Chapter 11
Port Keys

A telegram from Hogwarts arrived a few hours later and it said that Dumbledore was on his way immediately. "He's going to provide us with a portkey," Sirius told Hermione and Ron, who were sitting on either side of Harry's bed. Harry was still sleeping but his forehead had crinkled as though he were in great pain. Harry had thrown up again about fifteen minutes after the first fit, and had passed out following that.

Around suppertime, Dumbledore arrived at The Leaky Cauldron holding an old, torn up boot in his hand. "Good evening, Tom." He greeted the Pub owner, who tipped his hat.

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore. Harry is upstairs and is doing quite poorly I believe."

Dumbledore hurried to the room and entered. "Harry." He came over to the sick bed and touched the boy's cheek. "How long has he been ill like this? All day?"

Hermione shook her head. "Just since lunchtime, which was around 1-1:30 for us I think."

The headmaster nodded. "Well--he is burning up. Madame Pomfrey provided me with this cooling potion to hold him over till we get him to Hogwarts."

Ron looked at Sirius with worry and then turned back to Dumbledore who was encouraging Harry to wake up. "I need you to take some of this, lad. It will help your fever."

"Can't," Harry sobbed. "I'll throw up again."

Hermione eased Harry into a sitting position and allowed him to lean against the headboard. She had never been around him when he had been so sick, and it scared her to see him so pale and thin. She kissed him gently on the cheek, and allowed Dumbledore to take over her spot on the bed so he could be in an easier position to give Harry the potion. He tipped the silver goblet to Harry's lips and eased it slowly so that the cool, bluish liquid seeped into his mouth. "There's a good boy." Dumbledore told Harry quietly. "Slow sips now."

Harry coughed when he finished the first mouthful, and tried to protest against another. "You must take it. It will help you feel better--I promise. Take as much time as you need."

It was only now that Hermione was aware of Ron's laughter and turned to stare. "What on Earth may I ask is so funny?" she asked in shock.

He stopped laughing long enough to take a breath. "I'm sorry--it's just the fact that we may loose Harry again--we've lost him almost four times already."

Sirius raised an eyebrow with a passionate shake of his head. "Are you feeling all right, Ron?" He asked with amusement, once the youngest Weasley boy calmed down enough. When Harry finished taking the cooling potion, Dumbledore eased the sick boy back against his pillows.

"Here is the portkey I am providing for you to get to Hogwarts. Did you buy all of your school things?"

"We got all of our books," said Hermione. "But we haven't gotten a chance to replenish or potion's supplies or quills, ink and parchment. We were hoping to get those things after lunch."

Dumbledore nodded. "I see. Well--I'll tell you what. I'll take Harry to Hogwarts with me right now, and Sirius--you can stay with hermione and Ron and get their things and pick up the rest of Harry's supplies for when he comes to and can return to classes. You still have three weeks left of the summer holiday, though. I'll leave a port key for you."

Hermione wanted to protest but Sirius nodded. "Sounds like a plan. We'll be there later tonight."

Dumbledore urged them out of the Leaky Cauldron and lifted Harry after setting the portkey in place on the floor. "Hold on, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore told Harry, and soon the room disappeared.

"I can't believe we're letting him go alone," Hermione told Sirius a half hour later. The three of them had gone into the Stationary Store to pick up spare ink, quills and parchment. "But wait--we don't have our trunks or our cauldrons! They're all at home!"

Ron smiled. "I'll owl my Mum and have her pick up our things. Don't panick, Hermione. You have your books." He winked at her.

"Oh shuddup."

Sirius nodded. "Send an owl to your Mum and get yours and Hermione's things. I'll head back to the apartment and pick up Harry's things later. I doubt he'll need them anytime soon."

Hermione glanced at the Quality Quidditch Supplies shop to her right and felt tears brimming in her eyes. That was one of Harry's favorite stores in Diagon Alley--he loved just gazing in the window at the different broomsticks. He had first spotted his precious Firebolt here, and Sirius had gotten it for him for his thirteenth birthday.

After picking up the last of their school supplies from their lists, Sirius took the portkey that Dumbledore had left for them and they disappeared to Hogwarts.