Birthday Soup
a Harry Potter story
by Tina
Remus Lupin made his way into the flat, arms loaded down with two overflowing grocery bags. He glanced at the clock as he set them on the kitchen counter, pleased to realize that he had at least two hours before Sirius was due home from work. He had planned a birthday dinner of all Sirius' favorite foods and wanted everything to be just perfect.
He had started to unload the groceries when he was startled by a hoarse voice calling from the bedroom, "Remus, is that you?"
"Sirius? What are you doing home?" He called as he quickly made his way down the hallway.
His question was answered before he even made it to the bedroom by a series of rapid fire sneezes coming from the man in question. He entered the bedroom to see Sirius curled up on the bed, their bed, wrapped up in all the blankets shivering, surrounded by a collection of used tissues.
"I'm sick," Sirius answered his voice croaking, as he was overcome by more sneezing, "Etchhhhhhhh!!!!! ETCHOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Remus looked on sympathetically as he grabbed a handful of tissues and sat on the edge of the bed, handing them to Sirius. "Bless you Padfoot," he spoke softly, "You didn't seem sick this morning, what happened?"
Sirius brought the tissues to his face for a long gurgling blow, which caused Remus to wince in sympathy. "Felt a little peaky this morning , my throat was kind of sore and I was a little stuffed up, but not too bad. But then I started to feel really miserable at work. Coughing and sneezing, think I might even have a fever." He groaned sniffing wetly. "Moody sent me home, said I probably take out more aurors with my sneezing and germs than a whole squad of deatheaters." He added with disgust in his voice.
The time of day suddenly dawned on Sirius and he looked at Remus with concern, "What're you doing home now Moony? You're not sick too are you?"
"No," Remus smiled faintly at his concern, "I'm fine. I came home early to make you a special birthday dinner." He pushed back the hair that had flopped onto Sirius' forehead and gently stroked his face.
"Mm not really hungry." Sirius looked up pitifully at Remus.
Remus nodded in understanding "I'm so sorry you're sick Padfoot, especially on your birthday." He continued to stroke Sirius gently, feeling his forehead and frowning at the warmth he felt. "I think you're right about the fever."
Sirius nodded sadly, "I'm sorry to ruin your plans Moony, I just feel so miserable."
"Sirius, there's no need for you to be sorry. You're sick! How about some chicken soup instead?"
"The muggle kind?" Sirius smiled faintly, and rolled his eyes. He had been around Remus long enough to know that Remus swore by muggle chicken soup when he was ill. Lily always made him a large pot of it. He had gone to the Potters once, so Lily could teach him how to make it but the results had been disastrous. It was so bloody slow, he kept trying to magic it along so it was finished sooner. Lily, exasperated had insisted it had to be done slowly to be right and finally banished him from her kitchen, promising to hex him if he showed his face there again.
Remus grinned, "Yes, the muggle kind. Would you like some tea first?"
Sirius nodded happily, feeling so much better that Remus was home to take care of him. Remus leaned down for a kiss but Sirius quickly pulled away shaking his head. "Don't want you to catch this Moony. It's rotten." Remus settled for planting a quick kiss on Sirius's forehead before he made his way to the kitchen.
He looked sadly at the bags of groceries, feeling badly that Sirius would have such a miserable birthday. He set the kettle on to make tea and put away the groceries, leaving out the chicken to use for the soup.
He put the chicken in the pot to start the soup and then made Sirius a cup of tea. He used extra honey because Sirius liked it very sweet and he knew the honey would soothe his throat. He made his way back to the bedroom and sat back down on the edge of the bed. He made to hand Sirius the tea but paused as Sirius held up his hand and Remus noticed his breath hitching. He set the tea down on the table and reached for the tissues, grabbing another handful. He got them to Sirius just in it time, who pulled himself away from Remus before exploding into another fit of sneezing.
"Ahhhhshooooo!! Etchooooooo!!!!! Ahhhh CHOOOOO!!!! Etchoooo!!!!" He struggled to move as far away from Remus as he could between sneezes. Remus watched with sympathy wishing there were something he could do to help Sirius feel better. "Remus," Sirius spoke breathlessly, "You shouldn't .... Ishhhhhhhh!!!!! be so ...Etchoooooo!!!! close. I .... heh..... don't want you to.....ehhhh ... get sick. AHHHCHOOOOO!!!!"
But Remus remained, not at all worried about his germs. He grabbed more tissues from the box and handed them to Sirius when the first became saturated from blowing his nose forcefully to try to clear the congestion and the tickle. Remus tried to grab the used tissues from Sirius to throw them out but Sirius wouldn't let him touch them. He tried to argue but Sirius was insistent so he finally he used his wand to sweep the collection of used tissues into the small wastebasket at the bedside.
When Sirius was finally finished blowing he handed him the steaming cup of tea. He took a sip and smiled at Remus. "Mmmmm feels so good Moony, thanks."
Remus smiled back, happy to do anything to help Sirius feel better. They sat in silence as Sirius sipped the soothing tea and Remus watched, mesmerized by the face he found so beautiful, even in illness. Finally Sirius finished the tea and smiling, leaned back on the bed. "Thanks Moony, " he murmured sleepily, "You always know how to make me feel better."
"You're welcome Padfoot," Remus leaned over and kissed his forehead once again. "Do you need anything else?" Sirius shook his head.
"I'll floo James and Lily and let them know we won't be over tonight..." Remus began.
Sirius opened his eyes looking guilty, `Tell them I'm sorry will you? And don't bother Lily with the chicken soup, I'll be fine."
Remus looked wounded, "Lily isn't going to make your soup I am."
"Oh....sorry Moony. But really you don't need to bother, takes too much bloody time to make. You've already made me feel so much better just by being home... Etchshhhh!! "
Remus softened looking at how miserable Sirius was. Sirius was fumbling for the tissue box which had been full that morning and was almost empty by that time. He handed Sirius the box, and tucked him back in after another long bout of nose blowing.
"You get some rest, let me worry about the soup." He banished the tissues to the wastebasket and made his way back to the kitchen.
He flooed the Potters first, cancelling their plans for Sirius' birthday celebration that evening. Lily hadn't been at all surprised at the news, "James said he wasn't looking well today. Is there anything I can do?"
Remus assured her that everything was under control and politely declined her offer to make some chicken soup for Sirius. They rescheduled the get together for the following week and Lily promised to let Peter know that the party was off for the evening.
Once that was finished Remus busied himself in the kitchen. He rummaged through the cupboards until he finally found the box of star shaped pasta and smiled. He had picked it up by mistake a few weeks ago at the store, but somehow the stars seemed perfect for Sirius' soup. He prepared all of the ingredients for the soup and then divided his time between trying to read in the kitchen and peaking into the bedroom to check on the peacefully sleeping Sirius.
Sirius slept well into the evening leaving Remus absolutely bored. His only diversion was the arrival of James Potter's head in his kitchen fire. "Oy Remus, how's your patient?"
Remus, startled looked up from his book, "Been sleeping since afternoon, but he's pretty miserable."
James looked sympathetic, "It's a bloody shame on his birthday on all. Do you think he'd want us to pop over later just to bring him his cake and drop off his gifts?"
Remus shook his head, "I don't think he'd be up for it today. But thanks for asking James."
James nodded, "That's what Lily said, but I thought I'd ask, poor bloke. Do you need anything Remus?" When Remus declined he continued, "I'll pop over in the morning to check in, let me know if I can do anything." Remus offered his thanks and James disappeared from the hearth.
Remus heard coughing form the bedroom and a hoarse voice calling, "Moooooony? Can you come here? I need some water...." The voice was replaced by harsh coughs as Remus hurried down the hallway with a large glass of ice water.
Sirius accepted it gratefully and guzzled it down between coughs. Finally the water soothed his throat and the coughing relented and he was able to catch his breath. Remus watched with concern, rubbing his back until he finished. He quickly returned to the kitchen and refilled the glass which Sirius took and drank more slowly than the first. Finally after several minutes Sirius was able to speak, "Thanks, Moony. Did I hear James?"
Remus nodded, "He flooed to check on how you were feeling. Offered to stop over later with your cake and presents."
"Don't think that I could even enjoy cake and presents today," Sirius said sadly, "I sure do know how to ruin everyone's plans don't I?"
Remus sat down on the edge of the bed and put his arms around Sirius. "You didn't ruin anything Padfoot. You got sick, it's not your fault. We just feel bad that you're sick on your birthday." He kissed the top of his head and stroked his hair as Sirius leaned in to him. Remus could feel the heat radiating from him and slid his hand up to feel Sirius' forehead. "I think your fever's worse." He said softly into Sirius' hair and Sirius nodded.
Remus was surprised to suddenly feel Sirius pull away from him, but one look at his face indicated the reason. His breath hitching Sirius fumbled for the tissue box, which when he finally found it tangled in the blankets was empty. "Remus," his breath hitched, "Heh....do we have anymore tissues.....ehhhhhh..... I have to.... ehhhhhh ....sneeze......" Remus reached into his pocket and handed Sirius his own clean handkerchief. Sirius grabbed it just in time, once again pulling further away from Remus as he sneezed. "ETCHOOOOOOOOO!!! Etchooooooo!!!! Heh CHOOOOOO!!!!! Etchhhhh!!!"
Remus looked on sympathetically. "Bless you Padfoot." He said softly once the fit had passed.
Sirius nodded his thanks, trying unsuccessfully to clear his congestion by blowing his nose forcefully. "Ughhhhh," He flopped back on the bed in frustration, "I'm totally stuffed up."
"The chicken soup will help with that." He assured Sirius as he stood up. He reached under the bed and pulled out a small folding tray and put it across Sirius' lap. It was the tray Sirius usually used to bring him tea in bed in the mornings following his transformations. He ruffled Sirius' hair and then made his way to the kitchen.
He returned with a bowl of steaming soup and a package of crackers. He set it on the bedside table and helped Sirius sit up in bed and position himself with pillows. He set the soup on the tray and opened the crackers. "What're those for?" Sirius asked in a stuffy voice.
"To put in the soup silly!" Remus answered.
"But my throat hurts too much for crackers!" Sirius whined.
Remus looked at him with surprise, "They get all soggy in the soup. Here, I'll show you." Remus dropped several crackers into the soup and pushed down with the spoon.
"Hey," Sirius looked up at Remus, "There's stars in the soup!" Remus wasn't sure, but he thought Sirius smiled a little.
"I thought you might like them. See the crackers are all soft now, go ahead and eat some of the soup."
Sirius reluctantly picked up the spoon and gingerly tried a mouthful of soup. Finding it unoffensive he continued a little more willingly. After a few minutes his nose started running and he sniffled wetly. He looked up as Remus retrieved his handkerchief from the bed and handed it to him. "Blow your nose Padfoot."
Sirius did and then smiled at Remus. "I can breathe again! This soup is wonderful Moony, now I understand what you mean!"
"Sirius, didn't your mum ever make you chicken soup when you were sick before? I mean the muggle kind is best, but even the regular wizard kind makes you feel loads better." Remus asked.
Sirius shook his head sadly. "No she never took care of me when I was sick, she stayed as far away as she could. I only had Kreacher the house elf taking care of me and he never made soup, in fact he stayed as far away as he could too." Sirius sniffed again and then went back to the soup.
Remus was momentarily overcome with sadness for Sirius. What a horrible childhood he must have had. Remus knew how awful the Blacks had become to Sirius, but somehow he had always wanted to believe that they had been kinder in his youth.
Sirius interrupted his thoughts, "Do you think I could have another bowl Moony? I really think I feel a little better."
"Of course, I'll be right back." Remus tool some comfort in the fact that at least he could take care of Sirius now. As he moved around the kitchen he found himself wishing there were something else he could do to make Sirius' birthday a little more special for him. He had a thought as he delivered the fresh bowl of soup to Sirius. As Sirius ate his soup and crackers, Remus returned to the kitchen and rummaged once more through the cupboards. Finally finding what he was looking for, he retrieved the milk from the refrigerator and started mixing.
He returned to the bedroom to find Sirius blowing his nose once again after finishing the second bowl of soup and the whole package of crackers. "Ready for dessert?" He asked.
"Oh Moony, I really don't think I can do the cake today. My throat's too sore, I'm sorry." Sirius looked guilty.
"No silly, it's not cake, hold on I'll be right back." He quickly left the room and returned a few minutes later singing "Happy Birthday"with several birthday candles alight in a large bowl of chocolate pudding.
Sirius burst into hoarse laughter at the sight of him. "Oh Moony, only you would make birthday pudding! And of course it would be chocolate!"
Remus grinned, "Make a wish and blow out your candles!"
"I wish that I'll always have you with me to celebrate my birthday!"
Later on after the pudding was eaten, and the dishes cleared, Remus stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed with Sirius. Sirius had argued that Remus might get sick but Remus insisted that Sirius could not sleep alone on his birthday. Even if he was sick enough that he would actually be sleeping. Sirius had laughed at that and finally relented, really wanting Remus to snuggle him and keep him warm all night.
"Oh Moony, you really do always know how to make me feel better." He sighed as he felt Remus' arms around him.
Remus smiled, "I'm glad I could help. I still wish you weren't sick on your birthday though."
"Doesn't matter, you still made this my best birthday ever."
Remus sat up in surprise, "How could this be your best birthday? You're so sick!"
"It's because of you Moony. We're together and you took care of me. Noone has ever taken care of me when I was sick before and really made me feel better. Noone ever cared that much," He paused a moment trying to discreetly wipe a tear from his eye. "Noone has ever loved me that much before Moony. Noone but you...." He stopped as he felt Remus' hot mouth against his. He tried to pull away, not wanting Remus to get sick, but finally gave in as he felt Remus' tongue probing in his mouth. He figured that since Remus had already been exposed to his germs at that point, they might at least make it worthwhile.
Sirius is sick on his birthday, Remus helps him feel better. I wrote this for the ever generous and wonderful tg, who write sooooo many fics for everyone else. (And wrote me my first gift fic ever recently when I really needed cheering up.