Brian's Turn
Thursday, April 30
1:30pm
Between Quidditch practices (and having an extra one a week to get ready for the cup against Gryffindor in early June), Marissa rarely had a moment to find and talk to Brian or to even visit with her cousins. Arnold had strangely kept his distance for the rest of the following weeks, causing Marissa's guard to go up, wondering why. On the way to Thursday's Potion's class Marissa found herself behind Brian as she walked past the stairs to his tower.
"Brian," Marissa called and he stopped, turning towards her and smiled.
"Hey," he replied his voice a bit hoarse.
"You alright?" Marissa looked up at him and saw he was a shade paler than normal.
"Just a headache and bit of a sore throat. Was out practicing forever yesterday," Brian explained, jumping to the side as some first year came barreling around the corner. Seeing it was his sister he yelled at her to slow down, getting a wave in response.
"Laura is out of control," he muttered and Marissa laughed.
"All your sisters are crazy when your parents aren't around," she held the door to the classroom open for him and he stepped in ahead of her. They were the first two in class and upon hearing them enter her father looked up from the shelf where he was pulling out books.
"Could you two help me place one of these books at each chair?" he held out a stack towards them. Setting down their bags, they walked over and took them, Marissa making her way to the back of the class. But, before Brian could turn around he heard Professor Malfoy say "Potter".
Brian turned around, balancing a dozen text books in his hands.
"You look awful, are you going to make it through my class?" he asked and Brian was genuinely shocked just to hear him ask the question. Usually he paid no attention to how people were feeling and didn't seem to care if someone was hacking up a lung in the back of the classroom.
"Yes, sir," Brian said, but not sounding that convinced himself. Draco studied him for a minute then gave him a curt nod and Brian went to the front of the room, laying books at each chair as the other students trickled in.
Marissa took her seat, glancing up as Claudia sat next to her today and Arnold on the far side.
"Potter doesn't look well," was the first thing Claudia said, tying back her long brown hair and removing her rings.
"Colds and stuff going around still," Marissa said, slightly surprised that Claudia would even notice. She hadn't been trying to hide the fact that she seemed interested in his looks, only his looks and not his well being.
"He should be seeing…Madame…what ever is her name?" Claudia went on, taking out her books turning towards
Arnold as he said something. "Pomfrey," Claudia finished.
"Well, Brian's mother is a healer so he knows when he needs medical attention," Marissa said firmly and all other talk about Brian Potter's health was put on hold.
Throughout the class, Marissa would glance over at Brian who seemed to be acting the same as when they came in, but when class was over she went directly to him as he was gathering up his belongings.
"You feeling any better? Claudia thinks you need to see Pomfrey," Marissa said, half joking.
"Yeah, well, might not be a bad idea. My headache is killing me," he said rubbing his hand on his forehead emphasizing his point.
"Let's go then, if a wizard admits he needs a doctor then it's never good," Marissa grabbed his bag and felt a hand on her shoulder as Brian edged by her away from his table. Marissa turned and looked over her shoulder, seeing her father.
"I'm taking him to Pomfrey," she said seeing his eyes flick to Brian who had a hand on his head again.
"Good idea, he looks like you did when you had the flu," her father agreed and dropped his hand. "Keep me posted."
Marissa nodded and grabbed Brian's arm, steering him out of the classroom and down to the hospital wing.
"Merlin, I hope you don't have the flu," Marissa said under her breath but Brian heard her and grunted.
"Me too, but the aches and pains are coming on fast…isn't that how it happened to you?"
They turned the corner and she felt him put his hand on the wall to steady himself. Taking his arm she put it over her shoulder and was worried to feel him rest a good part of his weight on her.
"It was…," she said and caught sight of Arnold up ahead, who turned around as a fellow Gryffindor acknowledge Brian with his last name.
"Awww…how cute…a couple now?" Arnold said seeing Brian's arm around her shoulders.
"Sod off," Brian mumbled and Marissa tightened her grip around his ribs, more of an effort to keep him upright.
"Potter, that's not very nice," Arnold said falling into step next to them.
"He might have the Wizard flu, so if you don't back off, you might join him at St. Mungo's," Marissa said and with that she pulled out her wand and magically opened the doors to the wing ushering Brian inside and leaving Arnold outside with a look of mixed feelings on his face. Marissa wondered if he truly believed that Brian could have the flu. Arnold looked as if he was going to follow them in to see Pomfrey, but at the last minute stepped back from the doors.
"Miss Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey came over, took one look at Brian and gestured to a bed in the middle of the room. With a groan, Brian laid down and closed his eyes, an arm lying over his eyes and he mumbled something about "blasted headache."
"When did he start feeling bad?" Madame Pomfrey asked Marissa who sat down next to him. Marissa watched the healer take out her wand and begin waving it over him.
"Umm, this morning I guess. Told me he had a headache and fever. After Potions he said his headache was worse and the aches and pains were starting. Is it the flu?" Marissa looked at Brian who was even paler than when he started class and she touched his hand that wasn't over his face. He threaded his fingers through hers but didn't say anything.
"Have you been around anyone within the past week who had the flu?" Pomfrey asked Brian. Marissa watched him intently and he took a moment before answering.
"Only Marissa that I know of…."
"That was back in early February, it's almost mid April now…surely…," Marissa began but Pomfrey held up her hand.
"Anyone on Quidditch or in your house? Class? We had two students in here a few weeks ago but they were second years."
"There's a girl on the team who has a sister that's a second year…last name is Smythe," Brian mumbled.
"Ahh, yes…that would probably be it…you must have had contact with her somehow…."
"She got hit and I helped her to the stands to rest for a bit. Maybe she was with her sister earlier," Brian said his voice sounding a bit weak to Marissa's ears.
"What happens now?" Marissa asked her other hand rubbing Brian's arm unconsciously.
"Well, he does have the flu. Luckily, you've already had it so you can stay. But, I'll leave it up to his father as to whether he wants him here or St. Mungo's…if I know Hermione, she'll want him there."
Brian made a noise like he agreed but didn't have the energy to say anything.
"Miss Malfoy, would you go fetch Professor Potter while Brian gets into a hospital gown?"
"Sure." Marissa reluctantly let go of Brian's hand and said she be back. He gave a wave of his fingers that were over his forehead as she turned around and hurried out of the wing.
As she navigated the students, the twists, turns and disappearing stairs on her way to the DADA class she tried to remember Harry's class schedule and if he was done teaching for the afternoon. It was a bit past three and she knew her class was her father's last class of the day. Walking towards the DADA classroom she got a full view and found it was empty. Harry turned around from his desk where he was cleaning up and saw her.
"Marissa!" he pushed up his glasses and gave her a quizzical look. She never stopped by outside of class and she looked harried.
"Harry…uh, Professor," Marissa shook her head and made an exasperated noise. "Brian's in the hospital wing and I think he has the flu. Madame Pomfrey asked me to come get you."
Grabbing his cloak and bag with a flourish off his desk chair he turned towards her and asking her questions about Brian, they walked quickly back down the hospital wing. With a little more force than necessary, Harry pushed open the doors with a bang and Marissa hung back a bit as he approached Brian's bed. He appeared to be sleeping and was wearing the typical white gown.
"Professor," Madame Pomfrey greeted him and she gave him the run down of his condition, then asked him where he wanted him.
"Hermione would kill me if we didn't take him to St. Mungo's so let's do that. Marissa," Harry turned and searched the room, finding her sitting a few beds up giving them some privacy. She looked up and met his infamous green gaze.
"Would you find James or someone and let them know what's going on, or go to Professor McGonagall, if she is back from her meetings. Then, if it's permissible by your father, you can floo over to St. Mungo's," Harry told her.
"Sure, I'll go find one of them now," Marissa said and with a sharp swish of her robes she retraced her steps outside and to the Gryffindor Tower, giving curt hellos to the few people she passed in the hall, not caring if they thought she was being rude.
Twenty minutes later after finding out Professor McGonagall was still attending a meeting in Hogsmeade, she found James and told him what Harry had said.
"Is he going to be alright?" James asked concern etched around his blue eyes.
"I hope so. I'll keep you posted," Marissa said and heard someone ask on what. Turning around she saw Molly standing there, her school bags flung over her shoulder, her faced flushed like she had been running around.
"James'll tell you. Oh, and can you tell his sisters that's he's not feeling well and their parents will contact them later?" Marissa added, thinking of how concerned they would be if they didn't see their brother at dinner like they did every night.
"Sure," James nodded and Marissa thanked him. She ran up to her tower and seeing Arnold and Claudia in the common room doing homework she scooted up the stairs fast and slammed the door to her room. Seeing Valerie in there she told her the story as she changed out of school clothes and into a pair of jeans and a blouse.
"Tell Janet for me, okay?"
"Sure. Let me know if you need anything. Hey…take your books. If they let you stay, you might be sitting there doing nothing and you'll need that time for all that Charms homework we got."
"Right…good idea," Marissa threw her books around finding what she needed and with a wave headed downstairs.
"HEY!" Claudia yelled and Marissa held up her hand.
"Not right now."
"Will Brian be alright?" she asked and Marissa shrugged.
"We'll see."
"Give him a kiss-- it'll be all better," Arnold said and laughed at his own remark.
"Do some research on Wizard Flu, Arnold. It's not to be taken lightly. I've had it; I know," and with that she stormed out of the tower and quickly made her way to the dungeons to find her father, hoping he hadn't left yet.
Running down the stairs she turned the corner and skidded to a stop inside his vacant classroom.
"Dad?" she called loudly and she heard him answer her from the back.
"Hey," she peered into the stockroom where it looked like he was taking inventory, tapping each bottle with his wand and then a piece of paper. On the paper a number would appear telling him how many bottles of the ingredient he had left.
"Judging from the way you came running in here, you want to go somewhere?" he said, not looking up as he passed his wand over some Wolfsbane.
"Brian's got the flu. Harry said if it was okay with you, I could floo to St. Mungo's for a bit…can I?" Marissa asked, trying to keep her voice level. This time he turned to look at her, his eyes searching hers.
"Fine. Just make sure you tell your mother I said you had my permission and don't stay late. No matter what, you need to be back here for classes tomorrow."
"Then…," Marissa started but her father nodded, knowing what she was going to say.
"Then, tomorrow when they are done, you may visit, if the Potters say you may. Do not miss any practices or classes, or I'll make sure you stay here," he warned flicking his wand at his paper and watching it float to his desk.
"I won't…thanks," Marissa turned then paused, did a one-eighty and walked over to her father and hugged him. Surprising him, it took him a second to hug her back.
"You're welcome. Oh, have you looked at the Potion book you borrowed?" he dropped his arms as she stepped away.
"Just for a bit. I think it has what I need, but haven't gotten very far. Why? Do you need it back?" Marissa asked following him out of his stock room.
"No, just asking. Now go make sure Potter will live to see his Owls," Draco winked at her seeing a slight blush rise to her cheeks. She nodded then ran out of the room, back to the hospital wing.
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St. Mungo's
4:45pm
Marissa was beckoned from the doorway by her mother who was attending to Brian. Snapping her book shut, she shoved it into her bag and went to Brian's doorway and looked at her mother.
"He's still sleeping and he seems to be following the same path you did. If this is true," she pulled the door shut behind her and pushed Marissa further out into the hall a bit, "then his fever will go up and he might have some respiratory problems, like you did. You never know what turn the Wizard Flu will take. Some people are up and moving around two days later, some only carry it and never pass it on like that Smythe girl you told us about, and some hang onto it for weeks. We just have to take it a day at a time." Ginny touched her daughter's shoulder and Marissa nodded.
"Can I go in and see him now?"
Marissa had been told to wait outside while they assessed him and his parents got him settled in his room. So, she waited for an hour in the chair that was in the hall just outside his room…a few doors down from where she had been battling the flu.
"Go ahead, but don't expect anything right now out of him. He has the usual potions bottles keeping him hydrated and trying to keep his fever down. But his body is resting which is what he needs now. I'll be here until six, so if you need anything come find me on this floor, okay?"
"Thanks mum," Ginny gave a small smile, and went into his room. Hermione was sitting near Brian, looking at his chart and Harry had gone back to Hogwarts to talk to Kirstin, Taryn and Laura.
"When you had the flu, what do you remember?" Hermione asked watching Marissa drop her bag near the door, come over and sit on the other side of Brian, her eyes sweeping up and down his still, pale form.
"I remember falling asleep in the hospital wing at school, then struggling to wake up here, I remember dad's hand on my forehead which felt like it was holding my head on my neck and whoever put the cold washcloth on my head was the best," Marissa gave her a small smile and she saw Hermione nod. "I didn't have any knowledge of time passing by…I thought it was just a few hours later, but it was days, when I came too. I remember nothing in between which was good I guess," Marissa said softly, slowly reaching out and touching Brian's hand which laid limply by his side. He was warm, and clammy. Pulling her hand back remembering Hermione was right there she folded them in her lap.
"On a different note," Hermione set her son's chart back at the end of his bed and returned to her seat. "How're your fifth year tests going?"
Marissa wasn't surprised that she knew. Harry probably told her since she had to take her fifth year DADA yet and a few others.
"Good, I guess. I have three more I want to take, DADA being one of them, and then I just wait and see if I pass."
"Do you know what you'll take if you pass them all?" Hermione asked and Marissa thought quietly, staring at Brian's hand.
"I'm still thinking about that," Marissa murmured, looking up as she heard the door open. A healer she didn't know came in and talked in low tones to Hermione. Marissa turned so she was squarely facing Brian now and looked at him, wondering if she looked as pale and drawn as he did when she was sick. Taking a deep breath she laid her hand on his forehead, feeling how warm he was. Watching his face closely, she saw a muscle in his cheek twitch so she left her hand there, palm down remembering how it felt to her when someone had their hand on her head. She felt something else too, besides the warmth of his skin. Through her fingers and up her arm she felt a slight soreness working its way through her veins. It wasn't bothersome to her, it didn't even feel like HER muscles were sore and with a sudden realization she concluded that she was feeling how sore Brian was. And if she could feel it working its way into her, she knew he must be feeling particularly awful.
"Is there anything you can give him for muscle soreness?" Marissa asked suddenly, staring at him with her hand still on her head. She hadn't meant to interrupt Hermione and the Healers conversation. The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. Tearing her eyes from Brian she looked up and saw Hermione looking at her curiously. The Healer paused for a moment and then said there was something they could give him to dull the ache if Hermione agreed.
For a moment Marissa held Hermione's gaze, so much like Brian's and she tried to let his mother know that Brian was indeed sore and she wasn't asking just out of general curiosity. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, Hermione's gaze moved to Marissa's hand on Brian's forehead then over to the Healer.
"If you have some handy?" she said to the Healer who nodded then walked out the door. Hermione turned back to Marissa who had removed her hand and was looking out the window now.
"Marissa?"
She turned her head and looked at Hermione sitting there in her Healer's robes, a dark maroon color with black lining; her hair was pinned back up and off her neck lest it get in the way. She looked very calm and collected for someone whose son was very ill.
"Hermione?" Marissa said with a small smile and Hermione hung her head a smile on her face.
"Merlin, you sounded just like your father when you said that," Hermione mused then looked back up at Marissa who was looking at her knowing what was going to come next.
"How do you know how sore he is?" she saw Marissa give a small shrug and move her gaze away as if uncomfortable with the question. For a moment there wasn't any noise except for the occasional hiss of a potion bottle sending oxygen up Brian's nose and mouth as it hovered over him.
"I don't like to medicate anyone who doesn't really need it," Hermione began looking at her son's face, while Marissa stared out the darkening window. "But, I don't want anyone to be in a considerable amount of pain either if it can be helped, so I'm glad you knew, however you did, to ask. I figure somehow you're able to tell a bit of what he's feeling just from…touching him, or having been there yourself."
Marissa glanced over at her and saw Hermione lean forward, resting her hand on Brian's arm then look at Marissa catching her eye. "Sometimes people connect, Marissa, and no one knows why. It's nothing to be…apprehensive about or worry over."
"I'm not worried," Marissa said quickly, then biting the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to get into a conversation about her and Brian, especially with his mother here in his hospital room.
`Not fair that he is asleep during this!' Marissa said wryly to herself.
"Then, why do you seem indifferent when I ask how you know? Is it because you're wondering what Harry and I will think?" Hermione asked straight out and this time Marissa lowered her eyes, just a touch so she was staring at Hermione's hand on Brian's arm. She could see her engagement ring with the crescent moon sapphires and the plain gold band underneath it. She watched Hermione's hand rub Brian's arm almost as if it was habit, like she didn't even know she was doing it to comfort her son.
Marissa took deep breath, quietly, and then let it out.
"Yes, I feel connected to him in some way and no, it's not really because of you and Harry. Well…maybe more Harry and my dad than you and my mum," Marissa said trying to organize her thoughts. Hermione remained quiet and Marissa wondered why she was even telling Hermione any of the thoughts about Brian and her that were going through her head.
"You know the history between my dad and Harry, and so do I…for the most part. Then they seemed to come to some kind of alliance until that duel and I saw sides of both of them I have never seen. I mean, how would my dad feel seeing me with Harry Potter's son…or…vice versa?" Marissa shifted in her seat, then stood up and wrapping her arms around herself went to the window and looked out. She was trying to keep her thoughts inside, but surprisingly, it actually felt good to get them all out in the open. And Hermione wasn't as emotional as her mother and probably wouldn't make a huge deal of it so she plugged on.
"Part of me wonders about what our fathers would think. But, mostly, this is all new territory for me, for him; and I… or… "we," rather, are trying to see if it's residual effects from being thrown together for four nights or something that would've happened on its own…," Marissa trailed off not quite sure what direction to take from this point so she just stayed quiet.
She heard the Healer come in, then heard the tinkling of potion bottles, a few words exchanged between Hermione and the Healer then the door closed softly. Harry must have slipped in because she then heard his voice and turned around, giving a slight wave to him.
"How's he doing?" Harry pulled up a chair next to Hermione, and Marissa sat back down in hers.
Hermione gave him the run down of the medicines he was on, his temperature, and other items though Marissa could see that from the sign above his bed:
Brian James Potter
May 15, 1999
Age: 15 years, 11 months
Weight: 151 pounds
Temperature: 104.1F
Heart Rate: 77bpm
Blood Pressure: 100/70
They sat there for the next few minutes talking about Brian's health, how his sisters were mad they couldn't come see him but reluctantly understood the reasons why they couldn't, and then Harry asked Hermione if she had eaten anything.
"I swear Harry, you sure you aren't Mrs. Weasley's black sheep son?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes.
Harry chuckled for a moment then became serious again.
"That's a no, you haven't eaten, and you need to," Harry said firmly and looked over at Marissa.
"Has she eaten anything since you've been here?" he asked smiling at her. Marissa shook her head and gave an apologetic glance to Hermione.
"Fine," Hermione muttered and stood up, then looked at Marissa. "Stay here with him, Marissa?"
"I will."
"Do you want us to bring you something to eat?"
"No, I'm not hungry, but thank you," Marissa said and watched Hermione kiss Brian's head then glance up at the ever changing sign over his bed. Harry felt Brian's head for himself then with a wave at Marissa, turned and followed his wife out of the room.
No sooner had the door closed then Marissa stood up, found a wash cloth that she proceeded to wet, then came back and laid it on his forehead.
"You are so going to pay for the conversation I just had with your mother, Potter," Marissa said quietly, arranging the white washcloth on his forehead, then brought her chair closer to the bed and eased herself down into it. "I'm going to stick you and my father in a room together…that would be fun to watch."
Marissa reached out and took his hand, feeling it limply lay in hers.
"But, to do that, you need to get better Brian and preferably faster than I did. Though, having a conversation with my father isn't really the best incentive TO get better." Marissa folded his fingers down around her hand.
"But, you just need to get better," she whispered then brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the back of his knuckles. "Please," she added and slid her cheek along the back of his hand.
And for the next half hour she sat there, only moving to flip the cloth over to the cooler side. Every once in awhile
she could feel his hand twitch, the typical muscle twitching of someone asleep and someone with the flu. Knowing
Hermione and Harry would be back soon, she removed the cloth and set it down on the table next to him, then laid a hand
on his forehead.
She felt nothing move up her arm which she deemed good, taking it to mean that he wasn't in any pain. Dropping back into the chair, she set his hand down and then ran her hands through her hair, stretching and yawning then straightening up as Harry and Hermione came back in to his room.
"Harry, could you please find Ginny and tell her to take her daughter out to dinner at the wonderful cafeteria downstairs?" Hermione placed a hand on Harry's chest and they looked at each other for a moment, some invisible message passing between them. Marissa watched with interest as they seemed to communicate through a single glance. He nodded, squeezed her hand then left back through the door he just entered through.
Hermione came over and sat back down, looking up and seeing his temperature dropped below 104F.
"Is he feeling better?" she asked pointedly, looking directly at Marissa when she said it. Marissa moved her eyes from the door to Hermione's brown ones and using all her willpower to hold the intense gaze she nodded.
"Yes…he's not sore anymore," Marissa answered practically whispering.
"Good." Hermione now looked back down at Brian, smoothing back his hair. "Thanks, Marissa."
Marissa nodded and then looked up as Harry came back in with Ginny. Ten minutes later she was eating downstairs with her mother, talking about Brian and their upcoming Quidditch match.
---
Friday
3:30pm Hogwarts
Somehow, Marissa managed to tear herself away from Brian's bed around eight o'clock the previous night and floo'd back to Hogwarts to do her homework. She secluded herself in her room, not in the mood to really talk to anyone. She gave Janet the run down, who told Valerie which meant Brian's condition would be known throughout the castle by dawn.
Moving through her classes on Friday she paid just enough attention to do her work, take note of her homework and move to the next class.
Finally, her last class was over and she hurried back to her tower, running straight into Arnold who reached out to steady her. Handing her her schoolbag he followed her into the portrait.
"So, Potter does have the flu?"
"Yes…I'm sure you knew that though."
"I can't believe his father taught today."
"His mother was with him all day," Marissa said handing Dixon and Derek a bag of cookies from their mother. A care package arrived at lunch for her, with a note that Brian's condition was unchanged and she, Marissa, was welcome to come back and visit, according to Hermione and Harry.
"Thanks!" Dixon said, casting a suspicious glance at Arnold who didn't say anything, but was watching the three of them with interest.
"Can you give Erin hers?"
"Of course!" the boys said in unison, with identical smiles.
"For real! Don't eat them!" Marissa pointed at them and they held up their hands, Derek taking Erin's share, and walked back towards the boy's staircase. Marissa caught the look on Arnold's face…it was one of unguarded emotion, thought whatever kind it was she didn't know. Getting ready to mentally kick herself, later, for asking she crossed her arms and looked at him and questioned, "What?"
He blinked his amber eyes and looked at her.
"Nothing," he shrugged and with a wave, headed up the staircase to his dorm.
"He's weird," Janet said coming up to Marissa and following her up their own set of stairs.
"I know. I wonder…does anyone know WHY they moved…transferred… here?" Marissa threw her bag on her bed and began to take off her school uniform.
"I don't think anyone asked. They've been rude and a pain since they got here," Janet changed out of her uniform too and soon both were dressed in casual clothes, ready for the weekend.
"Are you going to visit Brian? OH, wait, silly question," Janet winked at Marissa. "How's he doing anyway?" she asked on a more serious note.
"Mum said the same. No respiratory problems yet, thank Merlin," Marissa pointed her wand at the book she borrowed from her father and thinking for a minute, flicked it while murmuring the correct incantation and shrank it down to the size of a paperback novel. She put that, a roll of parchment and some quills in her bag.
"Alright, I'm set. Don't know when I'll be back," Marissa gathered her hair and pulled part of it back into a barrette, remembering how warm the hospital was.
"Take your time…just be with him," Janet said tying her shoes then standing up from her bed.
"I don't think he even knows I'm there."
They girls exited their room and walked slowly down the stairs.
"He probably does on some level. But, regardless, you know you're there and I know you. If you weren't you'd be miserable." Janet gave Marissa's arm a pat and headed across the room to Calvin who was talking to Erin. Marissa noticed she got her bag of cookies, waved to her sister and made her way down to the hospital wing so she could floo to St. Mungo's and sit for another few hours, hoping Brian would wake up and work on becoming healthy again.
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A/N #2: thanks for all who reviewed. I am NOT pulling the story, just innocent curiosity of how many people are reading TNG! Thanks SOOOO much everyone!!!
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