Returning The Favor
a Harry Potter story
by Tina
Remus Lupin made his way silently into Number 12 Grimmauld Place hoping not to disturb the portrait of the mad Mrs. Black. He could hear Sirius moving about in the kitchen so he headed that way.
As he entered the kitchen he could see Sirius facing away from him standing over a pot at the stove. He suddenly turned his body away from the stove and exploded into two forceful, unrestrained sneezes, "HURCHOOOOOO!!!!!! ETCHOOO!!!!!!"
"Bless you Sirius" Remus startled his friend by speaking.
"Oy Remus, I didn't hear you come in. Excuse me." Sirius was somewhat embarrassed.
"I was trying to sneak past your mother's portrait. What are you making? It smells divine."
"Just some stew. I didn't realize you'd be back tonight or I would've made something more." Sirius replied, his voice sounding a little hoarse. "How was the mission?"
"Uneventful, " replied Remus sounding somewhat discouraged. "We watched the house day and night but there was no sign of any Death Eater activity. They've decided to give up on the site for now. How have things been around here?"
"Pretty quiet, Arthur, Molly, and their lot went on their way this morning."
Remus got himself a bottle of butterbeer and sat down at the kitchen table. He looked up to see Sirius again quickly turning away from the stove, but this time trying to muffle his sneezes in the crook of his arm, "Hehhchooo!!!! Etchhhh"
"Bless you again. You're not coming down with something are you Sirius?" Remus looked mildly concerned.
Sirius shook his head, "No, I'm fine Remus, must `ve put too much pepper in the stew." Even as he said it he knew it was a pointless lie. Unless Remus was leaving immediately, he would know soon enough that he was coming down with something, in fact that he already had something. He hadn't been feeling well since the previous morning. It had started with him just feeling run down with a bit of a sore throat on the previous day. That morning however, he had woken up congested and sneezing with a monster of a headache.
Though he was grateful as always to see Remus return safe from the mission, and he was truly happy to see his friend, truth be told he had really hoped for a couple of days alone to nurse his cold. He had happily seen the Weasley's off earlier in the day, after spending the whole morning trying to avoid Molly lest she notice his symptoms and feel the need to try to take care of him. After all those years in Azkaban he didn't know how to react to simple acts of kindness and concern. He knew Molly to be almost smothering when one in her family or Harry was ill , and although he knew she really didn't like him, he had no doubt that she would have insisted on nursing him back to health.
"Sirius?" Remus brought him back to the present.
"Sorry Remus, what did you say?"
"I was asking if you needed any help with supper." Remus repeated.
"No, Remus I've got it under control." Sirius looked at his friend seeing the deep fatigue on his face. " You look exhausted. Why don't you go and shower and rest for a bit. I'll call you when it's ready."
Remus, who was feeling exhausted from his long mission, took Sirius at his word and gratefully headed up for a shower.
Sirius too was grateful as Remus left the room, he just barely managed to contain the next bout of sneezing until he heard the bathroom door close and the sound of the shower running. "Heshhhhhh!!!! Etchoooooo!!! Heh....heh...CHOOO!!! " He fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief, trying to rid himself of the tickle, but the sneezes were overpowering. "Heh ...choooo!! Eshhhoooooo!!!! Heshhhhhhh!!!!!
Finally the sneezing subsided and after blowing his nose wetly for several minutes, Sirius was able to return to the stew. He was careful to wash his hands thoroughly, not wanting to spread his germs on to Remus now that he had returned. He heard the shower stop and Remus going to his room to rest. He decided on a short nap himself in the chair next to the kitchen fire while the stew simmered. Unfortunately the constant tickling and irritation of his nose made it almost impossible for him to really get any rest.
He finally dozed for a short period but awoke with his throat feeling dry and parched from sleeping with his mouth open due to his congestion. He drank quite a bit of water before the burning in his throat finally seemed to subside. He found himself shivering with cold then and looked about the kitchen for something to put on, finally settling on one of Remus' cardigans that was hanging on the back of a chair. He smiled to himself as he put it on, noting that it was perfectly Remus and definitely not his style.
His head felt full and heavy with congestion and every part of it seemed to be aching from the pressure of his clogged sinuses. He was back to the pot to check the stew when the next wave of sneezes overtook him. "Hurshooooo!!!! Etchooooo!!!!! Etchhhhh!!!" He backed away from the stove and fumbled in his pocket for the still damp handkerchief located therein. Each forceful sneeze added to the aching pain he already felt. "Hetchooo!!! Heshhhhh!!! Eh....etchooo!!!!" He blew his nose wetly trying to clear the irritation but it still persisted. "Heshhhhhhh!!! ETCHOOO!!!!! Ishhhhhh!"
He was starting to feel slightly dizzy when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Here Sirius come sit down a minute." Remus guided him to a chair, handing him a fresh handkerchief to replace the now soggy one he was gripping tightly. "Th... thanks Remus..."He murmured breathlessly. "Hehchooooo!!!"
Remus looked on with concern as Sirius tried to regain his composure. The last sneeze seemed to irritate his throat and send him into a coughing spell. Remus poured him a glass of cold water and stood by rubbing his back until the coughing finally subsided.
Sirius felt mortified by his outburst, he didn't even want to look up into Remus' caring and concerned eyes. Remus waited patiently at his side. Finally Sirius spoke, " Sorry `bout that Remus." he spoke softly and started to get up.
"No Sirius, sit." Remus ordered, gently pressing his hands on Sirius' shoulders.
Sirius started to protest, "Remus, really I'm fine...." But one look at Remus' stern expression and he fell silent.
Remus looked at Sirius shaking his head, "Sirius why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?"
"I'm.....I'm ok Remus..... It ... wasn't as bad earlier today......" Sirius began hesitantly.
"Sirius, " Remus began softly, "I'm sure you weren't feeling well earlier if you're this bad off now. "
Sirius shivered despite his best efforts not to and Remus reached a hand up to feel his forehead. " Oh Sirius, " Remus shook his head. "You've quite a fever as well."
Sirius hung his head, "I'm sorry Remus....."
"Sirius, there's no reason for you to be sorry! You're ill."
Sirius remained silent, still avoiding Remus' eyes. He absolutely did not want Remus, or anyone else for that matter, to have to take care of him. He felt bad enough already that he was able to contribute so little to the work of the Order, the last thing he wanted was to create more work for the others. Remus remained silent as well, sitting in the chair next to Sirius, waiting for his friend to speak.
Finally Remus could stand the silence no longer, "What would you like to do Sirius? Are you hungry?" Sirius nodded, though actually he wasn't hungry at all. "Good. " Remus nodded. "You stay here and I'll serve us some stew." Sirius started to protest, but one stern look from Remus silenced him.
Remus complimented Sirius on the taste of the stew, trying to ease the tension between them, but Sirius merely grunted his thanks to Remus. The two remained silent until Sirius' nose couldn't be contained any longer and he exploded into several forceful sneezes. "Hehchoooo!!!! ETCHOOOO!!!!! Hetchhhhh!!!!! Ishhhhooo!!!!" He refused to meet Remus' eye as he fumbled for the handkerchief in his pocket.
"Bless you, " Remus said softly, gently touching Sirius on the arm. "Are you sure you're alright Siri?"
Sirius nodded, still refusing to look at Remus. "I'm fine Remus. Let it go...." Remus started to stay something but stopped and returned to his supper, watching Sirius with concern as he picked at his stew.
Sirius was sniffling and rubbing his nose with the handkerchief. Remus noted his eyes looking somewhat dazed and glassy and suspected his fever was climbing. After a few minutes the tickling returned and Sirius was unable to smother the next round of sneezes despite his best efforts to do so. "Etchooooo!! Heh...hehCHOOOOO!!!! Ishhhhhhhh!!!!!!! ETCHOOOO!!!! Etchuh!!"
Sirius turned away from Remus and blew his nose wetly for quite some time to clear it. "`Scuse me." He murmured to Remus.
"Bless you again Sirius." Remus was quite concerned about his friend but forced himself not to say anything else.
Sirius looked at Remus gratefully stuffing the now soggy handkerchief back in his pocket. "I think I'll head on upstairs now. It's good to have you back Remus." Sirius stood quickly to leave the table.
Remus smiled back at Sirius, but them jumped quickly up as he noticed his friend swaying on his feet. He reached Sirius just in time to lower him gently back to his chair before he fell. He was shocked at how much hotter he felt after such a short time. "Sirius, you're burning up!"
Sirius looked a bit dazed. "I'm sorry Remus....I really don't feel very well."
Remus leaned over and put his arm around Sirius' shoulder, helping him slowly to his feet, while speaking softly to his friend. "Don't be sorry, everything is okay, it's just the fever, let's get you to bed."
"No, it's not ok, "Sirius continued visibly upset and suddenly feeling weak. He leaned into his friend as they made their way up to his bedroom."You shouldn't have to take care of me." Remus could feel the heat radiating from Sirius' body and worried about how high his fever was.
"Why ever not Sirius?" Remus asked as he guided his friend up the stairs.
"It's.... it's not right. You're tired, you've been working, the moon is full next week......" Sirius was becomingly visibly upset.
Remus stopped for a moment and turned Sirius' face towards his. "What are you talking about Sirius?"
"Oh Remus, "He almost sobbed, the high fever making him totally emotional. "As if it's not bad enough that I'm totally useless to everyone here, now I've become a burden as well....."
"Sirius, " Remus spoke sternly. "I want you to stop. You are absolutely not a burden. You are my friend, let me help you. You've been there for me so many times, let me do the same for you.
Sirius meanwhile was fighting a fierce tickle , not wanting to sneeze on Remus, not feeling strong enough to stand alone. He managed to hold off until Remus deposited him on his bed. Remus noticed the look on Sirius' face just before he exploded and asked with concern, "Sirius are you alright?"
Sirius just nodded unable to speak and raised his hand for Remus to stay back as the sneezes came fast and furious. "Heshhhhhhh!!! Etchooooo!!!! Heh....hehCHOOO!!!!" He fumbled for his handkerchief but could not find it. Remus came to his rescue with another clean one. He tried desperately to smother the sneezes to keep his germs from Remus, who was standing close by wishing there was something he could do to help.
After several minutes Sirius finally sneezed out the tickle and fell back onto the bed with exhaustion. His hair was damp with sweat, skin still hot to the touch. Remus helped him back up, sat him on the edge of the bed and helped him get undressed.
" `m so sorry Remus...." Sirius whispered.
"Shhhhh, it's okay Padfoot, everything is okay." Remus spoke reassuringly. Now what else can I do for you?"
"Nothing, Remus. I'm fine now. I'm sure you have other things you need to do." Sirius was feeling guilty and angry at himself for being sick.
Remus sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't have anything more important to do than be here with you while you're sick Sirius."
Sirius looked away from Remus' kind eyes. "Yes, yes you do Remus. Besides I don't want you to catch this thing......"
"Sirius, don't be silly, let me try to help you feel better...." Remus began.
"Remus, " Sirius interjected firmly. `You've just come back from days without sleep, you're exhausted, and next week is the full moon. You need to be taking care of yourself now not me!"
Now it was Remus who spoke firmly, "Sirius, you are my best friend, and you've taken care of me so many times over the years, let me take care of you this once. Do you really think I'm worried about catching this thing?"
"No, but you should be worried about it...." Sirius mumbled. "You never put yourself first..."
"Right now you need to be put first Sirius, and it doesn't matter how much you argue with me because I am staying right here with you until you're well." Remus' tone clearly implied to Sirius that there was no room for further discussion on the matter.
Sirius remained silent and looked at his friend with grateful eyes. He was still worried about Remus getting sick, and about being a burden, but he just felt so sick that a small part of him really welcomed Remus' care. Finally he spoke, reaching to Remus' hand and squeezing it. "Thank you ."
"You're welcome Sirius, " Remus replied softly, " I'll always be here for you."
"You don't know how good that makes me feel Remus, " Sirius smiled sleepily at him.
"Good, " Remus smiled back ."Now get some sleep and I'll be right here when you wake."
Set post POA. I've been playing with this forever, I had 3 different versions at one point.I'm not sure how good it is but I just had to finish it. Sirius is sick when Remus returns from a mission, he doesn't want Remus to have to take care of him.