In the Library
a Harry Potter story
by Tina
Harry Potter dressed slowly, taking note of his scratchy throat and aching head. He had felt like he might be coming down with something the previous night, had gone to bed early, and even slept through breakfast that morning as well , but it seemed to have made no difference, he was definitely ill. Looking in the mirror he noticed his pale appearance, the dark circles under his eyes and his very pink nose. "Just bloody brilliant!" He sighed to himself as he gathered his schoolbooks and made his way out of the dormitory. He had a Potions essay to finish and he was hoping Ron would come along to the library with him. It seemed that with Hermione spending more and more time with Victor, and less time nagging them to do their work, he and Ron were falling behind.
He made his way down the stairs and into the common room, pausing at the bottom of the stairs to try to stifle several wet, powerful sneezes."Heshhhhhh!!!! Ishhhhhh!!!! Etchhhhh!!!!" He looked around hoping that no one had noticed his outburst. He was, as always hoping to avoid any extra attention. The final sneeze was too powerful to stifle though, and he sneezed wetly into his sleeve. "Heshoooooo!!"
"Bless you Harry!" Of course it was Neville's cheerful voice calling across the common room. Harry reluctantly nodded his thanks and made his way over to Ron, who was playing a game of exploding snap with Seamus and Dean.
Ron looked up at him critically as he approached, "Are you alright mate? You're looking a bit peaky."
Harry nodded, " `Mm fine, just tired. Did you want to go to the library with me to finish the Potions essay?" He sniffed and rubbed at his nose.
"No way Harry, there's no way I'm going to spend the day watching her fraternizing with him." Ron had become instantly annoyed.
Harry decided to avoid the argument. "See you later then mate." He made his way out of the common room and headed to the library, hoping to find Hermione there, preferably without Victor Krum.
At the same time in the library, Cedric Diggory was seated at a table with his friends trying, with limited success to complete studies of his own. He pulled back from the table suddenly and turned away from his friends."HehCHOOOOO!!! Etchooo!!!!" He fumbled into his pocket for a handkerchief and blew wetly.
Zacharias Smith looked up from his own homework, "Ced, you really sound like crap, you should go see Madame Pomfrey for some Pepper Up or something."
"Naw, I'm fine," Cedric shook his head , leaving the handkerchief in place, poised for more sneezes. "AhhhhCHOOOO!!! Hehchoooooo! It's just a cold." His voice was thick with congestion.
Zacharias just shrugged his shoulders, "Whatever you say, I still think you sound like crap. I'm gonna head down for some lunch, are you guys coming?"
The others gathered their books and joined Zacharias but Cedric just shook his head. "I've got to finish this essay for Transfiguration or McGonagall will have my hide. I'll see you guys later." Truthfully, he just wasn't hungry and the idea of walking all the way to the Great Hall seemed way too exhausting for him. He stared at the essay, but doubted he would get anything significant written.
"Damn ruddy head cold," He mumbled to himself, rubbing at his aching head and neck. The bug had been going around Hogwarts for weeks, and he had managed to avoid it until shortly after the second task of the Triwizard Tournament. The hour spent underwater in the cold lake had clearly taken it's toll on him. Obviously, the warming draught from Madame Pomfrey had not been enough to keep him healthy. He rubbed at his nose and picked up his quill once again.
Harry who had just arrived at the library, paused outside the door for a moment , rubbing at his nose, willing the fierce tickle to pass. "Ishooooooo!!! Ishhhhhh!!!!" The sneezes finally came and he entered the library. He looked around , hoping to spot Hermione. He finally did, at a table alone in the corner with Victor Krum. The two seemed intently involved with conversation and Harry felt sure he'd be interrupting , no matter what Hermione said so he decided to find another place to sit.
Reluctantly, he took a seat at an empty table on the other side of the library. He would prefer Hermione not notice him sitting alone coughing and sneezing, if she did, he knew she'd be on him in a instant. He spread out his books and struggled to concentrate. It seemed a futile effort, the pain in his head and his throat, along with the constant tickling of his nose made it impossible for him to focus on the essay for more than a minute at a time.
Cedric Diggory had looked up and seen Potter entering the library, and noticed immediately that he looked ill. He felt bad for the younger student, observing how miserable he seemed. Clearly Potter was sicker than he was, Cho had made sure he had taken the warming draught from Madame Pomfrey after the task was complete, but he was pretty sure that Weasley wouldn't have thought to do the same for his rescuer.
Cedric realized that he felt kind of bad for Potter in general. He was a good enough chap, he had willingly shared the information about the first task with him, and he believed Potter when he said that he hadn't put his name in The Goblet of Fire. From what he could tell about Harry Potter, he never sought the limelight, it just always seemed to find him. At least after the first task, the other students had cut him some slack and the "Potter Stinks" buttons seemed to pretty much disappear, except with the Slytherins.
"HETCHOOOOO!!!! Etchoooooo!!!!! AhhhhhhCHOOOOO!!!!!" Harry suddenly exploded into violent sneezes. Cursing himself for not bringing a handkerchief, he sniffed wetly into his sleeve.
Harry jumped to hear a voice behind him. "Merlin Potter, you sound as bad as I feel." He looked up as Cedric sat down beside him at the table.
Harry just groaned and sniffled wetly once more. Cedric looked at him sympathetically, "Need a handkerchief Harry?" Harry looked up hesitantly, and Cedric continued, "Go ahead, take it."
Cedric looked away politely as Harry blew his nose wetly. "Thanks, Cedric." Harry spoke gratefully, but with some embarrassment.
"Don't worry about it," Cedric paused a moment turning away form Harry, "ETCHOOOOO!!!! Etchhhhhhhh!!! I'm carrying plenty for myself anyway."
Harry looked up at Cedric with surprise, now noting his reddened nose and reddened eyes. "You've got it too huh?"
Cedric nodded, wiping at his own nose with another handkerchief. "I'm sure it was that damn lake, it was freezing in there."
Harry nodded in agreement, "I haven't felt warm since I got out, and I haven't stopped sneezing all morning."
Cedric nodded, "Haven't been to Madame Pomfrey yet I'm guessing?"
Harry shook his head, "I'm there way too often as it is, I don't want to go for something stupid like a head cold."
Cedric nodded, smiling faintly, "I've been avoiding it too, but I'm getting nothing accomplished here. I'm supposed to give McGonagall two feet on the transfiguration of small mammals and I only have 6 inches."
Harry smiled back, "I've got to do three feet for Snape and I only have 6 lines."
"That's rough," He paused as Harry sneezed again.
"Ishhooooo!!!! Etchhhhh!!!! Sorry." Harry mumbled, wiping his nose.
Cedric looked at him a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully. "Well, it doesn't look like either of us are going to get anything done at this rate." Harry nodded. " As much as I hate to say it, maybe the two of us should head down to visit Madame Pomfrey for some Pepper Up."
Harry was silent for a moment and then nodded, gathering his books. "Might as well, it can't be any worse than the way I feel right now."
Cedric nodded, clapping Harry on the shoulder as they made their way from the library, "Heshhhhhhhhhh!!!! Ehhhchooooo!!!" He sneezed forcefully, turning his head away from Harry. "I think you're right about that mate."
Two Triwizard Champions catch a cold following the second task. This is my first Cedric fic, so I'm hoping it works out. Written for tg, who doesn't like Thanksgiving, but loves sneezey boys :)