is a battle only you can fight. It's about compromising. Say you will do this if they do that. Or you will go but only talk to this person. You can't win every battle.

I did get your grades for the halfway mark through on a positive note. I am pleased with them. It is a significant improvement and shows you are working hard. Keep it up.

Erlendur.

Harry went red at the last comment. No one had ever said they were pleased about is grades before. But even then, everyone said to just try with the OSS, but he couldn't. He didn't want to.

"You are with me, right girl" he reached over and gently stroked Hedwig. The owl just hooted before nipping his finger. She had taken to spending some of the milder nights on the balcony, hooting at him and joining him when he went outside. Which was still a couple of times a week. At least he could get back to sleep now.

Oratoravem – two words put together Orator avem is a bird speaker in Latin.