The Marauders and the Year it All Began

Chapter Thirteen: A Duel

While Sirius was not sick often, when he was, it was pretty bad. The week prior he had faked sick just to get out of class, but the week, he was actually under the weather. Sirius had been running a fever for the past three days and sniffling constantly, and it was getting on his friends' nerves.

"Good god, mate! Go to the hospital wing if you're sick!" Remus said.

"I'm not even that si–" Sirius was unable to finish his sentence as he was cut off with a sneeze. "Okay fine! I'll go after class."

"You're going now!" James said exasperatedly. "I'll walk you."

"Okay, okay! We can go," Sirius said. The rest of his friends sighed in relief, happy that their friend was willing to go get help for once. Leading Sirius out of the common rooms, James walked all the way down to the Hospital Wing with his friend.

"Excuse me?" James shouted. "Madame Pomfrey?"

Emerging from her office, Madame Pomfrey rushed over to the pair. "Hello, boys! Something wrong?" As usual, she was very cheery but noticeably worried as she scanned them for any visible injuries.

"Sirius here is sick, nothing crazy, but he definitely needs to rest."

Placing a hand on Sirius' forehead she exclaimed, "You're burning up! Might be a case of Dragon Pox?"

"But I've already had it!" Sirius whined.

"Well, in that case, it might just be the muggle flu, it's been going around ever since spring break. My guess is some of the muggle-born students brought it back without knowing." The nurse must have noticed she had been rambling because she shook her head in an effort to dismiss the conversation. "Ah, but no worry! I'll get you back to one hundred percent in no time," She sold the detail with a smile, gesturing to the bed for Sirius to lie down in.

"That's good news!" James said. "I'll stop by with Remus and Peter later to catch you up on what you missed."

"Sounds good," Sirius said. "But come here I have something to tell you."

"What?" James asked once he was close enough for Sirius to whisper.

"I need you to make me a promise, okay?"

"Okay," James agreed with a laugh.

"Every time Evans raises her hand, give her a high-five, just because I'm not there doesn't mean the prank can't be."

"That's genius!" James exclaimed. "She'll never see it coming if you aren't in class."

"My thoughts exactly," Sirius said. "Now go before you're late for class, Merlin knows you cannot afford to get another detention this month."

"Great! I'll be back around dinner with updates," James smiled as he left the hospital wing, heading up to his Defence Against the Dark Arts class before the bell rang.

"How is he?" Remus asked when James finally showed up to class.

"He's fine, now shove over I want to sit in front of Lily"

"Mate, she doesn't like you, but fine." Remus laughed as he moved a seat over to allow James to sit where he was.

"Glad to see everyone is here!" Professor Ulinzi said. "Wait," he paused, noticing the empty chair in the room. "Who are we missing?"

"It's Sirius, Professor," James said. "He's in the Hospital Wing. He's not feeling too well."

"Oh," The professor replied. "Send him my regards. Hold up after class and I'll give you his work so he can complete it at his leisure."