The Wizard's Flu
Summary: Harry gets sick with the Wizard's Flu after Christmas.
Set Christmas of POA (Prisoner of Azkaban.)
Sunlight streaming through the curtains woke up Harry on Boxing Day. Boxing Day was when they would usually go to the Weasleys, but Molly had flooed last night to tell them that Bill had surprised his parents with a trip to Romania to visit Charlie, and they would be leaving in the morning. Since the plans for the day had changed, Lily decided to use the day to relax and rest after Christmas and make a start on getting the house back in order.
Harry knew immediately upon opening his eyes. He was sick. He slowly pushed himself up to sit in bed, noticing his body felt heavy and achy. Nausea washed over him in waves. He felt like he was back on that boat they were on one day during their summer holiday to the coastal home Lily inherited from her parents.
Harry closed his eyes, letting himself fall back into the bed. He groaned as he realized just how awful he felt.
He decided to wait until James or Lily came to wake him before he would let his parents know he was sick. His throat hurt, and he was sure it would throb if he called for his Mum or Dad.
The waves of nausea hadn't decreased since he lay back down. His stomach rolled, making him wince as he felt a sharp cramp rip through his abdomen.
A knock on the door warned him that one of his parents was about to enter his room.
"Harry? Are you awake?" Lily called from the other side of the door.
"Yeah," Harry croaked.
He must have sounded awful because, in the next second, the door to his bedroom swung open. Lily entered his bedroom, approaching his bedside quickly.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" She asked, sitting down at his bedside.
"Mum, I don't feel so good," Harry replied hoarsely.
Lily reached up to feel Harry's forehead. She pushed back his fringe, pressing her hand to his forehead, noticing the boiling skin under her hand.
"Oh, baby, you're burning up," Lily cooed. "What hurts?"
"I feel achy all over and heavy. My throat hurts, my head hurts, my stomach hurts, and I feel like I'm gonna be sick," Harry groaned, closing his eyes as he felt another wave of nausea and another cramp in his belly.
"Aw, poor baby," She soothed. "Do you feel like you're going to throw up right now?"
Harry nodded slowly.
"Okay," Lily murmured. She helped Harry sit up. Once he was sat up, Lily helped him stand after pushing away the duvet. She led him to the bathroom through the door from Harry's room, James had added when they moved into this house, and guided him to the toilet.
Lily had just lowered Harry to sit on the floor in front of the toilet when he started to heave. Her timing couldn't have been better. Harry began with dry heaves, which made Lily wince until he retched again. This time, he brought up his stomach's contents. Lily kneeled behind him, rubbing his back.
"It's alright, sweetheart," She said comfortingly. "It's okay."
She reached to push back Harry's hair stuck to his forehead and the side of his face. When it seemed that Harry was done, she summoned a washcloth, dampened it with her wand, and rung it out in the bathtub. Then she guided Harry to lean back against her and began to wipe his face.
Harry groaned as Lily wiped the cool washcloth across his face.
"Do you think you're done?" Lily whispered. Harry nodded.
Before Lily could call for her husband, James knocked on the door from the hallway. "Lily, are you in there?" he asked.
"Come in, James," She called, blocking Harry's ear with her hand.
James pushed open the door, pausing at the doorway, when he saw Harry leaning heavily against Lily.
"Is he sick?" James inquired.
Lily nodded. "Can you take him back to bed for me?" She requested.
James nodded. He approached his wife and son. Then, careful not to hurt his back, he bent over and scooped Harry up in his arms, picking him up to carry him back to bed.
"Dad?" Harry croaked.
"It's me, Son."
"Can you not drop me in bed?" He requested.
James smiled as he knew Harry was recalling the times when James carried Harry to bed when he was little. He would gently drop Harry in his bed, making the little boy laugh. James hadn't done it since Harry was nine.
"I won't, son," James said as he lowered Harry gently onto the bed. He moved out of the way as Lily entered the bedroom, her healer bag in hand.
"I have a suspicion of what's wrong with him, but I hope I'm wrong," She admitted.
"What is it?" James asked, noticing the look on his wife's face.
"Wizard's Flu."
Wizard's Flu wasn't deadly, but it was considered a serious illness. Similar to the Muggle Flu, Wizard's Flu came with the same symptoms: coughing, fever, sore throat, and sometimes nausea, but with one difference. Wizard's Flu tended to drain the person who had it to exhaustion. Harry's temperature would be their primary concern.
There had been multiple cases of it in the hospital wing before Christmas Break.
Lily raised her wand, murmuring the diagnostic charm softly. James knew the results confirmed her concerns when her breath hitched.
"He has it," She whispered.
"What's his temperature?" James asked.
"38 degrees."
James swallowed. They would have to take Harry to St. Mungo's if it got dangerously high. If and when his temperature reached 40 degrees, they would need to. It was currently 38, meaning they had a little to go.
"What do we do?"
Lily laid her wand down on Harry's nightstand. "I'm going to call Janice to see if she could send me some of the flu potions St. Mungo's uses. It would take me too long to brew it. In the meantime, get a cold cloth from the bathroom and put it on his forehead. And get the bucket under the sink while you're at it."
James nodded and headed into the bathroom. He could still smell the scent of vomit despite Lily flushing the toilet and using an air-refreshing charm.
He got a cloth from the cupboard and held it under the faucet, wetting it in the sink. He rung the washcloth out and opened the cupboard under the sink, pulling out the familiar grey bucket from under the sink.
Returning to Harry's bedroom, he found his son curled up on his side, his arms wrapped around his stomach.
"Does your stomach hurt?"
Harry nodded. "I feel like I'm gonna be sick again," He warned.
James all but threw the bucket at his son. Harry caught in time before he started to heave. Lily winced when Harry began to dry-heaving.
"Oh, my baby," She murmured. "It's okay."
She sat down on the edge of the bed and began to rub circles on Harry's back.
"What can I do?" James knew he sounded desperate.
"Go get some water and the potions I had left on the kitchen counter beside the stove."
James nodded, leaving the room to collect the things that Lily had asked him to get. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw the potions sitting on the counter.
"All of them?" He called from the kitchen.
"Yes."
James walked into the scullery and found the basket Lily used to transport potions from the basement lab to the cupboard in the scullery. She also used the basket to take potions from the scullery to the bathrooms in the house. James put the potions into the basket, afraid of dropping and breaking the vials, knowing Lily needed to restock her potion supplies.
He opened the cupboard where the glasses and cups were kept, picking up a green plastic cup. The green cup was Harry's cup. Lily had bought a bunch of plastic plates, cups, glasses, and bowls from Poundland years ago for Harry to use. This cup was among a few that remained after all these years.
He turned on the tap in the sink, filling the cup about half full. He could have used his wand, but it was sitting on his nightstand in his and Lily's bedroom.
James came upstairs with the potions and cup of water. He returned to Harry's room to find Harry asleep and Lily sitting in the armchair.
"We're in for a long few days," she whispered.
James just hoped she was wrong.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily was always a woman of action. If she saw a problem, she tackled it. Especially since she became a mother, she tackled any problems motherhood threw at her.
But this, this was different. Lily felt helpless, powerless even.
Wizard's Flu could be treated with potions, but it was a matter of time to get them administered. The damage it could do to the body, the magical core, was indescribable. It was a waiting game to determine if the body would respond to the potions. And if there was anything that Lily hated more, it was waiting.
Lily sat at Harry's bedside, heart heavy with worry. She was doing what she did best, according to James and Sirius. Worry.
She was a mother. Of course, she was worried.
Harry looked pale and weak, lying in bed with the snitches on the sheets. His sleep was fitful, almost like he was battling something in his dreams.
Lily shushed as she brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead. His skin was hot to the touch, a clear sigh of the fever ravaging his body.
She had called Madam Pomfrey to let her know that Harry hadn't avoided catching the Wizard's Flu. Lily had told her how she hoped Harry would avoid getting the Wizard's Flu. Just like with the stomach flu back in October, she was wrong.
"Lily, it's not life-threatening until day five or later," Madam Pomfrey reminded her. "I know you're worried, but he'll be okay."
It did little to calm Lily's fears. She had called Healer Morris's office to get a prescription for the flu potions to make it easier for Janice to send them to her. Darius wouldn't have questioned it because it was Lily, but those in the hospital administration would. She got Healer Morris in his office. Thankfully, he had Sunday office hours from ten to three.
"I'm sending the prescription now," Healer Morris said. The paper airplane flew behind him towards the lab. "Wizard's Flu can last anywhere from four days to a week. Bring him in if he's not showing any improvement by Thursday. Obviously, if his fever reaches 40 degrees…."
"I know," Lily said.
"He's healthy, Lily, that is on his side. If you need me, floo me or send an owl."
As she sat there watching her son sleep, Lily made a promise. It was the same promise she made every time Harry was sick. She would stay by his side and provide him the comfort and care only a mother could provide.
She wouldn't be doing it alone. She had James and, most likely, Sirius. He would rush over when he finds out his godson is sick. He had been here for nearly every illness. From Chicken Pox to many bouts of the Muggle flu, Sirius had come over to help care for Harry.
Lily leaned over and kissed his forehead, wincing at the heat she felt.
"It's okay, sweetheart. Mum's here. I'm not going anywhere."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
James looked up from his spot at the stove as he heard the harsh coughing coming from Harry's room. The coughing was a new symptom that had just started when he went up to ask Lily what she wanted to eat for breakfast. It was a deep, rattling sound that echoed throughout the house. He winced as it sounded like Harry could hardly get his breath. It cut through James like a knife. No father wants to hear that sound coming from their child.
He finished up the quick breakfast he was fixing for himself and Lily.
He fixed some coffee for himself and a cup of tea for Lily. After he fixed his plate, he took it to the table. The Daily Prophet had been delivered while they were upstairs. James took the paper from the owl, offering it a treat, and dropped a Knut into the pouch. As the owl flew away, James knew he would need to call Sirius to tell him about the change of plans. He didn't know the Weasleys were in Romania, and they were rescheduling their Boxing Day gathering.
He knew when he called Sirius and told him Harry was sick what he would say. He was coming over to help him and Lily take care of Harry.
When James finished breakfast, he rinsed his plate and cup in the sink before adding them to the dishwasher.
He walked upstairs to Harry's bedroom, his son's coughs greeting him as he entered the room.
"Your breakfast is ready, Petal," he whispered. "It's on the table with a cup of tea."
"Bless you," Lily murmured as she patted his cheek. "I'll be back."
James took Lily's seat beside the bed, watching his son sleep. Harry wheezed a little in his sleep.
Moving closer to Harry, James' hand went to his son's back to rub circles in an effort to provide comfort.
What comfort could he provide? As a father, he wanted to take this sickness from Harry and give it to himself. He felt he could handle it better than his son.
He had always been Mr. Fix It, wanting to fix everyone's problems. But there was nothing he could do about this.
It made him feel helpless.
Harry groaned in his sleep before leaning over the side. Suddenly, he vomited over the side of the bed, making it into the bucket, and somehow managed not to puke down the side of his bed. James didn't know how Harry managed not to. He remembered any other times Harry had puked down the side of his bed, making them move him to the bath to clean him up. Lily would usually clean Harry while James cleaned the bed.
James got a fresh washcloth to clean Harry's face and a second one to put on his forehead. The sweat James saw on Harry's face and neck wasn't the sign of the fever breaking as he had hoped. It was a sign it had risen.
Lily confirmed it when she said his temperature was now 38.9 degrees. Not too much higher, but they didn't want his temperature to rise.
"What do we do? Cold bath?" James suggested.
"No, not yet. We'll do the cold bath if we can't get his fever to break. Go downstairs, James, to the scullery and bring me the two ice packs in the first aid box."
James didn't question her methods but did as he was asked. He came back with the ice packs. Lily tapped them with her wand, wrapped them in towels, and approached her son.
"Sweetheart, I'm going to put some ice packs under your arms," She warned as she slipped the towel-wrapped ice pack under each arm. She had stripped Harry of his pajamas, leaving him in his boxers in an attempt to bring down his temperature.
She tapped a washcloth with her wand, rolled it, and lifted Harry's head. "I'm putting this cool cloth behind your neck."
James knew Lily was trying every trick she had to bring down Harry's fever.
"I'll put another ice pack on his lower belly later if I need to," Lily said, mainly to herself.
James nodded.
Lily gathered the used wash clothes and took them into the bathroom. She dropped them into the sink for now and will take them down to the scullery to throw into the wash when she goes downstairs. She tossed Harry's pajamas into the hamper in the corner of the room.
Harry groaned, holding his stomach, wincing. James heard Harry's stomach gurgling.
"That doesn't sound good," He commented.
Lily nodded. "I know." She picked up the all-too-familiar pink vial and tapped it with her wand. She moved over to Harry's bed and pulled down the covers to expose his abdomen. She waved her wand again, this time over Harry's stomach.
James knew what she was doing. She was spelling potions into Harry's stomach. It didn't feel good being done. He knew Harry had said it made his stomach feel tingly and uncomfortable.
Harry groaned, wincing at the feeling of the potions being spelled into his stomach.
"I'm just spelling some potions into your stomach to help you feel better, sweetheart," Lily soothed, reaching down to rub soothing circles on Harry's belly. It must have felt good because James could have sworn he heard Harry say, 'Don't stop.'
Lily smiled and continued to rub small circles on Harry's belly.
"Does Wizard's Flu affect one part of the body more than others?" James asked.
Lily nodded. "It can affect the chest, causing coughing, or it could affect the stomach, causing nausea. It's not particular which is most effected in Harry's case."
She could feel Harry's abdominal muscles tense before he started coughing again.
"That cough doesn't sound good," James said seconds before Harry's cough sounded more seal-like.
"I know."
Lily knew it would be a few more hours before she could give Harry more potions. The flu potions had a combination of cough and sore throat potions, among other things. She couldn't give him a coughing potion because of that.
She kept her hand on his abdomen, continuing to rub his stomach.
When she heard Harry sigh, she knew he was back to sleep.
"Hopefully, he'll sleep," James said.
"Rest is good for him. I have heard of people who had Wizard's Flu, and they slipped into a coma due to the high fever. We'll need to keep an eye on that."
James nodded, hoping that wouldn't happen.
"But hopefully, Harry would just sleep for a few days."
"Define a few days," James said, a cup of coffee paused near his lips.
"Four at the least. Up to ten days. Danger zone begins on day five."
James nodded.
"If we can rouse him to go to the toilet or to drink, we'll be okay," Lily assured him, although she sounded like she was trying to reassure James and herself.
"If we can't?" James whispered.
"Off to St. Mung's we go," Lily said. "Fever and possible coma send Wizard's Flu patients to hospital."
James swallowed his coffee, a lump in his throat. He hoped it didn't come to that.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry dreamed he was flying. Flying on the new broomstick he had just gotten yesterday. The Firebolt flew like a dream, pun intended. Fastest broomstick in the world indeed, Harry had tested the speed limits despite knowing how much trouble he would be in with Lily.
He soared through the clouds, looking down as he flew above the ground below. He was so high, his parents were black and red dots. He could hear Lily shouting.
"Harry James Potter! Come down, you're too high!"
He obeyed but kept flying straight ahead. Suddenly, the world around him shifted, and he was on a Quidditch pitch. The pitch differed from the one at Hogwarts, with the stands adorned in house colors, and from the one he had at home.
It was more of a professional Quidditch pitch like the one he had seen a few times over the summer. He looked down at himself to find that he was in a red and white uniform. He looked around to see players in black and white or red and white uniforms. It reminded him of that scene in the cartoon movie Alice in Wonderland when the cards are chasing after Alice.
He could hear the voice of Lee Jordan from the press box. He could even hear McGonagall's exasperated "Jordan!"
Looking around, he realized it was a Slytherin versus Gryffindor match. All the players were the same, without the green and black or the red and gold uniforms. Gryffindor was in the red and white, and Slytherin was in the black and white uniforms.
Seeing Draco Malfoy in the black and white uniform was too much. He hoped he remembered this dream to tell Ron and Neville. They would get a kick out of this.
Oliver's face was as red as the red on his uniform as he shouted. At one point, he shouted, "Off with your head!"
Harry didn't know whether to laugh or keep playing.
But he heard his father's voice within an hour of playing time.
"You need to drink son."
In reality, Harry woke up briefly to drink water, apple juice, or ginger tea. Sometimes, he would go to the bathroom, guided by James, before returning to bed.
Once settled, he returned to dreamland. The match resumed where it had left off.
James or Lily was none the wiser of their son's dreams, but rather the illness that had a hold on his body.
Here's to hoping the match doesn't last more than four days, as well as the Wizard's Flu.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sirius pulled into the Potter's driveway, the little bit of gravel crushing under the tires until it met the blacktop of the Potter's drive leading to the garage. Putting the SUV in park, Sirius got out and collected his overnight bag from the back seat. Hiking it onto his shoulder, he closed the door and locked the SUV with the key fob. He approached the back door, unlocking it with a tap of his wand, hidden out of view.
He walked into the scullery and headed on into the kitchen.
James had called him an hour ago to tell him their dinner plans were canceled and would need to be rescheduled.
"Harry's sick. He's got the Wizard's Flu."
Sirius winced sympathetically but said, no surprise to James, "I'm on my way."
Dropping his overnight bag at the bottom of the stairs, he met Lily as she came downstairs carrying a tray. She was momentarily startled at the sight of Sirius and gasped.
"I swear to Merlin, Sirius Black, you'll give me a heart attack one day."
"Sorry about that, Lily. I didn't want to announce my present in case Prongslet was asleep. How is he?"
"He's asleep, but he's one very sick boy," she said. "James is upstairs with him. Go on and take your stuff to your room."
Sirius picked up his overnight bag and dropped it into the bedroom he stayed in. He had just left the bedroom yesterday afternoon after spending the night Christmas Eve. He shared the room with Remus, a tradition they had been doing since Harry was a little boy.
As Harry's godfather, he had been there through everything, thick and thin. He had been there for most of Harry's major illnesses, including the case of croup he had when he was four. The worst in Sirius's mind was when Harry had a tonsillectomy. It was Harry's first surgery, and all of them were on edge.
But it was after the surgery Sirius had enjoyed the most. Lily allowed Harry to have all of the ice cream he wanted, which Sirius and James both enjoyed with him.
James looked up when Sirius walked into Harry's room. He knew Sirius meant it when he said he was on his way. He always showed up.
"Thanks for coming, Pads."
"No problem, Prongs."
If there was anything Sirius was thankful for, they had avoided, thus far, Dragon Pox. Harry had another three years before it was time for the second vaccination for Dragon Pox, and Lily would make sure he got it. They were recommended for everyone, especially those who, like Harry, had a family history.
The awful disease was what took James's parents' life. Yes, Harry was younger than James's parents, but the fear of knowing what could happen weighed heavily on them all.
Lily nearly panicked at any rash or spot Harry had that might look like Dragon Pox. While she was a Muggle-born, Harry's chances of getting it were still high due to James's family history.
Sirius sat down on Harry's bean bag chair in the corner of the room. As he watched Harry sleep, he felt a sense of helplessness. They could only wait and see if the potions did their job.
Watching Harry sleep reminded him of him when he was a baby. He was never still. His nose twitched, his mouth opened and closed, and he could see the movement of his eyes behind the closed eyelids. Almost as if he was dreaming about something. But what?
"I wonder what is going on in that head of his?"
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry was still in the air, his broom hovering inches from the ground. Oliver had called a time-out and once again shouted, "Off with your head!"
Whose head is Oliver wanting to knock off? His?
Harry heard the whistle, signaling the end of the time-out.
"For Merlin's sake, Potter, find the blasted snitch!"
Harry could only nod. He couldn't remember ever seeing Oliver's face that red before.
He kicked off the ground, soaring through the air, searching for the snitch. He glanced around the pitch, noticing that the stands were filled with people. Realizing this, he looked towards the stand where his Mum would sit.
She was there, dressed as the Queen of Hearts, or was she the Red Queen? His father sat beside her and was dressed as the king. The dream must be based on the cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland. Harry had only seen it a few times. It was one of Lily's favorite movies.
Sirius and Remus were the Hatter and the Hare if the ears and top hat were anything to go by. Sirius was the Hatter, and Remus was the Hare if it mattered.
"JORDAN!"
Professor McGonagall's voice filled the pitch again, followed by Jordan's announcement, "Gryffindor is in the lead, 60 to 20."
Harry glanced over and did a double-take. Professor McGonagall was also dressed as the Red Queen. Harry had never seen her in anything this fancy, only in red, green, black, or gold robes.
If that wasn't enough, it was nothing compared to Professor Dumbledore, dressed as the rabbit, the one Alice chased throughout the movie.
Harry shook his head to refocus his thoughts. What was he looking at?
Oh, yeah, the snitch!
Speaking of the snitch, he hadn't even seen it yet.
Bludgers? Yes.
Quffale? Yes. There it goes with Katie to the hoops.
Beater Bats? Those aren't sticks Fred and George are swinging.
Where was the snitch?
Out of nowhere, the snitch appeared, flittering in front of Harry's nose. Then, before he could grab it, it flew off. Harry chased after it. If he caught the snitch, he ended the game.
But what about his dream?
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It was time for Harry's potions. Lily couldn't bring herself to wake him since they had roused him for a drink of apple juice an hour ago. He was sleeping peacefully for the first time and couldn't find it in her to wake him.
Instead, she opted to spell the potions into his stomach.
James and Sirius watched her from their seats. She was a whirlwind of activity, spelling one potion after another into Harry's stomach. Each potion was armed to treat each symptom.
She had James dress Harry in fresh pajama pants and a t-shirt an hour ago, only having to change his shirt when it became soaked with sweat. It was a testament to the fever's intensity, which, thankfully, remained the same at 38.8 over the last two hours.
Lily removed the ice packs for fresh ones, laying one on his lower abdomen near the groin. She was desperately trying to get the fever to break, using all the tricks she knew and even Healer Morris's suggestions.
He had called to check on Harry that morning. Today was day two of Harry's sickness. Healer Morris had called before starting his day in the office. It confirmed to Lily, yet again, that she made an excellent choice when she chose Healer Morris for almost two years to care for Harry when his previous healer retired.
He assured Lily she was doing everything right and to call if she needed him.
Poppy called after Healer Morris to check on Harry. She had been worried about him since Lily called to tell her Harry was sick. She, too, told Lily she was doing everything right.
Sirius brought her tea and the breakfast James had fixed. It was eggs and toast today. Yesterday, it was eggs and sausage.
"We're out of sausage. James might go to the shop later if we need to," Sirius said as he handed Lily her plate. "And Minvera knows."
"Knows what?" Lily asked.
"Harry's sick. I called her to tell her I wouldn't be at tomorrow's staff meeting. Because of this," He waved his arm around the room.
"Thank you, Sirius."
"Remus could tell me what was discussed anyway, and Poppy said she would update you. Minvera also gave me orders."
"Of course she did," Lily chuckled. "What are they?"
"She said, and I quote, take good care of my favorite little lion."
"I knew it," James said as he entered the room.
Lily smiled behind her tea cup. James claimed he was Minvera's favorite until they had Harry.
"He took my place," he complained jokingly.
Everyone knew it was a joke. James and Harry were Minvera's connection to Monty and Effie, James's parents.
"I'm trying my best to care for him," Lily whispered.
"You're doing a good job," Sirius assured her.
Sitting down her teacup, she picked up her wand to repeat the diagnostic charm. Her movements were swift and efficient.
The results were both the same and different. Harry still had the Wizatd's Flu, but the temperature went up to 38.9 degrees. Again.
This was the second time in twenty-four hours.
"We need to get that fever down," she whispered. She stepped out of Harry's room and into his bathroom. In the cupboard under the sink, there was a bowl. She used the bowl for sponge baths or wipe-downs to break a fever. It was the size of one they used for popcorn in the kitchen, but it was green. It had come from St. Mungo's during the hospital stays, James's, not Harry's.
"James, take his shirt off," She called. It needed to be changed anyway.
She put the bowl into the sink and filled it up with water. Getting another washcloth from the bathroom cupboard, she realized they would need to do laundry or start getting washcloths from one of the other bathrooms in the house.
As she prepared the bowl of cool water, she realized she knew too much. If Harry's temperature went up any higher, they would be closer to going to St. Mungo's. She was worried about Harry slipping into a coma, a fever-induced coma. She knew that hadn't happened yet.
James was the one who could rouse him for a drink or to go to the bathroom. It was almost as if Harry was sleepwalking when James and Sirius took him to the bathroom.
Entering Harry's room, a bowl and cloth in hand, she found James and Sirius had sat Harry up for her after removing his shirt.
"Can one of you get me a towel, please?"
Sirius went to get the towel.
Lily sat the bowl on the nightstand. Then, she dipped the cloth into the water, and when she pulled it out, she rung out the washcloth to rid it of the excess water.
Slowly, Lily began to wipe down her son, first at the back of the neck, before making her way around.
Sirius returned to the bedroom, towel in hand. He handed the towel to James.
"Lay that behind him so I can wipe his back," Lily directed. "He could lay back down when I'm done with the back and neck."
Lily moved down Harry's back, wiping the cool, wet cloth over his skin. James held Harry up until Lily told him he could lay him back. She resumed wiping him down once he was laid down, her touch gentle yet firm. The cool cloth against his skin only gave them temporary relief.
It wasn't enough.
Lily knew she was giving Harry the fever-reducer potion correctly. It was doing its job, but the fever was being stubborn.
At times like now, Lily cursed her job. She knew the dangers of a high fever and prolonged illness. The last thing she wanted to do was to take Harry to St. Mungo's. That thought filled her with complete dread. St. Mungo's was for severe cases or when the at-home treatments didn't work.
She hoped that it didn't come to that.
Lily finished wiping Harry's face, the last area of her wipe-down treatment. As she finished, she could hear the wheezing before the coughing began. James helped Harry sit up as he coughed. He coughed until he gagged.
James grabbed the bucket just in case they needed it.
Sirius excused himself, telling them he would get Harry a cup of water from the kitchen. Really, it was an excuse to leave the room. It was killing him to hear Harry cough like that. Almost as if he couldn't get his breath.
Lily rubbed Harry's back as he continued to cough and gag. The unasked question lingered in James's and Lily's minds.
How much longer is this going to go on?
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sirius burst through the back door, heading to the garden. Standing in the middle of the garden that held the scent of Lily's flowers in the summer, he took a few deep breaths of fresh air.
The December air filled his lungs. He felt like he could breathe for the first time since he got to the Potters that morning.
He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried they might lose Harry to this sickness. He had heard of people dying from Wizard's Flu, but Harry's health and age were on his side.
The mirror in his pocket buzzed. Pulling it out, he saw Remus's face on the other end. The full moon was tonight, and they would need to devise a plan of what to do. James or Sirius didn't want Remus to be alone. They would be going into the forest behind the house, close enough that if Lily needed James, he could return home quickly.
"Hey," He greeted.
"How is he?" Remus asked.
Sirius shook his head. "His fever won't go down. His cough sounds horrible, almost like he couldn't get his breath."
"That bad," Remus commented.
"He just sleeps. James rouses him to drink and takes him to the bathroom. It's like he's sleepwalking. It takes both James and I to get him to the bathroom."
Remus nodded. "What is his fever?"
"38.9 when Lily last checked. For the second time."
Remus whistled lowly. "That's high."
"Lily is trying everything she could to get it down or break. She's getting desperate."
"I can understand why," Remus admitted.
They knew what was coming if Harry's temperature didn't go down.
The sound of Harry's coughs echoed in his ears, cutting through him like a knife. It was killing him to see Harry this sick.
"What if we lose him, Moony?" Sirius whispered.
"Don't think that way, Sirius. Harry will pull through this."
They talked briefly about the next day's staff meeting and what they needed to bring up. He would call Remus in the morning to give an update to Minvera unless she called the Potters herself.
"Keep me updated," Remus requested as they got ready to hang up.
"I will."
When they disconnected, Sirius sighed. He looked around the garden, his gaze landing on the Quidditch pitch at the further end of the garden. It was Harry's Christmas present the year they had moved into the house, with an upgrade two Christmases ago when Harry was eleven.
He should be out here flying on his new broom and not inside sick. It wasn't fair!
Sirius sighed as the thoughts of losing Harry crept into his head. Again.
Looking up to the sky, he felt a little foolish, but he was desperate himself. He searched the sky as if he was looking for answers.
"I know we've had our differences," he began, voice barely above a whisper. He was talking to the universe, fate, or the man called God, who Lily occasionally mentions—anyone who would listen. "But please, don't take him. Please don't take him."
His voice broke on the last words. The fear and sheer desperation were evident in his voice. Losing Harry would kill them all. They would lose a piece of themselves, their family, and even their hearts. Harry was James and Lily's world. It was hard to know who would be the most affected.
As he returned to the house, James made sandwiches for lunch in the kitchen.
"I think what crap is in his lungs is breaking up, he's coughing up a bunch of junk."
Sirius paused, taking off his shoes, trying to comprehend what James said. "What does that mean, Prongs?"
"The potions are working. Lily rechecked his temperature. It's back down to 38.5."
It was down from 38.9 when Lily checked it at midnight and when she checked it around eight that morning.
"Is that good?"
"It's better. It could be lower."
Sirius nodded. He opened the refrigerator and got a can of Coke. He opened the can and took a long sip.
"What now?"
"We wait some more."
Sirius nodded. Maybe things will start to improve. He hoped for all of their sakes it would.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
James and Sirius left Harry's room when night fell and headed to the forest's edge. They had twenty minutes to get deep into the woods before the transition began. It was only a short time after James, Lily, and Harry had moved in that they moved the full moon transition here. James and Sirius had explored the forest to see how deep it went. It was like the Forbidden Forest without the magical creatures and animals. It was also too far from the next neighborhood over that they could use it safely.
But as a precaution, they had wards and charms around the forest to warn them when they reached the edges of the forest. It also had an alert in case Harry ever wandered into the forest when he was younger.
It was somewhere Lily had forbidden him to even step foot into at all times. That was when he was younger. He could now explore the forest on his own, with permission, of course.
Remus was there waiting for them. It was a tough decision they had to make. Lily told them that the potions she had given Harry would make him sleep more, and they could go on.
"Remus needs you, too," She reminded them.
Harry's coughs were starting to produce mucus and junk from his lungs. A sign that the flu potion had finally kicked in.
Lily was going to ask Healer Morris about nutrient potions when she talked to him in the morning. He hadn't eaten anything since the evening of Christmas Day.
Harry's coughs, while sounding better, still cut through James like a knife. It sent chills down his spine.
As he watched his wife care for their son, her hands steady despite the worry in her eyes, the sight had tugged at his heartstrings. It was like a consistent reminder of the situation they were in.
Harry sometimes seemed like he was struggling to breathe. It was a warning of the coughing fit to come when they heard the wheezing followed by the seal-like cough. That was what killed James the most.
He wouldn't dare mention this to Lily, but what if something happened to their son?
It would kill them both.
Harry was the child that healers had told Lily she might not have. He was their miracle, a gift they had thought was impossible. James promised himself that if they needed to in the morning, they were going to St. Mungo's or Healer Morris's office. He didn't care which.
He was going to do everything in his power to help his son. He would protect him with everything in him because he would be damned if he would let anything take his son away.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Day three dawned on Harry being sick, bringing Lily a mix of relief and dread. Relief in the sense that Harry was improving and the fear of not knowing how much longer this could take. Despite the improvement, Harry was still sick. He was still feverish and hadn't even begun to return to his usual self.
With each passing hour, Lily could feel her worry and concern grow.
She continued to replace cold packs to get his fever down. She kept administering potions, spelling them each one at a time into his stomach. She cared for her son, mixing her healer's knowledge and her mother's intuition. She used both even in the hospital wing.
She once had a parent comment as they observed her, "You must be a mother."
Lily confirmed. "I am. My son is a student here. I tend to treat all of the students as if they were him."
As a healer, she knew too much. She knew the dangers of prolonged illnesses, the complications that could arise, and the health conditions they could be left with even after they had recovered. As a mother, she feared them more. It was a curse, this knowledge. It made her want to do something more, even if there was nothing to do but wait.
She had made notes of what to tell Healer Morris when he called. He had called again the evening before to check on Harry. Lily more than appreciated the care and compassion he had for his patients. One of his mediwitches had told her he checks on his hospitalized patients every day before he starts seeing patients and checks on them again on his lunch break. Then, Healer Morris would check on them again before leaving for the day. If he had sick patients with at-home treatment, he would call to check on them first thing in the morning and before leaving the office.
Harry's fever remained the same at 38.0 since she checked around midnight. It remained the same since. It was the lowest it had been, a slight improvement nonetheless. He hadn't vomited since yesterday evening. His breathing was better, and his coughing sounded like it was breaking up more now.
When she relayed all of this to Healer Morris, he nodded, encouraged.
"That means the potions are doing their job. The flu potion is what is doing the most. If Harry is coughing up mucus, that tells me it's trying to clear up, break up. He might be trying to turn the corner."
"Really?" Lily asked hopefully.
"The next twenty-four hours will be the tell, Lily."
Lily let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "Thank you. "
"You're more than welcome. I have to say, Lily, Harry is lucky to have a mother like you. I know, personally, as a healer, you know things, and as a mother, it adds to your concern. It would have to."
Lily nodded.
"If you need me for anything, call the office. My mediwitch knows where I am at all times. I'll call this evening to check on Harry."
"Thank you, Healer Morris."
"You're welcome."
She turned when she heard the sound of footsteps coming from the hall. James walked into Harry's room, Sirius following behind him.
"Remus is getting into the shower and will go to bed after breakfast. How's our boy?"
"His temperature is 38.0. Still a fever, but it's an improvement."
"Are we reaching the light at the end of the tunnel?" James asked, looking at his son. His breathing sounded better than it did yesterday.
"I think so."
"I hope so," James said as he pulled his wife into an embrace.
"How is he?" Remus asked from the doorway.
"Better," James replied. "Well, we're getting there."
"I hope so."
James approached the bed, reaching down to push stray hairs away from Harry's forehead. Some hair was stuck to his forehead. It took a few swipes to release them. Harry felt warm but not as warm as he had in the last two days.
"Maybe we're heading to the end of this," He whispered.
He hoped that he was right.
Lily once told him that Wizard's Flu could last up to ten days. The longer it went, the worse it could get. It would deplete the person's energy and make them so exhausted that they would sleep the whole time. That is among the other symptoms. It surprised James that Harry could cough, gag, or even puke while asleep. Lily assured him it was normal. Harry would move his body in his sleep, almost sensing he needed to throw up. Lily would listen for the warning sounds she needed to sit up Harry before he started vomiting.
"The last thing we need is for him to aspirate vomit into his lungs," She explained.
"Can that happen?" James had asked.
The look he got from his wife in response was his answer.
James returned downstairs to fix breakfast for everyone. Remus was getting coffee and tea started while Sirius took his turn in the shower.
"Let's hope tomorrow is an even better day," he said as he turned to leave the room.
Lily nodded. "Let's hope."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
As the third day of Harry's illness rolled on, so did the Quidditch match in Harry's dream.
The score went from 60 to 20 to 220 and 110. Gryffindor was in the lead. They would win the match if only Harry could find the blasted snitch!
Oliver had called a time-out again. He was still shouting, "Off with your head!"
Harry didn't know if Oliver was referring to him or the Slyterhin captain. He hoped it was to the Slyterhin captain.
He hadn't realized that he had been asleep for nearly four days. The dream seemed to be so vivid.
Suddenly, he saw the snitch. It flew away with pixie dust following in its wake. Harry thought, "Are we going to switch to Peter Pan now?" when he saw the pixie dust.
That is what follows Tinkerbell, right? Pixie dust?
Lily had introduced Harry and James to the movies she had watched as a child. Some of the Disney classics were her favorite. Peter Pan became James's at the first viewing that summer Harry turned four.
Harry followed the snitch, Malfoy following right behind him.
"You'll never catch it, Potter!" He called.
Harry pushed the broom to go faster, hearing his mother screaming at him to slow down but ignoring all other noise besides the wind in his ears.
He pushed the broom to go faster. He was close to catching the snitch!
Once close enough, he reached over and attempted to grab the snitch. His breath caught in his throat as his fingers closed around the flittering ball.
Madam Hooch's whistle blew. "GRYFFINDOR WINS!" She called.
Shouts came from the stands. The Gryffindor team nearly slammed into Harry as they rushed to him, pulling him into a hug midair. They landed in a heap as Jordan announced the next match, Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw.
The world shifted, and Harry found himself on a hilltop. If he didn't know any better, it was the hill near Potter Manor, James's family home. Harry had been there a time or two. James had taken him on walks to explore the land surrounding the manor.
Harry could smell the flowers, feel the wind in his hair, and the sun on his face.
It was a peaceful place.
"Sweetheart."
Harry looked around for the voice. He knew that voice. It was his mother's voice. It echoed in his mind.
"Sweetheart, it's time to wake up."
Harry turned around, trying to find his mother's voice.
"Wake up."
Harry stirred and slowly opened his eyes. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the morning light. It was just minutes after sunrise. Harry had seen it many times before to know what it looked like in his home bedroom or Hogwarts dorm.
He felt a hand on his forehead and heard his mother's muffled voice.
He blinked, looked up, and into the eyes of his mother. Even without his glasses, he could recognize his mother anywhere.
"Hi, Sweetheart."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
As the first rays of the sunrise peeked over the horizon and through the window of Harry's bedroom, something happened that Lily had been waiting for.
Harry's fever broke.
James, Sirius, and Lily were all asleep in Harry's room. Lily slept on a cot James had conjured while he and Sirius took the armchair and the beanbag chair. Sirius commented he would need help getting out of the beanbag chair in the morning.
Lily woke up first. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the morning light. She looked at her son and nearly did a double take. Harry's face wasn't flushed with fever. It was now his normal skin color.
His breathing was even and not the wheezing they had been hearing for the last three days. Lily thought it was the most beautiful sound she had heard in a long time.
Did this mean what she thought it meant?
Lily reached, out of habit, to feel Harry's forehead and cheeks with the back of her hand. She sat up straight when she realized Harry didn't feel hot. He was normal.
"James, Harry's fever broke," She said.
James stirred. "What is it?" He asked, voice laced with sleep.
"Harry's fever broke!" Lily repeated, this time a little louder.
"His fever broke!" Sirius exclaimed as he woke up, jumping out of the beanbag chair.
Lily pulled out her wand and murmured the temperature charm. Never had she felt so happy to see the 37.0 degrees above her son's head.
"Thank Merlin," Sirius whispered when the numbers appeared above Harry's head. It was when they realized Harry was awake. They all could breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hi, Sweetheart," Lily greeted.
"Hey, pup," Sirius said, smiling.
Harry opened his mouth to speak but croaked. Sirius helped him sit up while James used his wand to fill a cup from the nightstand with water.
"Here, son," He said, guiding the cup to Harry's lips. Harry didn't realize how thirsty he was until that first sip.
"Easy," James cautioned.
Harry finished getting a drink as Lily pushed hair away from his face.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better. What happened?"
Lily sighed. "You had Wizard's Flu. You had been asleep for nearly three days."
Harry blinked. "I dreamed I was playing Quidditch."
James and Sirius cracked up before they reached a level of hysteria they hadn't in months. They laughed until they were holding each other up.
Lily couldn't help but grin. Harry was going to be okay.
"Okay, let me check you over."
Harry laid back down. Lily pulled out her wand again and performed a diagnostic charm. The relief that washed over Lily when she saw no illness was palpable. James and Sirius watched her, waiting anxiously.
She had held her breath as she performed the charm wordlessly. When the charm confirmed it, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"No illness, he's healthy." Lily's voice was choked with emotion.
They all breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry was still weak, his body drained as it had battled with the illness. Now, he was on the road to recovery. He would get better, and that was what mattered the most to his parents and godfather.
Lily turned to James, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "He's going to be okay. Our son is going to be okay," her voice cracked.
James pulled her into a hug. He kissed her forehead.
"Yes, he will be."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
James helped Harry to the bathroom for a shower half an hour later. Lily had set everything up as Sirius went to get Harry some apple juice and a piece of toast. The toast and juice had tasted good to Harry. Lily told him she would have something ready for him to eat when he finished the shower.
While James was in the bathroom with Harry, Lily cleaned Harry's room. She stripped the sheets off his bed and remade the bed with fresh ones. Sirius helped her by taking the sheets to the scullery. He dropped them on the floor in front of the washer and returned upstairs.
Remus was coming out of the bedroom when he returned upstairs.
"He's awake. His fever broke," he said.
"Good," Remus sighed in relief.
"James is helping him get a shower right now. Lily will make breakfast when she's finished cleaning Harry's room."
"I'm tackling the rest while he's downstairs," Lily announced as she came out of Harry's room. "He can rest on the couch in the family room. This way, he can watch television. Remus, do you need any pain potions?"
"I'm fine right now, Lily. Your addition of the pain potion in my last Wolfsbane potion helped."
"Just help yourself to the potions cupboard if you need one. Sirius, James needs you to help get Harry downstairs." She headed downstairs to begin making breakfast.
"What are you making for breakfast, Lily?" Sirius called after her.
"James brought in some sausage from the garage freezer, so eggs, sausage, maybe some hash if we have some."
Sirius walked into Harry's bedroom as the shower turned off. He waited in Harry's room until James opened the door. Harry was dressed in fresh pajamas, pants, a t-shirt, and socks.
"You there, Padfoot?"
"Yes, I'm here. Let's get Prongslet downstairs."
It was slow, but they made it downstairs and settled Harry into the family room.
Lily brought a tray to the couch, sitting it in front of Harry. She made eggs, sausage, and toast and added a plate of sliced bananas and strawberries. A plastic glass of orange juice and a cup of ginger tea was beside the plate.
"Eat what you want," She said.
James turned on the television. The BBC1, the last channel the television was on, was playing a rerun of the Keeping Up Appearances Christmas special.
"I said it once, but I'll say it again. Richard deserves an award for living with Hyaciath," Sirius commented as he brought his cup of coffee and plate into the family room.
"I said he deserves a sainthood," James said. "Hyacinth, on the other hand, could be a version of Lily's sister."
"James!" Lily called from the kitchen.
They ate in silence as they watched the show. There was another rerun of Keeping Up Appearances from the previous season when it went off.
"Must be wanting people to get caught up before the new season," James mused.
"What was the show you watched as a kid?" Sirius asked.
"Faulty Towers, I hadn't seen it since the summer," Harry replied.
James had found a rerun of Faulty Towers when Keeping Up Appearances went off, and another show came on.
He left Sirius and Remus with Harry in the family room while he went looking for his wife. He found her in Harry's room, cleaning. The window was open to let in some fresh air, the December air filling the room with fresh air.
"Can I help you with anything?" He asked.
"I got it," She said. "But can you get started on the laundry for me, please? All you have to do is turn on the washer. It's ready."
James mock-saluted her and headed down to the scullery.
It will take a few days for them to feel normal again. It was like this the last few times when Harry had been sick.
They will get there. It will take time.
As he passed the family room, he watched Harry, Sirius, and Remus laugh at something on the television. Hearing his son laugh was music to his ears. He had missed hearing it over the last few days.
He said the house had come alive when Harry and Lily were home. The house was quiet when they were gone to Hogwarts.
The house had felt dead for the last three days.
He realized they had made it to the other side of the illness without a visit to St. Mungo's. If there was anything he was grateful for, it was what they had avoided: a long stay in St. Mungo's. Harry might have even missed the first day of term.
But if things continued as they were, Harry would be recovered by the first day of the new term. Harry wouldn't have liked to miss the first day of the new term and not see his friends.
They could resume their plans for New Year's Day. Harry might even, with the proper rest, be fully recovered by then. They had two days.
For now, James was relieved Harry was okay. They had a bit before Harry was fully recovered, but all that mattered was they still had their son.
How easily could they have lost their son? Some people have lost their lives to Wizard's Flu, but they rarely are Harry's age.
But Harry will recover.
And for that, James and Lily are forever grateful.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily leaned against the doorway of Harry's bedroom, watching her son sleep. Harry had spent the whole day in front of the television with Sirius and Remus while James helped her with laundry and went to the shop. He had gone for a few things they needed until tomorrow. She would do the big grocery shop to pick up what she needed to cook for New Year's and to restock the kitchen.
She would meal prep and get things ready for James before she left to return to Hogwarts.
She had deep cleaned Harry's room, clearing away the signs of the sickness that had been a resident in their home for three days. Today was day four, and Harry was on the other side, the recovering side. The side Lily was happy they were on.
Hearing her son's even breathing was music to her ears. She had listened to the wheezing over the last three days and was used to hearing it.
Harry ate everything that she put on his plate for breakfast. Sirius refilled his glass of orange juice and returned the cup that held ginger tea to the sink.
At lunch, Lily had made potato waffles and chicken fingers she bought from Tesco. She added them both to the shopping list.
She made a bowl of fruit to go with lunch.
Even though she told Harry to eat what he wanted, he cleared his plate.
"He hadn't eaten in nearly three days," Healer Morris told her when he called to check on Harry. He was happy that Harry was better and was recovering from the illness.
She had asked Harry what he wanted for dinner. He couldn't pick between her version of Shepherd's pie or chicken pie.
"I can make one tonight and the other tomorrow if that helps," She told him.
"The chicken pie."
Sirius and Remus had stayed for dinner and left after helping James clean up the kitchen. After dinner, James had sent Lily up for a bath.
She didn't realize how much she needed that until James had all but ordered her to take a break. It was nice. James had assured her Harry was fine and resting in the family room, where he went after dinner.
He had fallen asleep on the couch while watching Whose Line Is It Anyway?. It was another rerun, but James, Sirius, and Remus still found it entertaining.
Quietly approaching the bed, Lily tucked the duvet around Harry. She brushed the hair away from his eyes and kissed his cheek. He never stirred.
Turning around, she quietly made her way to the door. She looked back at her son, sound asleep.
"Good night, sweetheart. I love you."
She closed the door and headed to her and James's bedroom to get ready for bed.
They had survived the Wizard's Flu, adding it to the growing list of illnesses they had overcome.
And for that, Lily was thankful they had all survived the Wizard's Flu.
AN: Nine years ago, on March 6th, 2015, I published the first chapter of Harry's Life with Parents. Never did I ever imagine we would be this far into the series. I never would have imagined we would have made it past fifty chapters, and here we are approaching 60!
Thank you to everyone who has read this series, favorited, followed, and reviewed each chapter. This series has been a lot of fun for me to write. It's been a blast to give Harry the life he so deserved.
Thank you again, and stay tuned as there is more to come. And if you're a follower of another story of mine, keep your eyes peeled. A long-awaited update is coming.