A/N: Another Severus's POV chapter, for reasons I'll explain at the end of the chapter.
Every couple of years, since before Severus had been a student, a bout of the flu made its way around the Hogwarts castle. It could arrive as early as October, and as late as early spring. The number of students affected similarly varied, although Madam Pomfrey's detailed medical records showed that Muggle Borns constituted a far higher percentage than those of wizarding parentage. Of course, while students were the most likely to catch it, teachers were hardly exempt.
Severus recalled his own most recent experience, two years ago, with a grimace. He'd holed himself in his quarters for four days, and kept every necessary potion on hand, all clearly marked. Not that his eyesight had been impaired, but in an illness induced stupor, it would be easy enough to take a Fever Reducer when he had meant to douse himself with Cough Reduction. He hadn't made any mishaps that time, but the experience had been, nevertheless, dreadful.
Having contacted the flu fairly recently, Severus knew it was highly unlikely he would catch it this time. The same could not be said for Harry. His son had been healthy up to this point, but he was still (to Severus's eyes, at least) smaller and thinner than the average boy of eight. When the first of the cases began, he took Harry for a quick checkup with Madam Pomfrey, who confirmed this. Nutritional potions were not necessary-they were to continue as usual, because nearly seven years of undernourishment simply could not be remedied in half a year. However, as she privately told Severus, if Harry did contact the flu, he would certainly experience worse symptoms than average.
Severus took it upon himself to prepare for the worst. He stocked the cupboards with the necessary potions, and made plans for other teachers to cover most of lessons, and others to sit with a potentially debilitated Harry.
The overprotective of him wished to keep Harry within their quarters until there was not a cough or sneeze to be heard. But this would do more harm than good. The child had to develop a magical immune system as well as his traditional one, and the longer Severus forcibly put off the cold, the worse it would become. It would do no good to have his child sent to St. Mungo's during his OWL year.
At first, Harry looked and behaved normally. His appetite was the same, as well as his energy level. This changed on Thursday afternoon, when Harry remained on the couch for the duration of his free time. He'd needed an extra blanket, despite the warm fire and his kitten, Calla, nestled firmly against him. More troubling was his lack of appetite at dinner.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Harry said, after barely managing to consume half his food. "I just don't feel very hungry."
The only other time Harry had struggled to clear his plate had been during his mild infraction with the school broom. But that had been guilt induced, and hardly counted.
Harry's voice sounded softer than usual, as though he was attempting to save all of his energy.
"Hmm. Kindly allow me to test forehead, owlet," Severus requested, rising.
At Harry's nod, Severus walked the few steps to approach. His child's forehead was warmer than usual, but not hot enough to be cause for concern. Yet.
Still, he did not wish to press Harry to eat more than his stomach could handle.
"You needn't finish your meal, but do you think you could manage some tea?" Severus queried. "I won't insist upon it, of course, but it might make you feel better."
"I can try," Harry answered, his voice still too quiet.
"Good. If you are coming down with the flu, it might help mitigate some of the symptoms," he explained.
The child managed the mug with ease, but his eyes were nearly closing by the time he finished. Severus considered assisting Harry with his bath, then decided it would be more prudent to have the child skip it altogether. If Harry was about to be ill, he'd be far more in need of a bath after a day or so. Severus remembered how ripe he had smelled by the time he could face bathing himself again. Best to get the child straight into bed.
After Severus quickly performed his own nightly routine, he watched as Harry managed to brush his teeth and change into his night clothes. Tonight, there would be no story, but Severus made sure to spend extra time carding his hair.
"Will you stay?" the boy whispered.
"I will," Severus promised, then wrapped the covers around them both, then gently holding Harry against him. Harry evidently felt well enough to enjoy this, as he nestled himself closer to Severus. "Sleep well, owlet."
Severus was neither a particularly light, nor heavy, sleeper. That night, his sleep was peaceful. Unfortunately, when he regained consciousness the following morning, it was easy to see that Harry was far worse than the previous evening. The child wasn't coughing, yet, but he was trembling with cold despite the covers, his face had become very pale, and his forehead was very hot. When Severus tried to rouse Harry, he whimpered.
"I don't want to. I don't feel well, Daddy," he murmured.
"I know, child. You have the flu." Severus rose, taking care to tuck the covers firmly around his son, then added a more powerful Warming Charm. "You'll stay in bed, today."
The boy relaxed slightly under the extra warmth. Severus left the room long enough to collect the required potions. When he returned, Harry looked at the potions with a pained look.
"Do I-?"
"Yes, you need them," Severus said, firmly, cutting off the child's protests. But when Harry winced, he softened his tone considerably, helping Harry into a sitting position, yet keeping the covers around the boy. "Just two for now. I won't pretend the first won't taste foul, but it will make you feel better. For the time being, you need a Fever Reducer, and a Stomach Soother."
"Yes, sir," Harry whispered.
Severus winced, then leaned over to card Harry's hair. "The second is Stomach Soother, which has a pleasant taste to it. How does that sound, owlet?"
Harry managed a weak smile. He choked down the first potion, gagging at the thick texture and bitter taste. Severus winced in sympathy. He'd needed to ingest that more than once, and while it didn't burn going down as much as some, it was quite foul.
After coughing and spluttering for a few moments, Harry swallowed and turned to Severus.
"Can I have the other one, now?"
"Of course." Severus promptly Vanished the remains of the first, then poured in a dose of the second.
This went down far more easier. Harry even enjoyed it, based on his facial expression and small murmur of appreciation.
"Do you require the loo?" Severus queried, seeing the familiar strained look on his son's face.
The child nodded. After helping Harry to the loo and back, Severus knew the boy was in no state for anything except a day of rest.
He, himself, was not so lucky. He could cancel his afternoon NEWT lessons and assign his fourth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs to Minerva, but there was no one suitable to cover his first year Gryffindor and Slytherin. There would be no classroom by the end of the lesson, more likely than not, and he was not going to cancel a much needed lesson for his first years. Not since Harry was not at crisis point, at least. Charity could watch Harry for the duration, and Severus would dismiss the students as early as possible.
The Muggle Studies teacher was, of course, happy to help out.
"I expect Harry will be asleep for most of the morning. If he begins to cough uncontrollably, there's a reducing potion for that. It's by his bedside table, as you can see," Severus explained once she arrived. He spoke softly, for fear of waking his child. "You may Floo call me if you have any questions, or should Harry takes a turn for the worse."
"Of course, Severus." She put a soft, warm hand on his. "You needn't worry. My sisters and I all contacted this flu during our childhood, and being the oldest, I helped as much as my mother. You don't lose those skills."
Severus managed a smile. "Harry's smaller than average," he confided, then forced himself not to say more.
They got along better than with many of the other teachers. While students, they had been in the same year, although Charity had been in Ravenclaw. She had been among the few of the females who hadn't fawned over Potter or Black. Granted, Charity had accompanied Lupin to one of the school dances...Now that they were colleagues, Severus rather regretted not seeking out her friendship in school.
Severus could not avoid noticing, on occasion, that Charity had hardly lost her good looks. Her curly brown hair reached nearly her waist, her robes always accentuated her pale skin nicely, and her complexion was flawless.
"I promise not to take my eyes from him," Charity insisted, her tone earnest.
He nodded. "Thank you."
Severus didn't wish to rouse Harry from his slumber, so he simply took his leave.
"Harry is ill," he said, without preamble, once the gaggle of first year students had ceased their prattle, "and no other suitable teacher was available to teach you this morning. As such, I wish to end this lesson as quickly as possible. Today, you will brew a Herbicide Potion. If you were foolish enough not to read the chapter I assigned last week regarding its uses, you will not necessarily be impeded today, but woe betide you next Friday on your test." A few groans immediately ceased when Severus sent a look at the class. He flicked his wand at the blackboard, and the instructions appeared in his clear script. "Assemble in your usual pairs, and begin."
There was the usual scurry for ingredients within the cupboards, and Severus provided the students five minutes to begin their potions before beginning surveillance. Merlin knew, this particular group of students needed his aid. He only ceased to monitor the progress of his students after they reached his NEWT level lessons. Even then, Severus kept an eye on his students' progress periodically, although he used most of these lessons to mark papers.
Severus was attempting to become more gentle at teaching. While still considered the strictest and fiercest teacher of the staff, all who were not first years would notice a distinction between his method of instilling information. Corporal punishment had been forbidden by the headmaster upon his taking over in the role, and even though Severus would never lay a hand or wand on a child, he had perfected the best methods of instilling fear during his first year without referring to such abominable methods. Insults and sarcasm were his preferred method, and Severus had reduced more than one child to tears in his tenure.
While he hardly intended to be as soft as Ponoma or Filius, Severus realized that his previous teching methods might traumatize Harry to witness. He must balance between demanding respect and good-or adequate-results without reducing his students to outright terror.
Healthy fear, on the other hand, would be quite reasonable.
It was far easier teaching his NEWT students. They had managed the required Outstanding on their OWL exam, and needed relatively little direct supervision. Many fourth and fifth years managed with relative ease on their own, especially those from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Even the second and third years, while still in the beginning stages of studying the fine art of Potion making, maintained enough of a foundation, and certainly fear of the dreaded Professor Snape, that they could follow clear directions.
The first years were another story entirely...especially his Slytherin and Gryffindor class. Why the headmaster insisted upon putting lions and snakes together for anything was quite beyond his comprehension.
Today, the students took his warning seriously. There were no explosions, no injuries. A couple of potions would receive bottom marks regardless, because the brewers had made their base too watery. A common problem within this particular group of students. Despite his instructions to stir for only five times, they either ignored it, or stirred too vigorously. Something to keep an eye on.
Far more were passable, and two were good enough that, had Severus collected more than mere samples, could be used for the intended purpose. He rewarded those two teams with a slight smile, which caused the two boys and two girls to grin widely. Oddly enough, they were the four who made it a habit to work with students outside their house. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were less selective, but even they showed house loyalty.
"Five points apiece for a model potion," Severus added, feeling generous.
They gaped, almost open-mouthed, at this.
Severus dismissed the class as soon as the last potion samples were on his desk, though not without assigning homework, and another reminder about the test.
Assuming that they had not all contacted the damn flu by then...
Severus returned to his quarters with trepidation. He'd been able to focus on teaching and monitoring with the same ease as always, thanks to his mastery of Occlumency. Now so close to his son, Severus could not help but fear he'd taken a turn for the worse.
Charity was sitting in a chair near Harry's bed, immersed in a book. Upon hearing his entrance, she rose with ease, her blue robes nearly shimmering in the light. Smiling, she spoke softly.
"He began a rather nasty bout of coughing shortly after you left, but the Coughing Reducer helped," she began, without preamble, "and I helped him to the loo afterwards. The child still has a fever, poor thing, but he's sleeping soundly."
Nodding, Severus leaned over to inspect Harry, then placed a hand over his forehead. The child stirred in his sleep, eyes opening briefly before closing.
"Thank you for your assistance, Charity," Severus said, managing a small smile.
"It's no trouble, Severus." She picked up her book. "If there's nothing else you need, I shall take my leave."
"Of course. I'll walk you out," Severus offered.
He half expected a rebuff, but she simply smiled and followed Severus to the door. Once it was opened, Charity murmured a few words of farewell before taking her leave.
It helped, Severus mused, that he could count on the staff. To be sure, he had covered lessons in the past, but the environment of teamwork and equality Albus fostered was one of the higher points of working at the castle. Severus would never have considered teaching there when he'd been a student, and dealing with inept students was certainly a challenge, but then, were not all first and second years dunderheads? Some never learned, either.
Not that Harry would be one. Severus exchanged his black robes for a night shirt before joining the child in bed. Harry could use the comfort, and he was feeling rather drained. Regardless of what house he was sorted into, Severus thought as he wrapped his arms around the sleeping child, Harry would be a stellar student. For now, though, he was simply Severus's child, and as loved as any from a good family.
Harry stirred again. "Dad?"
"Yes," Severus soothed. "Do you require anything?"
Harry curled into him. "I don't feel well, Daddy. I'm so tired."
"That's all right," Severus repeated, running a hand over his back. "You just rest."
Yawning, Harry made the ghost of a nod. "You're so warm."
Severus held Harry more securely. "Good. I plan to keep you nice and toasty, owlet."
"Toasty owl," Harry murmured, then drifted off before Severus could respond.
Severus rose later to the sound of coughing. His child, still nestled against him, was nearly hacking up a lung.
Time for another dose of the potion. This one didn't taste foul, more like water than anything else, even if it had a slimy feel as it went down. Propping Harry against him with one hand, Severus measured out another dose and placed the goblet in front of him. The child did not complain, simply downed it. Severus Vanished the remains and refilled the contents with water. Harry drank that with gusto.
"How are you?" Severus asked afterwards, turning the child so they were eye to eye. "Truly. Don't gloss over your symptoms."
Harry grimaced. "My stomach hurts. I feel so tired, too. My throat hurts from coughing." He swallowed. "My head hurts."
Severus pressed a kiss into the child's hair. "I'll give you the next round of potions in a bit. In the meantime, I dare say you just need rest. Would you like me to rub your back?"
After a brief hesitation, Harry shook his head. "Too cold."
Ah, yes.
"When you feel better, then," Severus promised. "Try to rest, now."
Harry managed a nod, and a slight smile after Severus tucked the covers firmly around him. Within minutes, the child was sound sleep.
Severus passed the hours in Harry's bedroom preparing for lessons for the next week. He very much doubted he would be able to teach for a full day on Monday, and detailed notes were always best. Once completed, he began grading NEWT assignments. It was time for dinner when Harry roused again, not that the child had much of an appetite. Still, Severus managed to get a bowl of broth into him, and even a half a piece of toast. That was after another round of potions, but his owlet was a trooper and did not complain, only whimpering slightly at the one that burned his throat. The Stomach Soother came last.
Harry slept all of Saturday, waking only to burst into coughing fits, needing the use of the loo, and being doused with potions to alleviate his symptoms. Severus remained by his side throughout it all, marking papers and preparing lessons when the child slept, ears attuned for any coughing and symptom that required treating. That was, after all, all that could be done. The flu simply had to run its course through Harry's body, and it would not be sped along by the potions meant to make Harry feel better.
By the middle of Sunday, however, Harry looked rather better, able to sit against his pillows with some ease. When he said that he was feeling hungry, even though he still looked far too pale and trembling to be tasked with feeding himself, Severus took this as rather a good sign. The child was even able to consume a full piece of toast, and a full bowl of broth, during the middle of the day. Then, once more for his supper.
Severus determined that Harry would benefit from a bath. He'd kept his sheets clean with charms, but the child was beginning to smell quite ripe from the combination of not having bathed in a few days, and more, night sweats. He first coaxed Harry into brushing his teeth, and then, sat him on the toilet while he prepared the bath. Severus stripped him of his night shirt, then eased him into the water before his body could grow too chilled. His son didn't protest, although he didn't respond to the warm water with as much as a smile. Harry merely sat stoically in the soapy water that reached to just below his shoulders. Severus, on the other hand, knelt on the hard, tiled floor, resigning himself to this uncomfortable position for the time being.
But after several moments, Severus can sense Harry slowly begin to relax. Still hunched over, water covering all but the top of the child's shoulders and his head, Harry bent forward a bit more, a light sigh coming from his small frame. At which point, Severus began the process of gently scrubbing him down. He used a wash cloth for this, with a bar of child's soap (meant to be easier on the skin than the kind Severus had always used on himself) wrapped within. It lathered easily, producing a sweet smelling scent, rather of flowers. Severus worked in his usual careful, methodical manner. He even made soothing circles on Harry's back, causing his shoulders to slump forward a bit more, and another small sigh came from Harry. Severus dared to hope that, in spite of the pain the flu must have put his small body through, the bath provided some source of comfort for his child. Surely, at least, Harry will be able to enjoy feeling clean as he and Severus later retreat into his bed.
"Time for the shampoo," Severus said, gently, after rinsing off the last of suds. "Please tip back your head into the water, child."
"Okay," Harry murmured, and lowered the back of his head into the tub long enough to drench it entirely.
"Thank you, owlet."
Severus deposited a generous portion of the child's shampoo into his hands, then into the child's hair. In the past, Harry always enjoyed this, and it was a good thing, too, because Severus found he needed to spend quite a bit of time on Harry's unruly mane. Had the entire Potter clan, all dead now, been in possession of such uncontrollable locks? (Speaking of white, Harry was quite in need of another haircut...) Or, was it simply the males? If Harry had been a girl, and in possession of such unruly hair, the only options would be a short haircut or a tight braid. No wonder Fleaumont Potter had concocted a profitable hair potion... But the sighs that emerged as Severus worked the shampoo deep into his scalp made the effort worth it.
Indeed, his child was half asleep by the time Severus gently had dried him off in a warm towel, then helped him into his similarly charmed night shirt. Lifting the still small boy into his arms, Severus joined him in the bed. He wrapped both arms around his child, who now curled into him. As Severus drifted off, he felt somewhat hopeful that they would experience sound sleep.
Monday passed of the flu in a similar manner. Harry needed help to stand, much less move, but his fever gradually diminished. Severus administered the familiar potions, which didn't cure the flu as much as mitigate the worst of the symptoms. Harry couldn't manage much in the way of food, just broth and toast, but staying hydrated was more important, and Severus knew that if he were to be as cruel as to force feed him, it would just come back up later.
Severus slept beside Harry, as much for practicality as for his emotional wellbeing. If Harry woke up in the middle of the night from a coughing fit, or needing the loo, Severus need not travel from his own bedroom.
What he was not prepared for was the nightmares. Harry still had them, on occasion, and Severus always knew how to manage them. Harry had learned he could tell Severus what he had dreamt about no matter how silly it might seem while awake, or how much it had revealed about his life with his horrible aunt, uncle, and cousin. But it had been nearly two months since the last one, and to awake and hear his child say something like, "Please! Don't lock me in my cupboard!" filled Severus with rage and pain.
On such occasions, Severus would do as he used to-gently shake his child awake, and murmur reassurances, along with hugs. Harry's reaction would vary from sobbing into Severus's robes, begging him not to send him away-to relief that it was only a dream, but still wishing to remain with his guardian for the duration of the night. Once in awhile, Harry would ask Severus if he could rub his back, and Severus always responded in the affirmative. That is, if he hadn't already begun to do so. Harry didn't usually want Severus to cut his night shirt and massage his bare skin, preferring the feel of his hands making the small, soothing circles.
If James or Lily Potter could see the damage his relatives had inflicted, Severus shuddered to imagine what they would do. Anything James had done to Severus would pale in comparison, and the Muggles would have deserved it, and then some.
Now, Severus made the soothing circles, promising Harry that he would never hurt him or send him away, and held the child in his arms until, slowly, exhaustion and the sense of safety in Severus's arms overtook the trauma of the nightmare-and Harry slept.
Harry's temperature had returned to normal by late Tuesday afternoon, and his cough was gone entirely. He was still quite weak, needing help to walk. Once more, Severus enlisted Charity's aid to watch Harry while he taught the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years, but reassigned his other lessons to various members of the staff. On Tuesday evening, the child managed an entire bowl of chicken soup, not just the broth. Severus was very pleased.
"You seem to be on the mend," he said, softly. "Your cough is gone, too. Of course," he added, quickly, "I plan to cancel my classes tomorrow, and perhaps on Thursday as well. Would you like to stay in the sitting room until bedtime? I can fetch some extra blankets."
"I'd like that," Harry answered, just as softly. "Thank you, Dad."
Harry managed the walk to the couch without a great deal of difficulty, then relaxed into the soft cushions. After Severus retrieved some extra blankets and arranged them around Harry, he could see that his child looked much happier and healthier than he had since contacting the flu. Calla immediately catapulted herself onto his chest, and began to purr loudly.
Severus scratched her head. "Ah. She's missed you."
Due to her tendency to shed, he'd kept the feline out of Harry's room. The cat had taken it reasonably well, and wherever she'd taken to sleeping, at least she kept out of the way.
Harry glanced at the cat with a smile. "Oh, I missed her."
Severus turned his attention back to his son. "Shall I scratch your hair? Or card it? Perhaps, a back or foot rub?" he offered.
Harry blinked slowly. "My head, I think."
"Very well."
He placed both hands on top of Harry's head, and began to scratch his scalp in a circular motion. Immediately, his eyes closed, rather like Calla's had.
By Wednesday evening, Harry was still not entirely himself, but he could manage to consume half of his food at mealtimes. The fever was gone, as well as his aches and cough. Nevertheless, his energy levels were lower than usual. Severus determined that, while he would attend his first year lessons, he would reassign the more advanced ones. He also prohibited Harry from any vigorous activities for at least a week.
"This is not a punishment, as it is a precaution," he concluded. "The last thing you want is to fall from your broomstick or the swing set. There will be plenty of time for that in the weeks to come."
Harry, who had regained much of his color, did not object. If anything, he looked relieved.
"Can I still explore the castle?" he asked, hopefully.
Severus took a moment to consider. "You may. I would prefer for you to remain on this floor, but it is not a command, merely advice." He gently took Harry in his arms. "I will also set your bedtime for an hour earlier this week."
Harry nestled against him. "Will you still read to me, Dad?"
"Of course," Severus laughed. "You are very much overdue for that, owlet."
Author's note: While Severus was infatuated with Lily, it's my head canon that he and Charity Burbage became close friends after they became colleagues. I have written them as a couple in other fics. I don't know if I will include a romantic relationship between them in this series, as that opens a can of worms, but I want to show that affection between them is still there, and mutual.
If Harry was sick longer than average for a flu, I attribute it to it being a magical ailment and the fact that he's still undeveloped/undernourished.
I originally wrote this from Harry's perspective, but it felt too bleak. I prefer the feel of Severus's mindset as he cares for his son.
Next up: The invisibility cloak comes out for another adventure.
