A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Assignment #10 Aquatic Studies Task #10: Mermista (She-Ra): Write about someone sarcastic and blunt
Word count: 1048
He thought he'd escaped it this year. She hadn't gotten a cold in September or October and now November was nearly over and he'd thought, foolishly, he'd escaped it this year. But no, he wasn't that lucky and when he woke up on Saturday, ready to mark down the students' papers, she'd been coughing. He'd sighed and gotten her a batch of pepper-up, ready to try and prevent the cold he knew she was coming down with. She was also incredibly stubborn when sick.
"It is Saturday. There is nothing you have to do. You do not teach classes on Saturdays and therefore will be spending the day in bed."
"But I have papers-"
"They can wait. Bed, now," he'd ordered, knowing she wouldn't listen to him. She rarely did when it was for her own good. He'd watched her down the pepper-up and crawl into bed. Satisfied for the moment, he started his day. He dressed and ate the breakfast the house elves had brought him. He wasn't about to leave her alone in their chambers, she'd be out of bed and doing something before he'd even had a chance to turn his back on her. She refused to rest, always thinking she needed to be doing something. Her drive was one of the things he loved about her, but at the same time, it was one of her most exasperating qualities. He finished his eggs and toast. He walked past the bedroom, glancing in. She was shivering under the blankets. He summoned a fever potion for her.
"I don't have a fever."
"You are shivering so badly the bed is shaking."
"It's just allergies," she sniffled. He sighed. This was the same argument they'd been having since before they'd married. He was pretty sure Minerva had been arguing this with the girl back when she'd been a student.
"It is not allergies and we both know it. Take this, please?"
"Fine, but I need to grade things, and then there's the sixth year lesson plan I need to tweek because we didn't get through chapter seven."
"After your fever is gone, you are more than welcome to do all of that. The last time you tried grading papers with a fever, you gave the latest Weasley student a G claiming it stood for Ginger and a failing grade."
"It would be," Hermione muttered, drinking the fever potion quickly. "Can't you make one that tastes better?"
"It is on the to do list," he replied, kissing her forehead as he tucked her back into bed. She glared at him, but he ignored it as he started grading his own papers. He had finished the first stack, all first years who barely knew a cauldron from a chamber pot, when he heard movement coming from Hermione's desk. The papers there were trying to fly off the desk and towards the bedroom. Most ended up littering the floor of the hallway. Severus shook his head. He thought he'd taken Hermione's wand, but maybe he'd forgotten. He rose, set his quill down, and made his way to his and Hermione's bedroom. She was sitting up slightly on the bed, propped up by one of his silk covered pillows. Her wand was in her hand and she'd managed to get at least one sheet of parchment to come to her. The ink well, however, had crashed into the foot board and poured black ink all over the floor.
"Hermione."
"I'm in bed," she started to argue before it turned into a coughing fit.
"That is true, but you are in no condition to do anything save sleep off this cold. Now, let me have your wand please."
"Spoilsport," she muttered, handing him her wand. He pocketed it and looked at his wife. Her eyes were watery, her nose red, and he could see the glaze of fever in her brown eyes.
"I know I am, but you need rest. How about I read to you?" he offered, sitting on the edge of the bed. Yes, reading to her would take time from his own tasks, but he knew he wasn't going to get anything done if she kept trying to twart his attempts to help her.
"Fine," she grumbled, burrowing into the blankets. Severus summoned the most boring book he could think of and started to read about the properties of Mediterainian algae. Hermione's eyes drooped closed and soon she was sound asleep, snoring loudly. Severus sighed in relief. If she stayed asleep, she should be feeling better in the morning, but until then, he would have to keep a close eye on her.
She stayed asleep until almost noon. During that time, Severus had finished his grading, well most of it, he'd left the sixth year stuff for later. It needed his complete attention. He heard Hermione start to stir.
"Sev?" her raspy voice called. He was at her side almost instantly. "Can you have someone send up some soup?"she asked, a pleading look in her eyes.
"What kind?"
"Chicken, with rice, and no carrots!"
"I'll see what I can do," he stated, giving her a warm smile. If she was demanding no carrots, she was already feeling better. She looked less sick as well. Severus stepped out of their bedroom, whistled loudly and a house elf appeared with the exact bowl of soup Hermione had described. Severus never questioned how the elves knew what someone needed, but he was always glad they did.
"Your soup, m'lady,"he said, setting the trap in Hermione's lap. He'd already placed an anti-tipping spell on it. Hermione gave him a look but started sipping the soup and nibbling on the toast that was next to the bowl. Once she'd eaten about half of it, she yawned.
"I am going to let you sleep. I'll put the tray on the nightstand with a stasis charm in case you want more," he stated, casting the charm effortlessly as Hermione curled back under her blankets, snuggling a stuffed otter plush she'd managed to summon from somewhere. Severus smiled at the lack of argument. Giving her one last forehead kiss, he headed to eat his own lunch knowing Hermione was on the mend and if the past was any indication, she'd be back to herself in the morning.