Chapter 8 Rest and Relaxation
Harry sneezed loudly as soon as he woke up the next morning, startling both Hermione and Ron who were sharing his bedroom. Ron was just about to comment on it when he sneezed violently again. "Bless you." Said Hermione, groaning and struggling to sit up.
"Thanks." He blew his nose, causing each of his friends to grimace.
Yawning and stretching his arms over his head, Ron glanced at the clock on Harry's nighttable. "8:30. Geeze, Harry. Do your allergies work up this early in the morning?" He asked.
Harry glanced at him. "Sometimes earlier. Sorry, Ron. You two can go back to sleep."
"Good morning," Hermione whispered from where she lay beside Harry, and he grinned at her.
"Good morning." Harry replied. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"With your snoring?" asked Ron. "Pft-right."
"Oh shudup." Said Harry.
"Hey-Harry. This is your first day of being sixteen!" Hermione lay her head on his lap. "We should do something...maybe go to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade! Or we can shop in muggle London..."
Harry shook his head, rubbing his itchy eyes. "I'm not feeling too good today, Hermione. I think I'd like to hang in bed for a bit." Harry admitted. "I'm so clogged up."
Ron sighed. He had been so hopeful that Harry would feel better following the party.
"Do you want me to get Sirius?" asked Hermone, checking her boyfriend's forehead for a temperature. "Well, the good news is you don't have a fever."
Harry sighed and lay back down on his pillows, closing his eyes again. Hermione took this as a sign to get Sirius, who was reading the morning paper in the kitchen. He was so engrossed in the material that he jumped when Hermione tapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't do that," He begged. "What's up?"
"Harry doesn't feel too good again," Hermione explained.
Sirius did not ask questions and immediately tossed the paper down on the table, and Hermione followed him into the bedroom.
"Where does it hurt, Harry?" Sirius asked, his voice trembling.
"My chest-and my sneezing's back again." Harry sneezed for the third time that morning, just for good measure. Sirius rubbed his chin and glanced at Ron who had stood up and was walking over to be beside Hermione. "I think I'll call the doctor and have him come to the apartment," Sirius suggested. "Harry-this has to stop. You have to get well, bud-your new term starts in less than a month and a half."
Harry coughed. "I'm sorry, Sirius. I know."
Hermione stroked Harry's hair. "But house calls are expensive, Sirius. Are you sure you can afford it?"
Sirius gave her a confident look. "I am sure I can afford it. I can afford anything when it comes to my godson. You two hang out with Harry in here and I'll use the phone in the kitchen. Just take it easy."
Harry watched as Sirius left before he coughed. "I'm sorry, you guys. I'm ruining everything."
Ron shook his head. "No you aren't, Harry. It's not your fault you're sick. At least we know this much-Voldemort is gone and he can't attack you this year again. You're just so weak from what happened to you last year."
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand before kissing it gently. "I'm so glad you're here with me," he whispered.
"Me too, love." She replied.
When Sirius came back into the room, he was smiling. "Dr. Wilson will be here in twenty minutes. Do any of you want cereal for breakfast or anything?"
"That's fine. What do you have?" asked Ron, following Sirius into the kitchen. Shaking her head, Hermione took a seat on the edge of Harry's bed.
"You were doing so well yesterday, Harry. Wonder what happened." She pondered as he dabbed at his nose with another tissue. He shrugged.
"Hermione-I'm wish I knew what is wrong with me." He looked at her suspiciously. "But can I ask you something?"
Hermione cocked her head to one side. "Always," she replied. "What is it?"
"Are you-this may sound rediculous-but are you disgusted with this whole thing? I haven't been too great of a boyfriend, with my being so sick. I'm sneezing on you all of the time, usually stuck in bed..."
Hermione smiled, tucking a strand of her thick brown hair behind on ear. "Harry-listen to me. I don't care about that. All that matters to me is that you're still with us. If I had lost you last year I don't know what I'd do."
That was all Harry needed to hear.
When Dr. Wilson arrived later that morning, Hermione, Ron and Sirius stood against the wall closest to the door while Harry had his check up. Dr. Wilson listened to Harry's breathing, his heart, checked his pulse, his temperature and his pupils. After a few moments of silence, Sirius spoke up. "What is it, Doctor?"
"Well, it appears to be allergies, primarily. The pollen rate IS high today, so I'm afraid he'll be sneezing and coughing quite often. I would suggest staying indoors and doing quiet activities such as boardgames or watching television. Otherwies, there isn't much more you can do for him at this time."
Hermione reached down and took Ron's hand in hers, needing something to hold. She smiled when she felt him squeeze it gently, and then turned back to Sirius, who looked ready to cry. "Thank you, sir," he replied, paying the doctor what he owed, and seeing him off. Hermione and Ron watched as Harry settled against the pillows in his bed, absolutely miserable.
"I'm sorry, mate," Ron said after a few moments, and Harry turned to look at him.
"Not your fault," he replied, and Hermione smiled.
"Do you want us to stay in here, or do you need peace and quiet? Ron and I can entertain ourselves in the living room," she promised, and Harry yawned again, reaching his hand out to squeeze her arm.
"If you don't mind?" he replied, and she gave him another kiss, this one lasting a bit longer than the others, and Ron made his way towards the door.
"Not at all," Hermione promised. "Just get some sleep. I'm sure you'll start feeling better in the morning." she gave Ron an encouraging nudge, and the two of them headed into the living room. Sirius sat watching as Hedwig stood on the coffee table, ruffling her clean, white wings and staring at him through yellow eyes, as though inquiring about her master.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, after a few moments of silence, and Sirius gave a small sigh.
"I feel like I'm failing his parents," he admitted, and Ron sat down on the rocking chair, while Hermione took the spot next to Harry's godfather on the couch. "He's been getting sick ever since he came to live with me."
Hermione put a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Don't feel like that," she begged. "Obviously whatever is happening to Harry is out of our control. But I'm sure once we're in school, Dumbledore will be able to help us. Maybe...do you think we should write him now?" she asked, and turned to Ron, who shrugged.
"I'm not sure if it's entirely necessary at this point," Sirius admitted. "Compared to earlier this summer, Harry's doing a little better. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore's on holiday somewhere himself."
Hermione giggled at the thought of the headmaster lying on a beach somewhere. She always wondered what the professors did during the summer; she was certain some of them remained at Hogwarts, preparing for the following term.
"Well, we'll just keep an eye on him until then," Hermione insisted. "Sirius, don't feel bad. You're doing everything you can; that's all Harry's parents could have asked for. It's certainly more than the Dursley's would have given him!" she shuddered, remembering Harry's horrible stories of life with his Aunt and Uncle. They'd been absolutely awful to him, which was ridiculous, because Harry was one of the sweetest boy's in the world.
"Thanks, Hermione," Sirius replied. "I just hate feeling helpless. I wanted to give Harry a good home, that's all." he smiled faintly, asking if either of them wanted something to drink or eat. Ron immediately agreed, and offered to go into the kitchen to conjure up some food. Hermione rolled her eyes; Ron was a living, breathing trash compactor. They heard Harry sneeze rather roughly from his bedroom, and Hermione blew out her breath.
"I really do hope Madame Pomfrey has some type of potion against allergies that he can take at school," she muttered, as Ron chewed on an apple thoughtfully.
"I'm sure she does," Sirius replied, noticing how dark it was getting. "You two should get to bed...it's been a long day."
Ron and Hermione glanced at each other; Ron was sleeping on the couch in the living room, because Harry shared Hermione's room while she spent time at Sirius' flat.
"It's better than using the floor in Harry's room," Sirius chuckled, and Ron grinned, nodding.
"I can sleep anywhere, really," he admitted, helping bring out a quilt and pillows. He said goodnight to Hermione, who headed into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. Once she was dressed in her pajamas, she headed into Harry's dark room, grateful to find he was sleeping somewhat peacefully. She gently shook his shoulder, making him aware she was present, and he turned to smile at her.
"You okay?" he asked in a quiet voice, and she bent low to kiss him.
"Yes of course," she replied. "I'm just coming into bed, so can you move over a little?"
Harry chuckled and did so, allowing her to slide under the covers next to him. "Where's Ron sleeping?" he asked, and when she explained he was on the couch, Harry nodded in understanding.
"Love you," he whispered, before closing his eyes again, and Hermione smiled, wrapping her arms around him.
"You have no idea how much I love you," she replied, and he smiled.