An Intermission for Illness
Wednesday, May 16th, 2001
It was a beautiful early summer day, the midpoint between Victoire’s first birthday, and Sage’s. The day should be perfect, at least fine, but it in fact was not.
Sage was screaming.
“I know, I know, kiddo.” Harry’s voice was nasally from his nose being stuffed, and rough from his cough. With a fever, nausea, and headache it was impossible to deny that Harry was sick, but that didn’t matter. Because Sage was sick too.
Sage screamed and screamed and screamed. Desperately crying out for anyone to stop their pain, but no one could. They would just have to let the illness run its course.
Technically, they were fine, both of them. This was far from deadly, but it certainly didn’t feel good, especially to Sage who had never really experienced being sick.
Harry just wanted to lie down and drink tea and watch bad T.V., but Sage thought they were dying, or, at least, their body did.
“You’ll be okay, I promise.” Harry had to sit down, if he kept up the pacing they would both be on the floor soon. “Everything will be okay.”
Sage expressed their disagreement with this statement by screaming more.
“I know you feel icky, dada does too, but it’ll be okay, this will pass….We already went to the doctor, remember? She said that we just had to wait it out, you’re too young for any potions like that and since it’s a magical in origin virus muggle medicine won’t work.” Harry felt really bad that he got to take two, disgusting, potions every twelve hours while Sage just had to suffer through it all, but giving out those potions before a child was at least two, preferably 3+, could be life threatening
Sage kept on their screaming for as long as possible, but, eventually, they fell asleep, thankfully before they caused damage to their throat.
Harry left Sage in his arms for about half-an-hour longer before finally putting them in their crib. He just didn’t want to wake them up too soon, but, also, needed rest himself.
So, feeling like a horrible father, Harry went back to the living room, alone, to take a nap. Feeling even worse when he hoped that Sage would sleep for at least an hour.
Being sick sucked.