Regulus Black - The marauders era

Chapter 8 - Sick days

Regulus woke up feeling like a massive red double decker bus, the ones you see in London, had run him over and he groaned rolling over in his bed pulling a pillow over his head to try and ease the growing headache he had. He slowly opened his eyes, which felt sore, as he squinted at the clock but that proved to be a challenge as his eyes really didn't want to adjust to the bright light that was streaming through the curtains of the gryffindor dormitory. It was 7:30am and Regulus knew he should be getting up and dressed if he wanted to have breakfast and get to classes in time but the pounding in his head was getting worse and he struggled to keep his open. Groaning he got but winced at the sudden crash that came from the bathroom and his door mate rushed out of it dripping wet.
"Damn pipes on the sink burst," Avery McAllister grumbled while desperately searching for a clean shirt.
Regulus' mind felt hazy and he grabbed a couple of the things that were near him and chucked them on. His tie was loose and his shirt buttons were done up slightly wrong but Regulus didn't seem to care as he pulled on a jumper, to ease the coldness brewing in his bones even though it was summer, and his cloak. Even with the added layers Regulus still shivered slightly and looked mournfully at his bed. He didn't bother making his bed and tried to look as if his head wasn't turning to mush as he walked out of the dormitory and down the stairs into the common room. Regulus moved slowly on his way to breakfast and with his head pounding he felt disoriented and dizzy like he could collapse at any moment. A few mishaps occurred with Regulus almost walking into a moving staircase and  at the last minute having to figure out which stair you couldn't walk on. He cursed his head and cursed the fact that he was probably ill. But Blacks never got ill it was a sign of weakness his mother and father had drilled into him so whenever he felt the slightest headache he shut himself in his room. Finally Regulus reached the great hall but all the talking made his headache even worse as he winced and clenched his fists desperately trying not to portray the pain he was in on his face. Walking sluggishly to the gryffindor table he waved slightly to Sirius who looked concerned.
"Reggie your jumper is round the wrong way and do you really need it?" Sirius said and Regulus had the decency to blush and hastily adjust his jumper so it was the right way round.
"Mm cold," he muttered sitting down and pouring a glass of pumpkin juice.
Some of it dribbled down his chin but he was too exhausted to do anything about it and let his head flop down on the table beneath him. The loud laughter from the marauders, who were to his right, made him wince as he again clenched his fists leaving small crescent moon shaped marks in his palms.
'Blacks don't show weakness'
Regulus repeated the mantra in his head but still his brain felt foggy and everything inside him hurt. He felt an arm wrap round his shoulders and soft words being mumbled to him.
"Right I'm taking you up to the common room I mean look at you pale and waxy dear me," Regulus heard the voice of lily Evans float into his ears and him being propped up.
He let his head rest on Lily's shoulder but pulled himself to his stand on his legs only leaning ever so slightly on Lily.
"Sirius I'm taking Regulus back up to the common room," Lily announced and it was only now Sirius was fully aware of his brothers presence.
"God Reggie you look awful," He said and now all the marauders turned to look at Regulus.
His hair was a mess, eyes slightly glazed with fever, waxy and pale there was no way anyone could say Regulus Black looked attractive at that specific moment in time. Regulus whimpered slightly as a large wave of pain surged through his head and he leant on Lily even more for support as she guided him out of the great hall quickly. Soon the footsteps of the marauders could be heard and they were following Lily, who was now half carrying the young 12 year old, to the common room.
"I'll take him Lily," Sirius announced and took the boy out of Lily's arms and gently wrapped his arms around him.
Regulus by now was barely conscious as more waves of pain rocketed through his skull and he whimpered every so often and buried his head in Sirius' chest.
The marauders plus Lily and Regulus arrived at the common room within 5 minutes and Sirius set Regulus down on one of the sofas and gently took his cloak off of him.
"He's positively burning with fever," Lily said as she put a hand on his forehead and drew it back in shock.
"Maybe we should take him up to madam pomfrey," James suggested but Lily shook her head.
"If we move him it'll just cause him more pain,"
"Right Peter go get Mcgonagall, Remus get me a bowl of water and a cloth, Sirius take that jumper off of him before he overheats and James figure out a potion that could possibly help him get better," Lily said I a motherly way.
"What will you be doing?" James asked as Peter and Remus left.
"I'll be watching over him to make sure he doesn't get any worse now Sirius head own to the kitchens and ask the house elves for a bowl of soup and a glass of icy cold water," Lily commanded and Sirius hastily ran out of the room dropping Regulus' jumper on the floor while he was at it.
"God Evans I fall more in love with you every day," James declared but Lily gave him a light shove towards a stack of potions books and rolled her eyes at him before turning attention back to the sickly boy who laid on the sofa.
Lily gently took is shoes off and eased the tie that was around his neck off and gently brushed some sweaty hair from his brow. Regulus groaned every so often and curled into himself wrapping his arms around his head and pulling at his hair in distress. Remus returned with the bowl of water and Lily thanked him carefully dipping the cloth into it and laying it on Regulus' brow. It seemed to ease some of his pain as he uncurled from the ball he had been in but his muscles were still tense and sweat still glistened on his forehead.
"Remus would you mind shutting the curtains," Lily said and Remus nodded moving over to them and closing them blocking out the sun that was streaming into the common room.
Regulus visibly relaxed slightly at the lack of light and Lily smiled at him before bathing the cloth in the water again. James groaned in frustration and glared hard at the book that was offending him.
"Nothing in these books are going to work," James grumbled adjusting his glasses and ruffling his hair.
At that moment Mcgonagall burst in with Peter hot on her trail and she observed the scene before her. Lily was acting like a mother hovering of Regulus, Remus was picking up the dropped items of clothing and hanging them on the back of a chair and James was looking distressed as he glared at potions books.
"Where's Sirius?" Mcgonagall asked.
"I sent him to the kitchens with the orders of getting some soup he should be back any minute," Lily answered before turning back to Regulus and brushing the hair out of his eyes again.
As if called Sirius cautiously came into the portrait hole carrying a bowl of soup and a glass of water.
"You requested these Lily," He said and she took them from him with a grateful smile.
Mcgonagall surveyed the scene in front of her with a small smile on her face, who would've thought that the marauders and Lily Evans would be working together then her gaze turned to Regulus. The young boy really wasn't in good shape as he twisted and writhed on the sofa holding his head in obvious agony as Lily spoon fed him some soup. His face, which had once been deathly pale, was flushed and sweat beaded his brow.
"Sirius we're going to have to call in your parents if his condition deteriorates any more," Mcgonagall said looking over at he boy and he paled dramatically.
"No you can't I can't show weakness," Regulus whimpered as his eyes opened slightly and he tried to sit up but Lily pushed him back down with a stern look on her face.
"You young man will lie here and not move until you are better," She said but propped a pillow under his head, to allow him to drink, nonetheless.
Regulus nodded meekly and took a sip out of the glass before crying out and clutching his head again. Lily wrapped her arms around him tenderly while gently shushing him and stroking his head. Sirius watched on in worry, Remus in concern, James in pity and Peter with envy. Mcgonagall watched the young both cry out and decided it would be best if he was moved to the hospital wing for further observation.
"Let's get him to the hospital wing," Mcgonagall said and motioned to Sirius to pick Regulus up, which he did but stopped when Regulus let out another cry of pain and a lone tear made its way down his face.
"No don't move him it'll cause him to much pain," Lily said and Sirius gently laid his younger brother back down on the sofa.
"Sirius maybe it would be best to call your parents as it's obvious something is ailing your brother," Mcgonagall announced but Sirius shook his head.
"Mother and father look down on anyone who is less than perfect and I don't want them stressing Reggie out even more with their stupid pure blood views,"
Mcgonagall nodded at this piece of information and left the group to take care of Regulus.
It had been a few hours and Regulus was curled up to Lily's side, no longer holding his head in immense pain, and the marauders were strewn across chairs and furniture. Regulus still felt ill of course but his head didn't pound and his mind wasn't as foggy as before. Lily stirred and checked on Regulus' temperature, which she was glad to see had come down, and then fell back asleep again as they had all had a busy morning of caring for young Regulus. If anybody were to walk into the gryffindor common room at that point in time they would find Regulus with his head in Lily's lap, Lily resting on a cushion on the sofa, James sprawled across another sofa, Sirius curled up on the love seat, Remus with his head on Sirius' shoulder and Peter huddled in an arm chair. It was a lovely sight and the fire blazing made it even better. Regulus hated sick days but spending them with his favourite  made them bearable.
I just feel like Lily would be a mum of the group and everyone would except her constantly hovering over them if they're sick. Also I put Regulus in gryffindor so there could be bonding. I find the brother-sister relationship with Regulus and Lily sweet.
~ Hazel