Then and Now
a Harry Potter story
by Tina
Sirius Black shivered slightly as he made his way across the small living room of the drafty cottage towards the old, worn sofa. He was carrying an old tin tray with Remus' tea pot and two chipped cups. He rushed the last few feet and hurrying to put the tray down on the coffee table as he battled the fierce tickle building in his nose.
"Heshhhhhh!! Ishoooooooo!!!" He sneezed wetly into his hands and then fumbled in his jeans for the threadbare handkerchief he had quickly pocketed from Remus drawer on his way out of the bedroom. He had been in a rush out of the bedroom, attempting to quiet his sniffles and sneezing, not wanting to wake his ailing housemate who was in dire need of rest, but also not to alert him to his own symptoms.
Sirius blew his nose wetly, cursing his luck at getting sick at that particular time. He had been alone at Grimmauld Place for months without so much as a hangnail, but now that Remus was sick after his transformation and needed him , he had come down with a bloody rotten head cold. He shivered again and tried to stifle several more wet sneezes into the handkerchief.
Dumbledore had come to him before the Order meeting, pulling him aside. He had been livid at the old wizard for having a meeting on a full moon night, never realizing that both Remus and Harry had asked him to do so , so that Sirius would not be alone. His anger quickly changed to worry as he followed Dumbledore to the kitchen.
"Now Sirius, there's nothing to worry about, I've just a favor to ask of you. As you know Remus is away tonight, when I saw him this morning on some Order business, he seemed to have a bit of a cold. I was wondering if you might be able to join him at his cottage until he is feeling better. You know how hard these nights can be on him when he's ill."
"Of course Albus. I'd be happy too." As concerned as he was for Remus, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of leaving Grimmauld Place and having some time alone with his Moony.
The journey had been somewhat perilous. Being wanted , and his face having been broadcast in both wizarding and muggle worlds he couldn't travel in conventional ways. He spent the last several hours of the night as Padfoot walking in torrential rains. But he made it by dawn and was able to welcome Remus back from the wolf.
"Ishhhhh. Hechhhht . Ehhhhhcthhhhh" He looked longingly at the pot of tea before him, but decided to wait for Remus to awake before drinking any. He casting a warming spell over the pot, and pulled the old worn knit muggle afghan off the back of the couch, wrapping it around his shoulders.
Looking down at the afghan he realized that he remembered it from his one previous visit to the cottage. It had been so long ago, when the cottage was still his parents. He had surprised Remus with a visit the summer of 5th year, a few days after the moon had passed. Mrs. Lupin had been so surprised to see him at the door, but had graciously invited him in. His heart had melted to see a flushed and feverish Remus curled up on the couch, the very same couch actually, covered in the same blanket. Mrs. Lupin had tried to send him on his way after a brief visit, but he had charmed his way into staying two weeks, until Remus was more than recovered. By then Sirius had caught the same cold, and it was time to return to Hogwarts.
He smiled to remember how he had milked that cold. He absolutely refused any Pepper Up, instead relishing his symptoms, knowing fully well how much attention they would bring him from Remus. With every resounding sneeze, there was a soft "bless you", every sniffle brought a fresh dry handkerchief, each headache brought a cool cloth and a gentle touch. Not to mention the tea, the soup, and ice cream Remus brought him for meals.
James and Peter were sympathetic at first, but soon rolled their eyes at his drama. They tried to get Remus out of the dorm, but he refused except for classes, and even then it was hard for him to leave Sirius. He remembered that late one night of that particular cold, he had woken alone in his bed. He assumed that Remus was in the loo and would be back shortly. He felt his nose starting to tickle and sniffled, feeling around the bed for a handkerchief. Remus had been there every other time to hand him one.
"EhhhTCHOOOOO!!! HEHCHOOOOO!!! AhhhhhhCHOOOOO!!!" The sneezes came on quickly and still no Remus. "Moony?" He called. "Moony, I need a handkerchief."
"I'll get you one Padfoot." It was James.
"My throat is sore too, I need some water too." He had called, waiting for Moony's reply.
"Be right there." Peter replied.
Sirius had rubbed his eyes sleepily as James brought him the handkerchief. "Where's Moony?"
James hesitated a moment, and then the question was answered by the sound of several soft sneezes coming from behind the curtain of the bed across from Sirius'.
"Ishhhhhh!!! Hechhhhhht." The sneezes were followed by quiet sniffling.
Sirius jumped out of bed. "Moony, are you okay?'
James had touched his arm, and Peter handed him the glass of water. "He's okay Pads, why don't you get some sleep."
"But Moony is sick?" He demanded and after a moment James nodded.
"He seems to have caught another cold. He ...." James started to explain but after hearing the Remus was sick , Sirius ignored the rest and headed across the room.
"Moony, " he spoke softly, pulling back the curtains. "Are you all right."
Remus nodded, sniffling into his handkerchief.
"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" He demanded, sitting down on the bed.
"I wanted to take care of you." Was the hoarse reply, followed but several more sneezes. "Heccchhht. Ishhhhhhhh!!! Etchooooooo!!!!"
"Bless you." Sirius leaned over to hug him. "You've been taking care of me, and now it's gotten you sick." He frowned, feeling incredibly guilty.
"No, " Remus shook his head. "I don't think I could get the same cold back. I think I caught this from someone in the library the other day...."
"See, I told you that you shouldn't spend so much time in the library. It's not good for you!"
They both shared a soft chuckle as Sirius lie down beside Remus."Do you lads need anything?" James called from behind the hangings, clearly not wanting to interrupt whatever was going on between his mates.
"We're all right Prongsie, thanks." Sirius called. "Thanks to you too Wormtail, you two can head to bed now."
The next morning was one of the few times he had ever gone to the infirmary for Pepper Up. He only took it if Remus was already sick when he caught a cold, or around the time of the full moon when he knew Remus was most vulnerable to getting sick. Besides, if he suspected any of the others had even a sniffle he'd refuse to allow them to stay out all night for his transformations.
"What wouldn't I give now for Poppy and her Pepper Up...." he mumbled to himself sniffling. He was just about to doze off when he was startled awake.
"HEHCHOOOOO!!!! Ehhhhh Ehhhhh CHOOOOOO!!!!! CHOOOOOO!!!!" Remus groaned to himself, grabbing a handkerchief from the bedside table and blowing his nose wetly. "Bloody , rotten cold." He mumbled, pulling his bathrobe around his shoulders as he stood. "Need some tea...."
He paused, standing beside his bed, waiting for the next round of powerful sneezes to overtake him. "ETCHOOOOOO!!!!! AHHHCHOOOOOO!!!! HETCHOOOOO!!!!" He swayed slightly with dizziness, and was surprised to feel strong arms guiding him back down to his bed. Until that moment he had forgotten that he was not alone. Alone and sick like all of the other times....
"Bless you Moony. Sit down love."
Remus smiled gratefully. "Padfoot, for a few minutes I forgot you were here...."
"I'm sorry that I wasn't here when you woke up Moony...." Sirius cleared his throat.
"Don't be silly, you are here." He looked closely at Sirius, "Are you all right Sirius? You look tired...."
"I'm fine, don't worry about me. I think I just dozed off for a few minutes out there."
"Oh, I am sorry I woke you."
"Don't worry about waking me. I was waiting for you to get up. I made some tea. I'll bring it in." He made his way to the bedroom door."
Remus smiled in appreciation, "Th.... Thanks....ETCHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" He sneezed forcefully, then added sheepishly. " `Scuse me."
Sirius turned from the doorway , grinning at his friend, "Bless you! What you should really be worried about is giving me a heart attack with those sneezes, not waking me up!"
Remus' cheeks colored slightly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry you git, I've just never heard you sneeze so loudly before that's all. Your sneezes were always so quiet...."
Remus thought for a moment, in his youth he did try to sneeze as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, stifling whenever he could. The last thing he had wanted to do was call more attention to himself as a sickly kid, or to cause those around him additional worry, first his parents, then Madame Pomfrey, then the Marauders and finally just Sirius. But all his years alone had broken him of the habit. It wasn't worth the discomfort of stifling if there wasn't anyone there to here the sneeze anyways.
"I guess they used to be, there's been no one to hear them for so long..."
Sirius felt his heart breaking and made his way back to the bed. He sat down beside Remus and pulled him into a hug. "Well form now on I'm here for all your sneezing needs!"
"Thank heavens," Remus murmured clinging tightly.
After a moment, Sirius separated, wanting to bring the tea to Remus, and wanting to scrub away the tickle building in his nose. "Be right back Moony."
"Ishhhhhhhhh." He sneezed quietly into his hands and sniffled discretely on his way back to the bedroom.
He set the tray on the bedside table and prepared a cup for each of them. Remus watched gratefully as Sirius added just the right amount of honey and lemon for him. As he slowly sipped the soothing brew, he noticed Sirius quickly turning away.
"Hessshhhhhh Echhhhttt" Sirius tried to stifle the sneezes discreetly, but was unsuccessful.
"Bless you, those were sneezes weren't they?" He asked grinning, then added with concern, "Are you sick Padfoot?"
Sirius planned to denying he was sick, but another inopportune sneeze answered for him. "Hehchoooooo!!! I think I'm just getting a bit of a cold."
Remus looked worried, "Are you sure you're all right. You probably should've stayed home...."
"Don't be silly, the best place for me to be is with you. I needed to get away from that place anyway."
The desperation was clearly visible in his eyes so Remus let the matter drop. He patted the bed beside him, "Well you might as well climb into bed then, we can be sick together."
Sirius smiled in relief, climbing in beside him. They sipped their tea in silence, eventually curling up together beneath the blankets.
It was Sirius' nose that broke the near silence. Afraid that Remus might be sleeping, he tried once again to stifle unsuccessfully. Ishooooo!"
"Bless you," came a sleepy reply, "You know speaking of sneezes, you are much quieter than you used to be."
"I guess I am," Sirius added thoughtfully, "There wasn't been much point in looking for extra attention any more......" He saw Remus' face fall and quickly added, "Though it did always work so well with you, ...." He was interrupted by Remus' lips pressed against his own. And though there were many more sneezes throughout the day, there was no further discussion beyond frequent blessings.
Author's Note: Written in response to Brigidmn's plot bunny for Week #166 (General Bunny) Plot Bunny Idea: Sneezing styles between lovers. I've hardly written anything for months but the bunnny spoke to me. Her bunnies seem to inspire me to get writing immediately. Thank you Brigidmn!!!!