Chapter 20 - Ron and Hermione

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Chapter 20 - Ron and Hermione

Hermione was in Harry's arms before he could take another breath. "Oh, Harry, it is so good to see you. I'm so sorry that we worried you during our last visit. I couldn't even concentrate on the subjects today."

"Oh God, I distracted Hermione Granger from her studies. How can I ever make up for this?" Harry joked. He was so glad to meet his friends and couldn't understand why he had felt so nervous about it.

Hermione loosened her embrace and playfully hit Harry on his shoulder. "Very funny, Harry."

Harry couldn't wipe the happy grin from his face. Only when his gaze fell on Ron, who was still standing near the door, did his face fall a little.

Ron was looking ashamed and nervous.

"Oh, come on, Ron. Don't be such a prat," Hermione ordered.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean what I said. I was just shocked that you will live with... that you will live here now," Ron said, blushing deeply.

Harry didn't know what to say and just stared at Ron.

"Stop behaving like kids, both of you! We are best friends," Hermione intervened.

"I'm really sorry, mate!" Ron said and came over to the other two. "It's okay that you live here. Really." Ron put one of his hands on Harry's shoulder and hoped Harry wouldn't shrug it away.

Harry didn't; he was so overwhelmed to have his friends back, and he was eager to show them his room. He also placed one of his hands on Ron's shoulder. "Friends."

"Yeah, friends, mate." Ron laughed in relief.

"Boys," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"Just wait here. I have to inform Severus that you're here," Harry said. He was so happy that he didn't even notice the shocked faces of his friends when he called Severus by his first name. Harry took the steps two at a time as he ran to Severus' bedroom. He stopped in front of it, panting, and knocked.

"Yes, I heard your friends. Just go into your room or the library." Severus' hoarse voice could be heard through the door.

"Are you okay? Can I come in?" Harry asked, worried.

"Your friends are waiting, Harry," Severus replied. His voice almost broke.

"Can I please come in, Severus? Just for a minute," Harry pleaded.

Severus groaned. "If you insist."

Severus was lying in bed. Sweat was forming on his forehead, and he looked paler than he usually looked; that meant something.

Harry was shocked, and when Severus started to cough harshly, he went over to him, stopping a few inches away from him, unsure what to do. "Shall I call for Poppy or James?"

"No, Harry!" Severus ordered while trying to sit up a little.

"I don't think you should sit up, Severus." He gently pushed Severus back onto his cushion.

"And I think you should keep distance between us, or do you want to get sick as well?" Severus barked.

"You look awful. How can you become so ill in a few hours?" Harry asked, confused.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Your friends are waiting."

"You could have said, 'I don't want to speak about it'. That's what you wanted me to say, so why can't you do it as well?" Harry was sick with worry about Severus. Did Ivy know how sick Severus was? Maybe that was the reason for her sad and concerned expression. "I would really like to call for someone. Maybe you need a fever reducer."

"Harry, I assure you that I'm fully capable of calling someone when I feel the need..." He couldn't end this sentence because a harsh coughing fit ailed him. Severus almost toppled over.

It looked extremely painful, and Harry started to panic. He left the room before Severus recovered. When he was down in the living room, his friends looked worriedly at him.

"Are you all right, Harry? You look as if you have seen a ghost," Hermione said and tried to calm Harry, who was frantically looking around.

"I need to call someone. Severus looks awful." Harry was so worried that he had problems remembering which portrait led to which teacher. Ivy had to teach, and so he didn't want to try her portrait. The Headmaster, yes, I have to call the Headmaster! Harry thought and turned to Phineas. "Please, I have to speak with Albus."

"He has visitors," was all Phineas said.

"But I have to speak with him. It's very urgent. Please tell him that I need to speak with him," Harry said frantically.

"I already did! He will come as soon as his visitors have left," Phineas stated, annoyed.

Hermione tried to calm Harry. "Calm down, Harry, please! I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will come soon."

Harry started to breathe fast, and sweat was forming on his forehead.

Hermione looked worriedly at Ron. She hoped Harry wouldn't get out of control like he did in the hospital wing. Ron was also very worried but could only shrug his shoulders when Hermione looked questioningly at him. Both moved closer to Harry, and Hermione tried to lay a calming hand on Harry's chest.

Harry felt the worry start to overcome him. The voices of Ron and Hermione started to fade away. What shall I do? He could not describe the relief that washed over him when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and calming magic flowing through him. Harry turned in the direction he assumed the owner of the hand stood. Slowly he came back to reality, and the form of Albus stood in front of him.

"I'm here, Harry. Breathe slowly," Albus said in a calm voice.

Harry wanted to be able to speak as fast as possible and fought hard to come back to reality. As soon as he was able to form words, he almost shouted, "No, you have to look at Severus. Please!"

"First you have to calm down and breathe normally, Harry!" Albus said calmly and let more calming magic flow into Harry.

Harry was annoyed by Albus' calm behavior. "But Severus! You have to look at him. He is very ill."

"I know that he is very ill, Harry. I will go to him when you have calmed down." When he saw Harry shaking his head and fighting his magic, he frowned. "Twinky!" he commanded in a voice that made Ron and Hermione take a step backwards.

The house-elf popped up near Albus, and he ordered her to call for Poppy and James, if he was still in the infirmary.

Seconds later Poppy and James emerged from the fireplace and hurried over to the small group.

"He is fighting my calming magic, and I fear he will panic when I let go, James," Albus explained to James. Ron and Hermione had never seen their Headmaster so worried and even a little unsure of what to do.

"It's okay, Albus, I will take over from here." James pulled Harry's back against his chest and rested one of his hands against Harry's chest and the other on Harry's forehead. He sat down against the back of the couch and fixed Harry's head under his chin. "Stop fighting, Harry!"

"But Severus! You have to look at him. He is very ill, please!" Harry pleaded and tried to wriggle free. James had a perfect grip on Harry, and the flow of magic that James let flow through Harry made his body almost completely relaxed. He couldn't even fully control his limbs any longer.

"Poppy and Albus are already on their way to him, Harry. You know that Poppy is a great Mediwitch." James was relieved that this comment made Harry stop fighting. "That's it, Harry. And now I want you to breathe together with me. Breathe in... and out... in... and out..."

After a few minutes Harry had calmed down and opened his eyes. His eyes fell on his friends, and he groaned, frustrated that the two had seen him like that.

"No, Harry, there is no reason to be embarrassed or frustrated. Remember we already spoke about letting your friends know what your problems are. They are your friends, Harry, and they want to help you. They are worried."

Hermione was the first to recover from the shock and came over to the two people sitting on the floor. "Yes, Harry, we are worried. You can tell us everything." She looked uncertainly first at Harry and then at James, who looked encouragingly at her.

Hermione took Harry's hand. "It's okay, Harry."

"I wish I wasn't such a damn freak." He groaned when the flow of magic immediately started to increase.

"Never say something like that again, Harry. How can you even think something like that?" Hermione scolded him.

"Yeah, mate, you are no freak," Ron said, still very unsure what to do but also very worried.

Albus came down the stairs and over to the couch.

Harry tried to struggle free, but James didn't let go. "Not now, Harry. Just listen to what Albus has to say. We will just stay where we are."

"Yes, my boy, please stay where you are and let James help you. Poppy is taking care of Severus, so you don't have to worry. There was nothing out of control, Harry. Severus has pneumonia, and it is normal that he is feeling this bad right now."

James had lowered the flow of magic to an amount that let Harry follow the conversation and speak.

"But he was well this morning, and now he looks as if he is dying," Harry shouted.

"Harry, don't start to panic again. Would you like your potion, or do you think you can calm yourself without it, with only me for help?" James asked.

"But Severus..." Harry tried to reason with James, but was interrupted by the Healer.

"No, Harry, answer my question. We will take care of you first, and then we can talk about others," James said strictly.

"I will calm down without the potion," Harry said grumpily.

"Okay, then stop fighting my magic flow and concentrate on your breathing while I tell you something about Severus. If you start to fight me again, or start to get agitated, it will be the potion for you, Harry. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, James," Harry replied, defeated.

"Severus wasn't well this morning, Harry. Do you really think I would have spoken so harshly to him if there wasn't a reason for it? Severus had taken something that made it seem that he was well, but this had only worsened his condition. Now he is suffering the result, and we cannot give him another potion. But, Harry, you shouldn't worry about Severus that much. He will be okay soon. Tomorrow he will even be able to go shopping with you. There is no reason to panic."

"I'm sorry," Harry said. He had calmed down completely and started to feel stupid to be held like this.

"That's not what we want from you, Harry. There is no need to be sorry. You just have to learn from this. You must be careful how far you let your emotions affect you. That would have been a situation where you should have taken your potion," James explained and let go of Harry's head. Only his hand on Harry's chest stayed where it was.

"But I didn't have one!" Harry said, confused.

"Yes, that's right. I should have given you your applicator this morning, but I was a little distracted. Maybe we should go into your room, and I will show you and your friends how to use it, okay?" James asked.

"'Kay," Harry said. When James pulled his hand from Harry's chest, Harry stood up and smiled shyly at his friends.

"Merlin, you gave me quite a shock, mate," Ron said, relieved that Harry was 'normal' again.

"Yes, but that's nothing to be embarrassed about, Harry," Hermione said quickly and cast a warning glance at Ron.

"I didn't say it was. Of course he doesn't have to be embarrassed about it," Ron said angrily at Hermione. He turned to Harry. "You know I didn't mean it that way, right?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, let's just go into my room. I feel a little weak after this magic thingy." He motioned in the direction of the couch.

"Magic thingy," Albus laughed while patting James' shoulder. "That's one way to put it."

James grinned, and everyone started to laugh. It felt good that the tension was vanishing completely now.

"I will go back to my office. If you need me again, just call me," Albus said to no particular person, just into the room.