Severus and Rick were wrapped up in warm clothes, floating on their brooms.

"Gosh, it's difficult to catch the Snitch with a hundred sweaters on," Severus complained.

Rick, who wasn't fanatical about Quidditch but who quite enjoyed a game of Catch the Snitch with his friend, nodded.

"Granddad still thinks I'm three sometimes," Severus moaned. Casting a look at the castle, he shrugged off the heavy cloak.

"That's better," he sighed. Rick followed suit, pulling off one of the thick sweaters he wore underneath as well.

The boys had a great time playing, and were sure to replace their clothes before heading back to the castle.

That evening, they both sat on the couch quiet and sniffling a bit.

The Headmaster frowned, and put a hand on each boy's forehead, straying to cheeks and neck.

"It would seem you are both coming down with a cold," he moved to the Floo, "I will ask Madam Pomfrey to have a look at you."

"No, Granddad, we are fine, please," Severus hastened to reassure, "we're just a bit tired from flying so long."

Rick nodded, his eyes a bit glassy and his reply hindered by a coughing fit.

"Get in your pajamas and to bed right now, boys," the Headmaster calmly replied, ignoring his grandson.

"But…"

Severus stopped short in his protest and gulped. It was not very often Granddad gave him *that* look, but when he did, he knew better than to disobey.

"Yes, Granddad," he pulled Rick along with him.

Truth be told, neither of them were very sorry to be in bed. When the nurse arrived a bit later, Rick was dozing while Severus abused several tissues in an attempt to unstuff his nose.

She gently tapped her wand against the children's foreheads and frowned. Then she cast a diagnostic charm while Dumbledore hovered nearby.

"Well?" he asked impatiently. Severus rarely got sick – he had little experience with it. He remembered, however, when the boy had contracted the measles when he was five. Severus had been very ill then and Dumbledore had sat by his bed for two days and nights before the fever broke and the little boy recovered.

"They both have a cold, Albus, it has been going around, and I wager they have not been too careful to bundle up lately," she cast a glance at the now squirming boys.

"I never let them go outside without proper attire," the Headmaster protested.

"That you put them in it doesn't necessarily mean they will stay in," the nurse pointed out, "right, Severus? Rick?"

"Yes, Ma'am," they both muttered guiltily, and confessions about their afternoon activities followed. Looking down at their sheets, they both missed the slightly amused look the adults shot each other.

"You will both drink this Pepper-Up," the nurse handed each a vial, "I am leaving another one for them to take in the morning, Albus. Keep them in bed tomorrow and they should be fine Christmas Eve."

The boys groaned. A whole day in bed!

The Headmaster walked the nurse out. "Do they really have to stay in bed tomorrow, Poppy?"

Madam Pomfrey smirked at him. "Not really. But I find it helps stubborn children who ignore their parents' admonishments to keep warm if they have to spend a day bored out of their minds in their beds. It will make them think twice next time. They are both running a slight fever, they can use the rest."

Albus laughed, making sure he was out of the boys' hearing range.

"It won't do them any harm," he said, "I will instruct the House Elves to bring them food and drink, but not pamper them with attention or games. And I think I will insist on a nap."

They shared an amused look before the nurse took her leave, and the old wizard went to check on his charges.

Rick had once more dozed off, but Severus was sitting up in bed and fidgeted with the sheets when his grandfather entered, clearly expecting a lecture.

Albus reached over and stroked a bit of slightly damp hair from the flushed face. He ignored the smoke coming from both children's ears and smiled gently.

Severus looked up. "I'm not in trouble?" he asked cautiously.

His grandfather was generally fair with him. Normally disobeying an order would have earned him a lecture and loss of one or two privileges for a day or so at most – but doing something dangerous to himself or others was sure to be followed by a grounding and some highly unpleasant chores.

"I think getting sick is punishment enough for disobeying me," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile, "you heard Madam Pomfrey. Be on your best behaviour and you will be fine by Christmas."

The next day the elves, having received firm instructions, provided ample food and drink but very little in the way of entertainment, leaving the boys to play some Muggle card games with a deck Harry had given Severus at one time or another, since exploding snap was considered too noisy.

While Severus felt a lot better, and besides a runny nose and occasional cough was bored out of his mind by staying in bed, Rick seemed to be slow and sleepy. Severus finally gave up and got a book to read when his playmate dozed off for the third time in a single game.

The house elves brought them their favourite foods for lunch - in compensation for the order not to entertain them, no doubt. Rick woke long enough to shake his head in refusal before dozing off again. Severus climbed out of bed and walked over to Rick's bed. Rick was sleeping with his mouth slightly open, congested sounds coming up every time he breathed. When he tentatively touched Rick's hand, the skin was hot.

ssssssssss

The Diggories were having some very disagreeable days. After confronting their grief over Cedric's death, they had realized that their youngest would not be home for Christmas. They had attempted to do their usual Christmas shopping together, but this year the event was singularly stressful. Where before it had been the highlight of their year, and their fondest time to remember Cedric as they picked out his favourite gifts for their youngest son, this year they found they could no longer bring themselves to do that.

Which led them to conclude they did not have the faintest idea what Rick would like for presents. Which in turn led to much awkwardness and an early return home.

Mrs Diggory sat brooding by the fire, lost in unhappy thoughts, when the Floo flared.

The face of Albus Dumbledore appeared. "Mrs Diggory…"

"Yes?" the woman responded, slowly turning her attention to the Headmaster.

"I would be much obliged if you could step through the Floo," the old wizard said, his voice full of concern, "your son is asking for you."

sssssssss

"Granddad…" Severus poked his head around the office door.

"Bed, Severus," the Headmaster said, not looking up from his work.

Severus hesitated, then took a few more steps into the office.

"Granddad…"

"Severus!" the old man adopted a stern look, intent on impressing to the boy that he was serious about keeping them in bed all day.

Severus bit his lip and turned around, taking a step towards the door, but then shook his head.

"I think Rick is really sick," he blurted out, walking up to his grandfather's desk, "he won't stay awake and he's really warm."

That got the Headmasters attention. He put a hand to Severus's head, but the boy felt cool. The Pepper-Up clearly had done its job for Severus.

As he walked into the boys room with Severus, however, it was clear that Rick had not been so lucky.

"It was good of you to call me, Severus," he moved towards the bed, "could you go to the Floo and ask Madam Pomfrey to come up here?"

Severus rushed off, leaving Albus to examine the sick child. Rick opened his eyes briefly as the Headmaster gently pulled the blankets from him and rested his hand against flushed cheeks and neck.

The nurse rushed in, having stepped through immediately. Albus pulled Severus to him and awaited the verdict.

"He has Wizards Flu, Albus," Poppy said, straightening her back as she covered the boy with a light sheet, "it has been going around. The stress he's been under and then playing outside in the cold have made him vulnerable to the virus. I will send up the potions he needs immediately, and you can give him a painreliever and cough medicin to help with the symptoms. Give him a cool bath if his fever spikes or cool him down with icepacks."

Rick stirred.

"Shh, son, you'll be fine," Albus comforted, "can I get you anything?"

"Mum…" Rick's sob was interrupted by a bad cough, "I want Mum…"

He sat up, tears mixing with the sweat that formed on his face, "Where's Mum?"

"But…" an astonished Severus turned to his grandfather, but before the older man could reply, Rick tried to get up out of bed.

"I want my Mum…" he muttered.

Poppy expertly began to tuck him back into bed, but even she looked rather helpless.

"I'll be right back," the Headmaster said.

ssssssssss

Rick tossed and turned, wondering what all those blankets were doing on him when the sun was already so warm. A hand pressed a cool cloth to his face and he opened his eyes. A familiar face slowly penetrated the fog.

"Shhhh, sweetheart," he heard, "do you want a drink?"

"Mum…" Rick rasped out, "Mum?"

His mother nodded.

"You'll stay with me?" he asked, sounding much younger than his almost twelve years, "like you'd have stayed with Cedric?"

A tear suddenly made its way down his mothers face, and he stared at it in wonder.

"Yes, darling, I'll stay with you, like I used to stay with Cedric," was the last he heard before a kiss was pressed to his head and he drifted off into a healing sleep.