Keeping Him Warm
a Harry Potter story
by Tina
Remus Lupin awoke slowly, being pleasantly surprised to finally feel warm. It was the day after the full moon and he had spent most of the day in the hospital wing under the watchful eye of Madame Pomfrey. He had finally left sometime well after lunch to head back to his own bed in Gryffindor Tower. He hadn't really felt well at all but he was so cold and shivery and he knew that if she noticed she'd probably assume he was getting sick and not let him leave atall. He wasn't actually sure that he wasn't getting sick but he would much rather be back in the dormitory with his friends than stuck in hospital another day or so.
He was half asleep still but somewhat puzzled by the feeling of warmth. He took inventory and noted that he had warm blankets tucked all around him, definitely more blankets than he had on his bed normally, and there was something , no....someone really warm curled up behind him. Remus was suddenly wide awake. He froze for a minute. Who would be in his bed? Why was someone in his bed? What should he do?
Somewhat panicked Remus suddenly sat upright. The sudden movement sent Sirius Black tumbling off the bed and onto the floor with a crash.
"For Merlin's sake Moony what are you doing?" He demanded picking himself up off the floor.
"Oh, " Remus was flustered. Why was Sirius in his bed, he wondered. "Sirius, I'm sorry....What ...what were you doing?"
Sirius looked at him softly, "You just looked so cold Moony, I wanted to keep you warm. I didn't mean to scare you out of your wits when you woke up. " He hung his head. "Probably wasn't such a brilliant idea after all..."
Remus felt badly, He realized how sweet it had been and that he had ruined the moment with his panic. "No, Sirius. I'm sorry. I... I ... was just surprised .... It really was warm you know." He patted his hand for Sirius to sit back down on the bed.
Sirius sat and looked up at him through the long bangs now hanging over his eyes, "Really?"
Remus nodded, "I realized when I woke up that it was the first time I felt warm all day."
This brought a slight smile to Sirius' lips."You were shivering so much. I brought you all my blankets but you still didn't seem any warmer. Peter wanted to call Madame Pomfrey but Ithought I'd try to warm you up myself first."
Remus smile gratefully at his friend." Thank you Sirius, I really don't want to go back to the hospital wing.
"I know Remus, " Sirius ruffled his hair."You are there quite enough already. Was it a rough night for you?"
Remus nodded. "And so bloody cold. My whole body is sore..." Remus stopped abruptly not wanting to bore his friend with all his physical complaints. Sirius always asked and really did seem concerned but Remus couldn't imagine he'd want to hear a long list of his aches and pains.
Sirius seemed not to notice the sudden pause. "Well, we'll keep you warm now." He jumped back up on Remus' bed grinning, " We can even invite James and Peter in when they come back if we need to."
Remus grinned and snuggled up back against Sirius. It felt a little strange, but really quite enjoyable. Soon though the moment was ruined by a tickling sensation in his nose. He had been sneezing quite a bit earlier in the day and he had hoped the irritation had passed, but clearly he was wrong. He tried rubbing his nose and sniffling but the sneeze just needed to come.
"Sirius?"
"Mmmmm?" Sirius responded sleepily.
"Can you hand me a tissue? Ehhshhhhhhhh!!!! I think I might be coming down with something." Remus retrieved the tissue a moment to late after smothering the sneeze into his pillow and blew his nose wetly.
"Oh no Moony, again?" Remus could hear the concern in his voice. He had been sick the previous month as well. The last cold had seemed to linger on and on and it seemed he had only just started feeling better.
Remus just nodded sadly and shivered once again. Sirius who had backed off to give him a little space to blow his nose cuddled back up around Remus. "You might not want to be so close Sirius, I don't want you to get sick."
"Don't be silly, I'm staying right here to keep you warm. Besides you know I never catch your colds, it only works the other way." Sirius sounded a little guilty and Remus remembered that he had caught his last cold from Sirius just before his transformation.
He knew Sirius still felt bad it about though he had never blamed him. The four of them lived in such close proximity - going to classes together, eating and studying together and sleeping in the same room that of course they would end up sharing the same germs. If he recalled correctly Sirius had caught the cold from James who caught it from Peter. His three friends however had recovered quickly but he had been sick for weeks, even having to spend a few days in the hospital wing. Sirius had spent the whole time waiting on him hand and foot despite his protests. The memory made him smile.
He shivered again, feeling cold and felt Sirius' hand reach up to feel his forehead. "Think you might be getting a fever Moony. Can I get you anything?"
Remus shook his head unable to speak as he was on the verge of another sneeze. His breath hitched and he tried to squirm away from Sirius' embrace not wanting to take a chance at sneezing on his friend. But Sirius held him firm, reaching back to the tissue box and grabbing a handful of tissues for Remus. "Eshhhhhhhhh!!!! Hehchooooo!!!!! Ishhhhh!!! `Scuse me." He snuffled wetly and again blew his nose.
"Bless you Moony, " Sirius snuggled closer, "Try to get some more rest, I'll keep you warm." Remus smiled and moved a little closer to Sirius. It didn't seem so bad to be sick when you had a best mate watching over you and keeping you warm.
Written in response to Plot Bunny #61 Plot Bunny Idea: Write a story using the line: Can you hand me a tissue? (Sneeze) I think I might be coming down with something. I love this bunny.
JKR owns it all, I own nothing.
Feedback - Please I would love some. I've never tried young Remus and Sirius before.