HP Fic- Too Many Cooks 16/???
Aug. 7th, 2009 11:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalPart 1- Discovery * Part 2- Breakfast * Part 3- Chamomile Tea * Part 4- A Potion * Part 5- Chicken Soup * Part 6- The Black Ledger * Part 7- Apples * Part 8- Exercise * Part 9- Hot Shower* Part 10- Sleepy Time Tea * Part 11- Fever Rising * Part 12- Breakfast in Bed * Part 13- Yarrow Tea * Part 14- Honey * Part 15- Garlic
Same ratings apply to this part
Too Many Cooks
Part 16: Cinnamon
“Guys?” James said around the clove in his mouth. Just as he was getting used to the startlingly intense taste of the garlic. “I dod’t thidk this is workig.” He swallowed again. “Add I’b dode with this thig.” He grabbed a tissue from the box and spat out the clove, which was tiny and squished, into it. He balled it up and added it to the pile of used tissues beside him.
“How do you feel?” asked Peter, apparently expecting James to be miraculously cured.
James shrugged. “About the sabe.” In fact, he might actually have felt a little worse. His nose, a constant source of misery already, was acting up again and overpowering the other discomforts. He’d been so careful not to sneeze when he’d had his mouth full, and now the pressure in his sinuses was taking its revenge. He would have welcomed a sneeze or two for the relief those brought, but his nose wasn’t in the mood to comply. Figuring blowing his nose would help a little at least, he took more tissues and blew. His ears popped from the pressure and he swallowed to get them to pop again. He coughed and blew, blew and coughed, and when he was done, the taste of garlic was as bad as before.
Peter said, “I was the one who found the garlic remedy, you know.”
“You dod’t say?” James pulled the tissues closer, rubbing his nose again. Then he took hold of the glass of water and drank nearly all of it. The taste was still in his mouth, and he smacked his lips a few times. Then he spotted Remus with a small bottle of cinnamon. He looked grateful. It was still a spice, but certainly a much more appealing one than garlic. Knowing better than to try to pronounce ‘cinnamon’ with his nose as stuffy as it was, he merely pointed at the bottle.
Remus nodded. “I thought we’d try this next.”
Only slightly apprehensively did James open his mouth. “Well thed. Let’s have it.” He stuck his tongue out, ready for anything that didn’t taste like garlic.
Remus looked uncomfortably at Peter, who returned the look. Sirius, who was over at the table arranging the books, coughed. “You see, the thing is, Prongs…”
James groaned. “What do I hab to do? Bathe id it? Twirl aroud id a circle tossig bidches ub id the air? Stick it ub my arse?”
Peter snorted with laughter, which was a bit much, given the joke. Remus didn’t join in. “Apparently, a cure for the common cold is to sniff cinnamon.”
“Oh,” said James, who wasn’t really in a state to use his nose for anything resembling sniffing at the moment. It was too stuffed, too full of cold. He couldn’t even sniff back a runny nose at the moment. “I dod’t thig that’s goig to work right dow.” He demonstrated by trying to breathe in through his nose and failing abysmally. “See?”
“Mmm,” Remus nodded. “We might be able to do something about that. Where’s that ledger gone?”
Peter got up and headed over to the table where the book lay open. He flipped through the pages, seeming to know what Remus had been referring to. “In addition to keeping track of your temperature and writing up remedies we found a few other… um, related charms. The one I think Remus is thinking of has to do with sneezing.”
James stopped him right there. “Hold od. You’ve had a sbell to helb with sdeezig this whole tibe add did’t tell be about it?” He rubbed a finger back and forth under his nose. “Well?”
“It’s not that kind of help,” Remus said. He walked over to the table and peered down at the ledger over Peter’s shoulder. “Instead of helping get rid of your sneezes, it actually makes you sneeze more.”
James blanched.
“It should help free your congestion up a little,” Remus continued to explain. “At least enough for you to be able to smell some cinnamon. Want to give it a go?”
Though he felt a bit apprehensive, he also felt so stuffy that his nose hurt. But not just his nose, but his sinuses completely, with the pressure in the bridge and behind his eyes and the center of his forehead and the back of his throat as well. And if his friends thought this would help, who was he to refuse the assistance now? They had tried so many things already, something was bound to do the trick sooner or later. Besides, they’d made a promise to help him. “Yes, blease,” James said.
Sirius looked warily at Remus, then went and fetched one of Peter’s handkerchiefs. The cloth was especially thick, because Peter’s mum knew Peter’s sneezes and blows were not so very light. Sirius pressed it into James’ hand then guided it up so it was close to James’ nose. “Ready, mate?” Sirius asked.
And James, who didn’t really know what he was ready for, nodded anyway.
Peter came over to perform the spell. James was a little less ready and a little more apprehensive at this, but he closed his eyes and hoped his trust held out so he didn’t flinch and mess the spell up. The last thing he wanted was to have Peter take his nose off or something. But Peter performed the spell perfectly and immediately James felt the results.
His whole nose tickled with an unparalleled fierceness. The urge to sneeze was so sudden, so strong, so intense, that James only had enough time to take in half a breath before the sneezes burst out of him. “AhhhhCHOO! AhhChoo! Archooo! HahShoo! AhhShoo! Ah-CHOO! AhhhhKTChoo!” James felt the congestion loosen and the pressure lessen slightly. But he couldn’t stop sneezing. “Ahhh-Choo! KChoo! KIHShoo-Choo-KShoo! AhhChoo! AhChoo! AhhCHOO!” It was only just beginning, but his nose was already streaming.
James blindly held the hanky to his nose, his thumb and forefinger pressing a little against his nose, mostly just to keep the handkerchief close. “Ahhh-Shoo! AhhChoo! AhhChoo! Ahhhh… ahhhChoo! KahhChoo!” Sneeze after sneeze spilled from him. The tickles seemed utterly relentless and James was wondering if Peter had maybe messed up with his spell after all. “Ahh… AhhhShoo! AhChoo! AhhhChoo! Ahhh-hahh-Choo!” Was there really supposed to be this much sneezing? The thick hanky was growing damp, but he dared not refold it or move it to search for a dry spot. The sneezes were still coming too fast and steadily. “AhhhChoo! Ahhhhh-ahhShoo! AhhChoo! AhChoo! AhhCHOO!”
Mercifully, that last sneeze seemed to provide a little relief. His nose still tickled madly and he still felt the urge to keep sneezing, but the urge was noticeably weaker now. “AhChoo!” Then “AhhhCHOOO!” And it was weaker yet. He felt like he had to sneeze but at least now the sneezes made him feel good afterwards. He had a few seconds after each in which to feel relief at the release before the next sneeze struck.”Ah-AhhChoo! Hah…” That was a happy sigh. The tickles were definitely backing off now. One more… one more should do… it… “AH-Choo! Yes.” James folded the hanky around his nose, moving it to a slightly dryer spot, and emptied his nose with lovely, freeing, wet blows.
Then he sat back against his pillows with a blissful smile on his face. Sirius smirked. “Feeling better there, Prongs?”
James nodded happily then gave his nose another blow.
“I know you didn’t want us to say it,” said Remus, gliding over to the bed with the cinnamon. “But I do think that called for a proper bless you.” He smiled. “Bless you.” Then he held out the bottle of cinnamon.
James took it, brought it up to his nose, and inhaled deeply, repeatedly. At first it smelled rather good—soothing, even. But after a minute it started to burn his nostrils slightly. After a few minutes, so much sniffing was making him feel a little lightheaded. He had a feeling that didn’t mean he was cured.
“ahh-ahh…” he turned his head. “ahhChoo!” Nope. Far from cured.
Next up- Part 17: Crystals
Same ratings apply to this part
Too Many Cooks
Part 16: Cinnamon
“Guys?” James said around the clove in his mouth. Just as he was getting used to the startlingly intense taste of the garlic. “I dod’t thidk this is workig.” He swallowed again. “Add I’b dode with this thig.” He grabbed a tissue from the box and spat out the clove, which was tiny and squished, into it. He balled it up and added it to the pile of used tissues beside him.
“How do you feel?” asked Peter, apparently expecting James to be miraculously cured.
James shrugged. “About the sabe.” In fact, he might actually have felt a little worse. His nose, a constant source of misery already, was acting up again and overpowering the other discomforts. He’d been so careful not to sneeze when he’d had his mouth full, and now the pressure in his sinuses was taking its revenge. He would have welcomed a sneeze or two for the relief those brought, but his nose wasn’t in the mood to comply. Figuring blowing his nose would help a little at least, he took more tissues and blew. His ears popped from the pressure and he swallowed to get them to pop again. He coughed and blew, blew and coughed, and when he was done, the taste of garlic was as bad as before.
Peter said, “I was the one who found the garlic remedy, you know.”
“You dod’t say?” James pulled the tissues closer, rubbing his nose again. Then he took hold of the glass of water and drank nearly all of it. The taste was still in his mouth, and he smacked his lips a few times. Then he spotted Remus with a small bottle of cinnamon. He looked grateful. It was still a spice, but certainly a much more appealing one than garlic. Knowing better than to try to pronounce ‘cinnamon’ with his nose as stuffy as it was, he merely pointed at the bottle.
Remus nodded. “I thought we’d try this next.”
Only slightly apprehensively did James open his mouth. “Well thed. Let’s have it.” He stuck his tongue out, ready for anything that didn’t taste like garlic.
Remus looked uncomfortably at Peter, who returned the look. Sirius, who was over at the table arranging the books, coughed. “You see, the thing is, Prongs…”
James groaned. “What do I hab to do? Bathe id it? Twirl aroud id a circle tossig bidches ub id the air? Stick it ub my arse?”
Peter snorted with laughter, which was a bit much, given the joke. Remus didn’t join in. “Apparently, a cure for the common cold is to sniff cinnamon.”
“Oh,” said James, who wasn’t really in a state to use his nose for anything resembling sniffing at the moment. It was too stuffed, too full of cold. He couldn’t even sniff back a runny nose at the moment. “I dod’t thig that’s goig to work right dow.” He demonstrated by trying to breathe in through his nose and failing abysmally. “See?”
“Mmm,” Remus nodded. “We might be able to do something about that. Where’s that ledger gone?”
Peter got up and headed over to the table where the book lay open. He flipped through the pages, seeming to know what Remus had been referring to. “In addition to keeping track of your temperature and writing up remedies we found a few other… um, related charms. The one I think Remus is thinking of has to do with sneezing.”
James stopped him right there. “Hold od. You’ve had a sbell to helb with sdeezig this whole tibe add did’t tell be about it?” He rubbed a finger back and forth under his nose. “Well?”
“It’s not that kind of help,” Remus said. He walked over to the table and peered down at the ledger over Peter’s shoulder. “Instead of helping get rid of your sneezes, it actually makes you sneeze more.”
James blanched.
“It should help free your congestion up a little,” Remus continued to explain. “At least enough for you to be able to smell some cinnamon. Want to give it a go?”
Though he felt a bit apprehensive, he also felt so stuffy that his nose hurt. But not just his nose, but his sinuses completely, with the pressure in the bridge and behind his eyes and the center of his forehead and the back of his throat as well. And if his friends thought this would help, who was he to refuse the assistance now? They had tried so many things already, something was bound to do the trick sooner or later. Besides, they’d made a promise to help him. “Yes, blease,” James said.
Sirius looked warily at Remus, then went and fetched one of Peter’s handkerchiefs. The cloth was especially thick, because Peter’s mum knew Peter’s sneezes and blows were not so very light. Sirius pressed it into James’ hand then guided it up so it was close to James’ nose. “Ready, mate?” Sirius asked.
And James, who didn’t really know what he was ready for, nodded anyway.
Peter came over to perform the spell. James was a little less ready and a little more apprehensive at this, but he closed his eyes and hoped his trust held out so he didn’t flinch and mess the spell up. The last thing he wanted was to have Peter take his nose off or something. But Peter performed the spell perfectly and immediately James felt the results.
His whole nose tickled with an unparalleled fierceness. The urge to sneeze was so sudden, so strong, so intense, that James only had enough time to take in half a breath before the sneezes burst out of him. “AhhhhCHOO! AhhChoo! Archooo! HahShoo! AhhShoo! Ah-CHOO! AhhhhKTChoo!” James felt the congestion loosen and the pressure lessen slightly. But he couldn’t stop sneezing. “Ahhh-Choo! KChoo! KIHShoo-Choo-KShoo! AhhChoo! AhChoo! AhhCHOO!” It was only just beginning, but his nose was already streaming.
James blindly held the hanky to his nose, his thumb and forefinger pressing a little against his nose, mostly just to keep the handkerchief close. “Ahhh-Shoo! AhhChoo! AhhChoo! Ahhhh… ahhhChoo! KahhChoo!” Sneeze after sneeze spilled from him. The tickles seemed utterly relentless and James was wondering if Peter had maybe messed up with his spell after all. “Ahh… AhhhShoo! AhChoo! AhhhChoo! Ahhh-hahh-Choo!” Was there really supposed to be this much sneezing? The thick hanky was growing damp, but he dared not refold it or move it to search for a dry spot. The sneezes were still coming too fast and steadily. “AhhhChoo! Ahhhhh-ahhShoo! AhhChoo! AhChoo! AhhCHOO!”
Mercifully, that last sneeze seemed to provide a little relief. His nose still tickled madly and he still felt the urge to keep sneezing, but the urge was noticeably weaker now. “AhChoo!” Then “AhhhCHOOO!” And it was weaker yet. He felt like he had to sneeze but at least now the sneezes made him feel good afterwards. He had a few seconds after each in which to feel relief at the release before the next sneeze struck.”Ah-AhhChoo! Hah…” That was a happy sigh. The tickles were definitely backing off now. One more… one more should do… it… “AH-Choo! Yes.” James folded the hanky around his nose, moving it to a slightly dryer spot, and emptied his nose with lovely, freeing, wet blows.
Then he sat back against his pillows with a blissful smile on his face. Sirius smirked. “Feeling better there, Prongs?”
James nodded happily then gave his nose another blow.
“I know you didn’t want us to say it,” said Remus, gliding over to the bed with the cinnamon. “But I do think that called for a proper bless you.” He smiled. “Bless you.” Then he held out the bottle of cinnamon.
James took it, brought it up to his nose, and inhaled deeply, repeatedly. At first it smelled rather good—soothing, even. But after a minute it started to burn his nostrils slightly. After a few minutes, so much sniffing was making him feel a little lightheaded. He had a feeling that didn’t mean he was cured.
“ahh-ahh…” he turned his head. “ahhChoo!” Nope. Far from cured.
Next up- Part 17: Crystals
no subject
Date: 2009-08-10 02:30 am (UTC)Thanks for the happy surprise, I love this fic.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-10 03:52 am (UTC)I look forward to your thoughts and hope you enjoy! :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-13 12:21 pm (UTC)I really enjoyed this. Poor sneezy James is just adorable. The ledger is perfectly Remus and I love Sirius' concern and attention to James. Peter is well a bit of a boob - which is perfectly Peter to me.
The "Bless you" from Remus was just right too.
Made me happy to read, I LOVE your Marauders :)
Thank you!