A Life More Ordinary

Hogwarts' Greenhouses, October 1991

"Ron, stop it," Harry whispered.

"She started it-"

"Sprout's gonna take points," Harry interrupted fiercely. "She already told the two of you to quit quarreling."

"And you already lost five points in Aarons' class this morning," Draco added from the other said of the long, dirt-filled trough.

"Thanks for that," Nott said, smirking. "Aarons was too distracted to take points from Crabbe and Goyle for fouling up their potion."

"Oh, shut up," Ron grumbled.

"Crabbe lost those points anyway," Draco said as he dug his trowel into the dirt. "He ploughed into McGonagall in the corridor after lunch; nearly sent her sprawling."

Nott snorted. "Wish I'd seen that."

"It wasn't funny," Hermione said with a frown. "She could have been hurt."

"You have no sense of humor, Granger," Zabini said from further down the trough.

"You wouldn't have thought it was so funny if Crabbe had run into you."

"We would have," Ron said under his breath, setting off laughter from Dean and Seamus.

"That simply proves you're both immature," Hermione retorted.

"Have you all finished planting your Jinn Vines?" Sprout's voice interrupted whatever Ron would have said; she peered over Harry's shoulder. "Very good, Mr. Potter. More dirt around your roots, Mr. Goyle. Excellent, Mr. Longbottom; help Mr. Crabbe if you would." Sprout moved on and Neville and Crabbe were left staring warily at one another.

"I'll help," Draco volunteered, and Neville quickly moved out of the way. Crabbe managed a clumsy imitation of Draco's instructions before the blond simply leaned in and completed the task for him.

"Clip your leaves now," Sprout called out, capturing everyone's attention. "Cut two centimeters from each leaf's tip, but do not slice into the vein."

"Blimey," Ron complained as he wielded his miniature scissors toward the plant. "This is--Aughhh!" Laughter erupted around the trough as Ron found himself with a face full of black ink.

"Mr. Weasley," Sprout scolded over Ron's sputtering as she hurried over, "I told you not to slice into the vein!" The ink disappeared with a slurp, though a tinge of light pink remained on Ron's skin. "I'll get some salve to ease the burn. Now, now," Sprout chided the rest of the children, "that's enough. Back to work."

Harry pressed his lips together to cap off his burbling laughter when his friend scowled at him. "You looked awfully funny," he said, excusing himself, but Ron wasn't at all amused.

"It bloody well hurts!"

"If you keep your hand at this angle, more to the left than you had it before," Hermione explained tartly, "you'll be able to keep away from the vein. That way, you won't get ink all over-"

"Oh, be quiet," Ron snapped. "I can hold a pair of scissors as well as you."

"Obviously not," Nott said, nudging Zabini, and they both snickered over their plants.

"I was only trying to help," Hermione said with narrowed eyes.

"I don't want your help," Ron said angrily, his face darkening as the snickers continued.

"Calm down, Ron; she didn't do anything," Harry said quietly, but Ron just scowled more fiercely.

"She's a nightmare," he muttered as he rubbed gingerly at his sensitive skin. Sprout came over then with a jar of green salve which she promptly smeared all over Ron's face amidst hissed breaths of laughter while Ron struggled to get away.

"Really, Mr. Weasley," Sprout huffed when she'd finally finished. She shook her head, recapped the jar, and went back to supervising the students.

"Looks like he's about to explode," Zabini whispered.

"Would you both just belt up?" Harry hissed at the pair of Slytherins, driving the point of his scissors into the damp soil as he glared. Nott and Zabini stopped laughing.

"No need to get your knickers in a twist, Potter," Nott drawled.

"Sprout's coming," Draco cut in smoothly before Harry could retort. Harry scowled and clipped his leaf, no longer paying attention to what he was doing. He dodged out of the way before the black spray could hit him and cringed as Sprout cried out.

"Bloody hell, Harry," Draco murmured; he and the rest of the class had to clamp their hands over their mouths to still either their horror or amusement as they all stared at their professor's inky face.

"Sorry," Harry whispered, his face flaming.

Wordlessly, Sprout cleaned the mess with her wand, glaring at Harry the entire time. "Ten points from Gryffindor," she said icily as she reached into her pocket for the salve. "Leave your scissors in the trough," she continued stiffly. "Class dismissed."

As she turned away, the Slytherins were all grinning.

"It isn't funny," Pavarti said, shaking her head at the gang of Slytherin girls as they giggled. She and Lavender hooked arms and left together, both looking very disapproving over the whole affair.

"It was even better than McGonagall trying not to land on her arse," Crabbe tittered.

"I think you're all just beastly," Hermione added as she re-packed her bag.

"Oh, did the nightmare say something?" Zabini mocked.

"Don't you mean, Mudblood?" Nott asked with a smirk.

Harry stiffened, and both Neville and Ron looked up sharply from their packs. Draco froze as well, and then he quickly stuffed his textbook in his bag and joined Dean's and Seamus' noisy exit.

"Don't call Hermione that name," Neville said, but his voice trembled as he spoke, and Goyle gave his shoulder a shove; Neville stumbled into Harry, sending him into the long branches of a nearby towering tree. There were sharp spikes adorning the trunk, and Harry winced as they pierced the skin of his ribcage.

"Sorry," Neville mumbled; Harry shook his head in dismissal.

"Or else, what, Longbottom?" Goyle sneered as they straightened.

"We'll hex you, that's what," Ron said, sticking his neck out as he reached for his wand.

"Ron, don't," Hermione said in a strained voice, shaking her head. "You'll get in trouble."

"Come on," Harry said, tugging on Ron's elbow as he did his best to ignore the stinging in his side.

"You scared, Weasley?" Crabbe taunted.

"Of course not," Harry spoke right over Ron. "Sprout's right in her office. Haven't you got any brains?"

"Is he calling me stupid?" Crabbe demanded of his fellows. Goyle shrugged.

Harry tugged Ron's elbow. "Come on," he said, pulling Ron along behind Neville and Hermione.

"Thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave." The muttered words irritated Harry, but he didn't stop.

"Sprout'll give us detention for days," he said urgently as Ron tried to twist back to answer the insult. Harry had never had detention, so he had no idea how it worked, but he figured brawling in the greenhouses would have to merit some detention at least. Neither did Harry think Sirius and Remus would be particularly pleased to hear he'd been in a fight.

"Stupid Slytherins," Ron muttered, but he didn't try to turn back. Harry was too busy grimacing over his encounter with the plant's spikes to agree with him.

"You all right, Harry?" Neville asked worriedly.

"Just smarts a bit..."

"What did you do?" Ron asked, peering over at Harry curiously. Harry shook his head. Ron shrugged at the dismissal, but it was Hermione's silence that surprised Harry. She was staring ahead toward the castle and she appeared as though she hadn't even heard Ron.

"It doesn't matter if your parents are Muggles or wizards," Harry said as they crested the last hill; Sirius and Remus had said so often enough. "My mum's parents were Muggles."

Hermione gave him a faint smile.

"They're just gits," Ron added with a scowl. Harry glanced over at him, surprised at the interjection. Hermione looked surprised as well. "Well, they are," Ron insisted. "Everyone knows it doesn't matter if you're Muggleborn." As an afterthought, he added to Harry, "You should have let me hex them."

Harry, Hermione, and Neville all laughed as they made their way up the castle steps.

--

"Harry, you've got bright red dots all along your side," Draco said as Harry tugged his shirt over his head. Harry paused, his other hand stilling on his pajama top as he twisted. He couldn't see over his shoulder particularly well, so he scooted over to the glass near the door.

"What did you do?" Dean asked as he peered in for a better view.

"A plant attacked him in the greenhouse."

"It didn't attack me, Ron," Harry said, pulling a face. "I bumped into it."

"I knocked into him," Neville explained. "Goyle shoved me."

"Yeah?" Seamus asked, sitting up in the middle of his bed. "What for?"

Neville shrugged, his face turning an interesting shade of pink.

"They called Hermione a foul name," Ron said, scowling a bit. "And Neville told them not to."

Seamus leaned forward eagerly. "Which foul name?"

Neville, Ron, and Harry looked uneasily between themselves.

"Mudblood," Draco murmured, and the other boys all turned to look at him. Draco shifted uncomfortably. "I, er, heard it as I was leaving." He turned back to the buttons on his shirt, which he seemed to find extremely interesting; Harry frowned, remembering how quickly Draco had left the greenhouse.

"What does that mean?" Dean asked.

"Dirty blood," Draco answered without pause, though he was still engrossed in his buttons.

Again, the other boys all turned to stare at him, and Draco finally looked up. "Well, it does."

"It means someone who has Muggle parents," Harry explained to Dean after he'd dragged his eyes from Draco. "But it's not a nice way to say it. They were insulting Hermione."

"Oh," Dean said quietly, nodding a little. He got under his covers, looking thoughtful, and Seamus and Neville soon followed. Draco took his time getting into his own bed, and Harry perched himself on his mattress, facing Draco.

"You shouldn't describe it like that," Harry said quietly.

Draco pursed his lips. "It's what my father says," he answered in a low voice and then turned on his side so that he was facing the wall, the covers hiding most of his face. Harry slid under his blanket slowly; he caught Ron's eye on the other side, and Ron raised his eyebrows and nodded in a knowing way. Harry sighed and extinguished his light. It took him a long time to fall asleep, and not just because those little dots along his side were itching.

--

"Is my lecture boring you, Potter?"

Harry jerked his head up from where it had been resting on his arms; McGonagall was frowning at him. "Erm... no, ma'am."

"Then kindly pay attention," she said crisply. Harry nodded obediently, but still his shoulders were sagging and he sneaked a hand up to rub at his eyes. He'd been tired all morning, and those spots were itching even more now; he scratched at them discreetly.

"Maybe you ought to see Pomfrey," Draco suggested, his pale eyebrows critical as he whispered.

"It's just itchy."

Draco shrugged and turned his attention back to McGonagall. Harry straightened his shoulders and tried to listen as carefully as he could, but the professor's voice droned on and on, and Harry was so terribly sleepy. Maybe she wouldn't notice if he closed his eyes and kept his head up this time...

"Harry!"

Harry opened his eyes unwillingly, but at least the finger quit poking his arm. "What?" he demanded when he found Draco's grey eyes so close.

"Potter, are you feeling all right?"

Harry blinked as McGonagall's face took Draco's place. "Yes, ma'am," he said quickly, but McGonagall frowned.

"You're looking peaked, Potter," she said. "Weasley, Granger, escort him to the infirmary."

Hermione and Ron each took one of Harry's arms. Harry knew he was upright, and his feet were even moving, though he felt a bit like he was walking through a cloud.

"Blimey, Harry, you look like a ghost," Ron said as they walked.

"Your arms are so hot, Harry," Hermione said in a hushed voice. "You must have a very high fever."

"You don't think he's contagious, do you?" Ron sounded alarmed.

"Oh, hush, Ron," Hermione said crossly.

"Well, I don't want to be ill. Do you?"

"Ron, don't let go of his arm! He'll fall down the stairs!"

"I'm not going to let him fall," Ron said indignantly.

Harry moaned; he was entirely too tired to listen to his friends' quarreling. "I can make it on my own," he told them tiredly.

"Don't be silly," Hermione chided him. "You can barely keep your head up. Come on, Ron; hurry before he faints."

"Not gonna faint..."

"He's looking a little green, Hermione."

"Quickly, Ron. We're nearly there, Harry."

Harry concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, and he sighed in relief as Ron pushed open the infirmary doors.

"What's this?" Pomfrey demanded worriedly. She lifted Harry with ease onto one of the beds before he could protest.

"We don't know what's wrong with him," Hermione said.

"Tired," Harry complained as Pomfrey waved her wand over him, but he was too knackered to try to move away.

"Mr. Potter, your body is full of Nodding Tree toxins," Pomfrey said, her voice full of surprise. "Were you pierced by one's thorns?"

"Some thorns poked him yesterday," Ron volunteered. "In the greenhouses ... his side," he added, pointing. Pomfrey frowned.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. I'll take care of Mr. Potter now." She made a shooing motion with her hand. Harry's friends waved at him, but Harry made no effort to return the gestures. "Lie back, Mr. Potter," Pomfrey instructed. She lifted his shirt when he complied and tsked. "You should have come here immediately after it happened," she scolded him. "You're going to be very ill," she told him.

Harry didn't care. All he wanted to do was sleep. Pomfrey made him drink some potions and then arranged the blankets around him.

"Just rest now, Mr. Potter," she instructed in a soothing voice. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"Sirius," Harry mumbled as his eyes closed. Remus too, he wanted to add, but his mouth wouldn't obey.

--

Sirius left Remus by the door with Pomfrey and made his way quietly over to the bed where Harry lay sleeping. He stood there for a long minute, gazing down at his peaceful godson as the soft conversation went on behind him.

Harry's cheeks were flushed, even in sleep: a result of his fever, no doubt. Sirius pressed the backs of his fingers to the warm skin, and Harry's eyelids fluttered open. His lips lifted in a lazy smile.

"Hey, Sirius," he whispered.

Sirius' fingers brushed Harry's fringe off of his clammy forehead, and Harry blinked up at him, his head moving with the motion of Sirius' fingers. "Hey, kiddo," Sirius echoed, smiling as well. "Heard you weren't feeling well."

Harry shook his head slowly. "'m tired," he murmured. "McGonagall's gonna be sore... fell asleep in class..."

Sirius' thumb continued to stroke Harry's brow as he tried not to look too amused. "I think she'll probably let it slide this once."

"Hope so," Harry mumbled as he licked dry lips. "I heard her detentions are awful..."

Sirius' lips quirked. "I'll write an excuse," he said quietly.

Harry smiled again as he closed his eyes, murmuring something that sounded like an agreement.

Remus joined them, thanking Pomfrey as she went back into her office.

"What did she say?" Sirius asked.

"Classic symptoms of exposure to Nodding Tree thorns," Remus answered quietly as he smoothed a hand over Harry's hair. "They are more severe though since it went untreated. She says he'll be better in a few days."

"And his fever?"

"It will ease as the day goes on, she said."

Sirius tucked Harry's blanket more securely round his chest. "Has she given him a fever reducer?"

"And a Pain Relieving Potion," Remus said, nodding. Sirius' eyes flicked up. "Poppy said he was complaining of aches."

Sirius frowned as he returned his concerned gaze to his godson. "Bloody plant," he muttered. Remus squeezed his hand. Sirius sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Did you tell her we're staying?"

"She assumed we were," Remus said with a smile. Harry shifted a little, mumbling nonsense, and Sirius stroked his brow until he quieted. "She said we're welcome to take him home; there isn't anything she can do for him here that we can't."

Sirius nodded, and Harry stirred again.

"Sirius?" he whispered, his eyes still closed. Sirius' hand brushed Harry's fringe from his forehead again.

"I'm here," he murmured.

Harry licked dry lips as his eyes fluttered open. "Can we go home, Sirius? It smells funny in here..."

Sirius chuckled. "Does it?"

"Don't like it; wanna go home."

"If you'd like," Sirius said quietly. He glanced up at Remus and Remus nodded.

"I'll let Poppy know. Do you think you can walk?" he asked Harry. Harry nodded, his eyes glazed. Sirius took his elbow and helped him sit up while Remus went into Poppy's office.

They emerged a moment later, the healer's arms full of potions. She was speaking rapidly to Remus, giving him instructions and tutting over Harry when she came closer. She performed a Diagnostic Spell and then nodded.

"He'll be perfectly well in a few days," she assured them. "Nothing out of the ordinary in his symptoms." She smiled and handed the vials and flasks over to Remus. "Get well, Mr. Potter."

Harry smiled vaguely, his head drooping toward Sirius' shoulder. "Tired, Sirius," he mumbled and Sirius simply scooped his boneless godson into his arms, seeing no reason for a stroll to the Floo.

"At least he's eating," he said with a smirk as Harry's weight settled against his chest; Remus smiled. Harry was asleep by the time Sirius transferred him to his bed and didn't stir as blankets and pillows were arranged gently around him.

Remus put the vials on Harry's desk and then summoned Sirius' book and his own current manuscript from the room across the corridor.

"Thanks," Sirius said, accepting the book as he settled himself at the foot of Harry's bed. Remus dropped a kiss on his lips before taking the desk chair and flipping through his parchments, both of them content to wait until Harry woke again.

--

"Do you think you might be able to tolerate some broth?" Remus asked, much later that evening after Harry finally awoke. "I'll fetch some," he said when Harry shrugged.

Sirius carefully positioned three pillows behind Harry's back. "How do you feel?"

"Knackered..."

"Does your head still ache?" Sirius uncorked three of the vials that Poppy had given them. "Go on," he said with a smile when Harry gazed at the potions with a wary eye. "They'll make you feel better."

Harry took the vials reluctantly, making three consecutive faces as each one met his tongue. "They're vile," he said, his voice still weak but Sirius was encouraged by the complaint.

"All potions are vile," Sirius agreed. "Hold on," he said as Harry ran a hand over his sweaty forehead. Sirius retrieved a damp flannel from the washroom. "Put your head back a bit," he instructed when he returned. He placed it carefully on Harry's forehead and Harry sighed.

"Feels good..."

"His color's improved," Remus said, coming back in with a tray.

Sirius nodded as he placed a hand on Harry's cheek. "Fever's gone down a bit as well." He gave Harry a mock-serious look. "I'd say you're going to live, kiddo."

Harry's lips lifted.

Remus held out a glass of pumpkin juice. Harry brought his head up and Sirius grabbed the flannel before it plopped onto Harry's shirt. Harry sipped at the juice but then let his head fall back on the pillow.

"Would you like to try the broth?" Remus asked gently as he took the glass back. Harry shook his head. "A bath might make you feel better," Remus said, cupping the back of Harry's neck briefly to feel for fever. "Make you feel a bit more comfortable?"

"Guess," Harry murmured. Sirius collected a pair of pajamas and shorts from Harry's bureau while Remus helped Harry untangle his legs from the blankets. Remus put a steadying hand on Harry's arm and helped him down the short corridor and into the loo.

Sirius handed over the bundle of clothes while Remus spelled the taps on. "Don't fall asleep," Sirius said with a smile. Harry clutched the clothes to his chest and instead of turning away, he let his forehead fall against Sirius' chest and Sirius wound an arm round his godson. "You'll feel better after your bath," Sirius assured him.

Harry nodded and after a minute he stepped back and went inside, his cheeks still flushed.

--

Harry emerged from the bath to clean sheets and felt much better for it. He wriggled under their warmth, agreeing this time when Remus offered him broth.

"How did you manage to get gouged by a Nodding Tree?" Sirius asked between spoonfuls. "Madame Pomfrey didn't know."

"Goyle shoved Neville into me," Harry said. "And I stumbled into the tree."

Remus frowned. "Why did he push Neville?"

"Nott called Hermione..." Harry gestured vaguely as his stomach twisted, "...you know, the bad way to say someone's Muggleborn."

"Fear of a name," Sirius reminded him gently. Harry nodded.

"He called her a Mudblood and Neville told him not to say that."

Sirius and Remus shared a glance. "Were you fighting with them?" Remus asked.

Harry set his spoon back in the bowl and shook his head. "Ron wanted to hex them and I think the Slytherins would have--Goyle and Crabbe mostly, but..." Harry shrugged and fiddled with the spoon.

"You told Ron not to, is that it?" Sirius asked.

"Hermione and me, yeah. He would have gotten into trouble."

"You did exactly right," Remus said; both of his parents were smiling at him. "Fighting with them wouldn't have solved anything. You shouldn't be embarrassed about ending it."

"I'm not," Harry said as he pushed his bowl away; Remus waved his wand and it disappeared.

"Something else happened?" Sirius guessed.

Harry rested his head against the pillows and shrugged again. "Draco left as soon as Nott said it; he heard Nott, I know he did. And then he was acting peculiar in the dorm that night."

Remus' brows furrowed. "Peculiar?"

"Can't explain it exactly..."

"I think Draco's heard that word quite often in his home," Sirius said.

"But he doesn't seem to dislike Hermione," Harry protested. "Or Dean, even though Dean isn't certain if his father was a wizard or not."

"Do you remember when I said that it might take awhile for Draco to sort out his feelings; now that he's in Gryffindor and away from the ideas about purebloods being superior?"

Harry nodded and Sirius went on, "Draco was taught that witches like Hermione are not his equals. And even wizards like you and Seamus. I don't think Draco wants to believe that because he likes you so well. But it's difficult to teach yourself new things."

"I wish Draco hadn't learned those things," Harry said, shifting a little so that he was horizontal and Remus took away the excess pillows. "I think it makes him sad."

"Continue on being his friend," Remus said, patting his shoulder as he moved away; Harry yawned as he nodded.

"Does Mudblood really mean dirty blood?" Harry asked; his parents glanced at each other again. "That's what Draco said."

"Yes," said Sirius. "Or tainted blood, I suppose."

"Oh," Harry said in a small voice. "It sounds loads worse that way."

"Yes, it does," Sirius agreed softly; he combed his fingers through Harry's hair. "I think you'd best get some more sleep."

"All right," Harry murmured. Remus spelled the lights down and kissed Harry's brow. Sirius bent down next, adding another kiss.

"We're very proud of you for walking away from a fight," he said, still carding his fingers lightly through Harry's damp strands. Even as drowsy as he suddenly was, Harry smiled. "Go to sleep," Sirius whispered. "And we'll be right across the corridor if you need us."

Harry nodded and yawned again, still smiling as he drifted off to sleep.