Middle of the Night Illness

Summary: Harry gets sick in the middle of the night. Sirius takes care of him.

Harry had gone to bed abnormally early. He had gotten up from the couch at eight thirty and announced he was going to bed. Sirius didn't question him, figuring Harry was just tired from the day's events. They had gone to London and spent some godfather and godson bonding time. Remus was gone on a trip and would be back in a few days, leaving Harry and Sirius alone.

Sirius had waited ten minutes before he went upstairs and checked on Harry. He was already in bed and sound asleep. Approaching the bed, Sirius tucked the blanket around Harry and kissed his forehead. After he had collected the laundry from Harry's bathroom, he returned downstairs and dropped off the laundry to in the scullery and returned to the family room and watched more television.

It was ten when Sirius yawned and decided to go to bed. He turned off the lights and checked to see if the doors were secure before making his way upstairs. He was about to enter his bedroom when he heard something from Harry's room. It sounded like a groan of pain.

Turning around, Sirius rushed to Harry's bedroom and threw open the door.

Harry was sitting up in his bed, his arms wrapped around his middle. He had puked on the side of his bed and in his lap. He looked very miserable with tears running down his face.

Sirius rushed to the bathroom next door and wet a washcloth before returning to Harry's room. He vanished the mess and sat down on the bed and began to wipe Harry's face, cleaning off the sweat, puke, and tears.

"I'm sorry, Sirius."

"You can't help being sick," Sirius murmured, pushing back the fringe from Harry's face. "Why don't you go and get another shower while clean this up?"

Harry nodded and stood up, heading to the bathroom. Sirius gathered a change of pajamas for Harry and another pair of boxers and dropped them in his armchair to give Harry when he finished in the shower. Sirius stripped the sheets from Harry's bed and banished them to the scullery. He headed out to the hall and opened the linen closet and pulled out clean sheets for Harry's bed. He made the bed quickly and waited for Harry to finish in the bathroom.

It was then Sirius realized that the water hadn't been turned on yet. He approached the bathroom door and knocked.

"Harry?" Sirius called. His response was retching.

He swiftly opened the door and approached his godson. Harry was sitting in front of the toilet, throwing up with his arms wrapped around his middle. He felt Sirius push back his fringe away from his face and rub soothing circles on his back.

When he finished, he tilted his head back against Sirius's shoulder, groaning softly.

"Did you get everything out?" Sirius inquired, softly.

"I think so," Harry whispered.

"Alright then, time for a shower." Sirius reached up and flushed the toilet and then helped Harry to his feet and turned the shower, supporting Harry's weight as he checked the temperature. When the temperature was right, Sirius helped Harry strip off his shirt and pajama bottoms

"Alright in you go."

Sirius helped Harry into the shower, not really caring that Harry still had on his boxers. Harry held on to the wall of the shower to keep himself from falling on his face.

"I'll be in your bedroom if you need me, just beside the door." Harry nods and Sirius leaves. When he hears the water turning off, he slips in quietly to give Harry a change of pajamas.

Ten minutes later he comes out of the bathroom and Sirius wraps an arm and his shoulders and walked him to his bed. Harry laid down and turned on his side, facing away from Sirius.

"Do you need anything?" Sirius asked.

"No."

Sirius pats his shoulder and murmurs that he would be back. He leaves for a moment and returns with a cup of water. He sat it down on his nightstand and sat down on the side of the bed.

"Sirius you don't have to stay with me," Harry said, softly.

"I know, Pup. But you're sick and I'm Godfather, where else should I be?"

"Okay," Harry whispered, agreeing with Sirius. Despite the fact that it's been a month since

Harry moved in with Sirius and Remus, he was still getting used to having someone who cared in his life. Harry still felt like he had to take care of himself, especially when he got sick.

The only sound in the quiet room was Harry's breathing. Soon it evened out telling Sirius he had fallen asleep.

Sirius got up to move to the armchair, not wanting to leave Harry until he was sure that Harry would remain asleep or if he would wake up sick again. He didn't want to leave Harry in case he got sick again.

His prediction was proven correct when twenty minutes later, Harry sat up with a groan. One hand over his mouth and the other was gripping his stomach. Sirius picked him quickly and quickly rushed him to the bathroom. He barely made it in front of the toilet when Harry was puking again.

Merlin, how much more does he have left? Sirius thought. Harry retched until he was dry heaving and a few tears slipped out of his eyes.

"Hey, buddy. It's okay." Sirius rubbed his back in soothing circles.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," Harry whispers.

"Its okay, Prongslet, you can't control it."

Harry shudders and nods his head slowly. He's a little pale, but nothing else seemed to be wrong with him. Sirius reached up and placed his hand on his forehead. He's warm.

Sighing, Sirius scoots back, leaning against the wall. This seemed like it was going to be an all night thing.

"Does anything else hurt or is it just your stomach?"

"Just my stomach," Harry replied, groaning softly as his stomach churned.

"Maybe it's food poisoning? What have you eaten recently?"

Harry closed his eyes. "Hold that thought," he said quickly, his cheeks inflating and he vomited once more in the toilet.

"We ate pizza tonight."

"I don't think it was the pizza. What about yesterday?" Sirius inquired.

"Chinese, the same as you," Harry replied, leaning against Sirius, drawing his legs up to his chest. His arms were still wrapped around his middle.

"So everything you ate, I ate?"

Harry nodded and then paused. "Wait a minute. We had Mexican for lunch when we went to London today."

This reminds Sirius that he and Harry had gone to London that day to spend some time together. They went to London Dungeon and they went exploring in London. Harry had never been anywhere in London and Sirius wanted to see what was new since he had been there before he was in prison.

Harry and Sirius had a good time, exploring London and had ended up at a new Mexican place for lunch before they headed to Diagon Alley to pick up a few things.

"We did, didn't we," Sirius murmured. "Think it was the taco?"

Harry nodded mutely, trying to keep from puking again. He wanted nothing more but for his stomach to quit churning and hurting and for him to go back to sleep. But his stomach wasn't listening.

"Maybe or maybe it was something I put on it. I've eaten them before and they never bothered me before."

Sirius nodded and rubbed soothing circles on Harry's back. Like when he was a baby, it was better to rub Harry's back with skin to skin contact. The same with his stomach. If Sirius rubbed his stomach, he would sneak his hand under Harry's shirt or pull it up.

Harry leaned over the toilet and puked again, this time he made a whimpering sound. Sirius put his hand on Harry's back to let him know it was okay. When he was finished, he reached to flush the toilet, but couldn't reach it. Sirius did it for him and pulled Harry into an embrace.

"Does it feel better to lie down?" Sirius asked. Harry nodded. It did feel a little better to lie down.

Sirius helped Harry laid down in a position where he was lying down with his head in Sirius's lap. He didn't move Harry back to his bed because he had a feeling they would back here. They might as well stay here instead of moving Harry back to his bed. Sirius had a feeling they would be here all night.

Once Harry was comfortable, Sirius leaned his back against the wall and rested his hand on Harry's back and his other hand on his knee. Leaning his head back against the wall, Sirius let his close so he could rest for a moment.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sirius woke up to the sound of retching, telling him that Harry was puking again. He rubbed his eyes awake while he was making his way back to his godson. He scooted in behind Harry and rubbed his back. When Harry stopped, Sirius patted his shoulder.

"I'm going to get you something to drink." Harry nodded, resting his head on the toilet seat.

Sirius got up and rushed downstairs to the kitchen. He got some water bottled and rushed back upstairs.

"Here, Pup. We can't have you getting dehydrated."

Harry took a few sips and then suddenly, he leaned forward and threw up again. Sirius rubbed Harry's back in soothing circles as he puked. When he was done, Harry leaned back against Sirius.

"I feel like my insides are flipping inside out," Harry groaned, wincing as he felt his stomach cramp.

"I know, it hurts," Sirius murmured. He picked up the bottle of water and handed it to Harry. "Here, slow sips. Hopefully, this will stay down." If this didn't stay down, Sirius would need to get some hydrating potion.

Harry held his hand up and then leaned forward and puked again. "How much more is in there?" Sirius blurted. Harry threw up one more time and leaned back against Sirius.

"I think I'm done," Harry said, hoarsely. He took the water from Sirius and sipped the water, trying to get the yucky taste out of his mouth. "I think I need to take a shower."

"Okay. I will be on the other side of the door if you need me."

Harry nodded and let Sirius help him up from the floor. While Harry turned on the water in the shower and stripped off his sweaty clothes, Sirius slips in with a clean change of pajamas and boxers.

"Thanks, Sirius," Harry murmured.

Sirius smiled at his godson, hoping that after his shower, he would get some sleep and that Harry's illness had run its course.

"You're welcome."

Sirius waited for Harry to finish in the shower. He checked the sheets and noticed they were damp from the sweat. Harry must have started to sweat when he woke up sick again. Sirius stripped the bed again, this time decided to take Harry back to his room when he finishes in the shower.

Ten minutes later, Harry stepped out of the bathroom. He dropped his clothes in the hamper and walked over to where Sirius was waiting.

"Are you ready to go back to bed? I thought we'd go to my room and sleep there."

Harry nodded and let Sirius led him to his bedroom. The king size bed was inviting and Harry knew from experience, it was comfortable. He had his own pillow under his arm and laid it down on the head of the bed before he laid down.

He was just getting comfortable when Sirius laid down beside him on the other side

"Sirius?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Can you…." Harry trailed off, trying to figure out how to ask what he wanted and not sound pathetic.

"What is it, Harry?" Sirius asked.

"Well, my stomach feels sore and I was….."

Thankfully for Harry, Sirius figured it out. Without needing to be told, Sirius reached over and sneaked his hand under Harry's shirt and placed his hand on Harry's stomach. At first, Harry tensed at the contact and then he relaxed as Sirius began to run soothing circles on Harry's abdomen.

This wasn't the first time Sirius rubbed Harry's stomach. Harry had to take nutrient potions for a short time at the beginning of the summer and they caused terrible stomach cramps. The only thing that really helped was Sirius rubbing Harry's stomach.

"Does that feel better?" Sirius inquired.

"Yeah," Harry sighed. "Thanks, Sirius."

"Anytime, Pup. Anytime."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Sirius woke up the next morning to find Harry curled into his side and a stiff neck. Looking down at Harry, Sirius was relieved to find that he wasn't as pale as he was last night and hoped that he was doing better. He ran a hand through his hair, making Harry shift closer. He opened one eye and looked up at Sirius.

"How are you feeling?" Sirius asked, softly.

"Tired," Harry replied with a yawn. Sirius smiled at him and was about to get up and move Harry to his room when Harry asked, "Can I stay here?"

Sirius nodded. "Of course."

"Can you stay with me?" Harry's voice sounded younger than his fourteen years.

Sirius nodded and laid down beside him. Harry snuggled up against him, curling himself around him. Sirius leaned over and kissed Harry's forehead and fell asleep.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Remus opened the front door to find the house quiet. He paused in the front hall, figuring out if something happened. He walked towards the kitchen to find it empty. He slipped in the scullery and dropped his bag beside the washer.

He stepped back out into the kitchen and walked towards the family room and then into the sitting room. Both rooms were empty. Where were Harry and Sirius?

Walking back towards the kitchen, Remus looked out the window and opened the back door and stepped out. They weren't outside neither.

He returned inside and headed upstairs. Opening the door to Sirius's room, he paused at the doorway and took a sigh of relief.

Harry and Sirius were both asleep in Sirius's bed, despite it being close to eleven in the morning.

He was about to back out of the room when he noticed that Sirius was stirring.

"You know it's a little freaky to stand there and watch someone sleep," Sirius murmured.

Remus smiled and watched as Sirius untangled himself from the teenager. When Sirius was up from the bed, he approached his friend and they hugged in greeting. Deciding to let Harry sleep a little longer, they headed downstairs to the kitchen.

"What happened?" Remus whispered.

"Harry got sick last night," Sirius replied and then explained what happened.

"I hate that he got sick. Do you think this another effect from living with his relatives? Plus didn't Healer Morris say that it would Harry a while adapt to being able to eat different foods."

"He did," Sirius said. He had taken Harry to see the healer the week after Harry had come home from Hogwarts. One of the problems Harry had been having was with his stomach. Like living with Sirius, Harry's stomach would need time to adjust, especially to things Harry had never had before.

The sound of the floor creaking brought their attention to the third occupant of the house. Harry came downstairs and shuffled into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling?" Sirius inquired.

"Better," Harry replied, sitting down in a chair at the table. "Hi, Remus. When did you get home?"

"A little bit ago," Remus answered. "Felt like eating something for breakfast? Porridge?"

Harry thought for a second before he nodded his head. Sirius got up and started to make some porridge for breakfast.

Sirius looked over at his godson and smiled as he read the Prophet, looking over the Quidditch scores and then reading the comics. He stirred the porridge and then fixed a glass of orange juice and banished it to the table. Harry never flinched and to Sirius's amusement, he had picked up the glass and sipped on the juice, his eyes never leaving the paper.

Ladling the porridge in a bowl, Sirius began to serve breakfast. He took Harry his first and then took care of his own.

"Thanks, Sirius," Harry said, closing the paper and beginning to eat his breakfast.

"You're welcome.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Later that day, Harry walked into the study where Sirius was reviewing paperwork. To bring himself to his godfather's attention, Harry knocked on the door to the study.

"Yes, Harry?' Sirius said, looking up from the form he was looking at.

"How did you know it was me?" Harry asked.

"Because Remus doesn't knock and you do." Sirius smiled and patted the chair beside him. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to say thank you for taking care of me last night," Harry said.

Sirius sat his papers down and turned to his godson. "Harry, come here." He opened his arms to Harry. When Harry got closer to Sirius, the shaggy-headed man pulled him into an embrace. "I will always take care of you when you are sick. I don't care what is wrong with you, if you get something big like the Wizard's Flu or something little like last night with a stomach ache, I will take care of you."

Harry nodded. "Next time we get Mexican, I think I'll skip the beans."

"I think so too," Sirius agreed. He hugged Harry from the side and said, "You will tell me if you don't feel good won't you?"

Harry nodded. "I will. You do take good care of me."

"Thank you, Pup. That means a lot to hear you say that."

"You're welcome, Sirius."

From that moment on, anytime Harry didn't feel well or was sick he would tell Sirius. Even if he had another middle of the night illness, it didn't matter. Sirius would take care of him.