Sickfics- Multi-fandom

Time to Grow Up - James Potter (HP)

It all started at about 3:00 am. Lily Potter found herself being unexplainably woken up. She first assumed it was her 8 month year old baby, Harry. But as she opened her eyes she realized Harry wasn't crying.

What she did hear, was her husband, James calling out next to her. "No, please. You can't do this!"

She turned to see James tossing and turning in the bed. He probably nudged her with this night terror.

"James." she whispered lightly.

"You can't make me!" James practically yelled. Lily had never seen James panic. She had seen him worry of course, and get frustrated when the war wasn't going their way but panic was new. She didn't like it one bit.

"James." she said more clearly, giving his body a slight push. "James, wake up."

James' eyes shot open and he looked right at his wife. She was sitting up looking frightened. "What is it? What's wrong? Where's Harry?"

"Shhh." Lily tried to calm him. She began to run a hand through his hair. "You were having a nightmare, love."

James felt himself pant out a breath. He suddenly could feel how clammy he felt. His body almost sticky with sweat.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lily asked tentatively. James shook his head. "It...it was nothing. I hardly remember it. I'm just gonna use the lou. I'll be back." he said quickly before climbing out of bed.

He knew Lily wouldn't believe him, but he didn't care. He went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.

The visions he had of the horror they had already seen and probably would see made him feel sick.

No really, he felt....sick.

He throat burned, his head pounded, he felt hot and cold. He reached into the medicine cabinet and grabbed the first thing he saw.

Lily bought all their medicine. And he was embarrassed to say that before he was married, his mother would just bring him magic tea. He wondered how he was expected to take care of his son if he could barely care for himself.

He decided he wouldn't tell Lily about how he was feeling. He needed to grow up. He was certain, he would face this small inconvenience on his own. (Because it probably wasn't an illness anyways.)

By the time he crawled back into bed, Lily had already fallen back asleep.

When James awoke in the morning with his head pounding worse than the night before. But he was sticking to his vow. It was of little use though because when Lily came to the kitchen table with Harry she knew something was wrong in 2 seconds.

"You look awfully pale darling." She reached out for him. James made a tactless attempt to get her hand away from his face by reaching out, and holding it instead.

"What are you doing?" she asked incredulously. James shrugged. "Just..." he kissed the top her hand that he was still holding. "thinking about how much I love you."

"James Fleamont Pot..." she didn't get to finish, because their best friends in the world: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin just floo-powdered their way into the Potter's living room.

"Time to go to work, Bucka-roo." Sirius said. James stood quickly grabbing his coat. Remus kisses the top of Harry's head.

"Are you sure you want to go in to work today?" Lily asked, hoping he would accept her offer and agree to stay home with her.

"Of course, he does. Why wouldn't he? Why don't you want to go work today?" Sirius asked all in one dramatic breath.

Lily crossed her arms. "No reason. Lil is just worried, because neither of us got a lot of sleep last night." James said. It was a half truth. Lily raised an eyebrow.