Very slightly AU but only because I may have neglected to fact check a couple of things.

No Disclaimer: I own everything. Go ahead and sue me; you won't get much.

HPHPHPHP

Chapter 1- Roommates

Harry rolled over and pressed his pillow across his face. The snoring shook the rafters. Across the dormitory Seamus was looking over Neville's shoulder at their Charms book.

"I swear, there's nothing in there about silencing," Neville protested shaking his head.

"I know my mum's used it before," countered Seamus, pulling the book away from Neville.

"Well, idiot, that doesn't mean they're going to put it in a first year textbook, does it?" Dean growled from his bed, clasping his hand to his ears.

There was a sudden snort from Ron's bed and he rolled over groggily.

"Do you all mind? I'm trying to sleep here."

"Oh you're trying to sleep," Dean rose with a fist balled a his side.

"Dean, cool it," Harry piped in. "Sorry Ron, it's just your snoring is really bad tonight."

Ron snuffled and rubbed his nose. "Well I can't help that I've got a cold, now can I? Would it kill you all to cut me a bit of slack? Trust me, when you get it, you'll see it's worse on my end."

Dean's eyebrows shot up as he glanced across the room at Seamus and Neville.

Three days later Harry piled his spare robes and an extra quilt on top of the pillow over his head. Still the snoring sounds came in from all sides. He growled to himself and rose, pulling a blanket from his bed. He tiptoed through the minefield of used tissues and headed down to the common room.

A lamp illuminated Hermione, paging excitedly through a book from a fireside armchair. Harry took the one across.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, without looking up from the page.

"Not over the the sound of all that horrid snoring. I'm sure I'm the only one in Gryffindor Tower who hasn't gotten this bloody cold."

"Well aren't you the lucky one?"

Harry snorted and pulled the thin blanket over his head, shivering slightly in the cold air of the common room. He chose not to reply.

Chapter 2- Hagrid

The warm spring breeze rustled the grass as Ron, Hermione, and Harry trotted towards Hagrid's cottage. Suddenly Ron froze.

"Oy mate," he grabbed Harry's arm. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Harry asked curiously. Beside him, Hermione also shook her head.

"Wait," Ron instructed.

The trio stood in silence for a moment before there came, what seemed to be a muffled explosion in the distance.

"It sounds like thunder," Harry commented.

"But there isn't a cloud in the sky," Hermione pointed out.

They remained frozen, for a moment, in wait for the sound to repeat. But there was nothing. So, with unspoken agreement, the three began again to walk, albeit a bit more cautiously.

When they weren't more than a five yards from Hagrid's the sound repeated. Only now it was clearly very near, and quite petrifying in its volume.

"It's in Hagrid's house," quaked Ron. "There's something in there."

"We should go get help," Hermione said. No sooner had the statement been made than Harry had taken off running, wand extended, to his friend's aid.

He pushed the door right open, without a knock and then stopped short. Hagrid was sitting beside the fire, feet up and, besides being a bit pale, in no obvious danger. He turned a startled eye to Harry's intrusion.

"Hagrid," the boy called out. "I'm sorry but, we heard something. Is everything all right?"

Before the groundskeeper had a chance to answer Ron and Hermione burst in.

"Harry," she exclaimed, panting. "Why must you always insist on running towards danger?"

Ron wheezed. "You know, it doesn't actually look that dangerous. I mean, except that it's got to be a hundred degrees in here." He vented out the front of his cloak and fanned his flushed cheeks. "Hello Hagrid."

"Hello Ron, Hermione. Now what's this about danger?"

"We heard an explosion," Harry explained. He glanced around him as though expecting to see a troll pop out of the cupboard.

Hagrid furrowed his enormous brow.

"I haven't… heard… heard-" his breath began to catch and he threw his head forward in a monstrous sneeze, the force of which nearly pushed the children back out the door. The shutters trembled, a pile of dirty dishes came tumbling onto the ground, and Fang howled. Hermione glanced knowingly at Ron.

"Erm, bless you?" said Harry uncertainly.

Hagrid snuffled loudly and pressed a handkerchief the size of a Volkswagen to his nose. "I beg your pardon. I've got a devil of a head cold."

"Ah yes, that's been going around," Hermione said perceptively. "Have you got a fever?"

"Naw," Hagrid waved off the question. "Nothin' really but the sneezes. Although you kids should probably not be around me. I don't want you lot getting sick."

Hermione nodded and stepped towards the door.

"Feel better, Hagrid," Ron said as he followed.

Harry lingered. "You two go on back. I think I'll stay a bit."

"Now I'm not kidding ya, Harry. You don't want this," Hagrid snuffled.

Harry shrugged. "I'm pretty resistant to these thing, actually. I don't usually get what's 'going around.'"

Hagrid looked at him searchingly. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Now can I make you some tea?"

Before he was able to answer Hagrid reeled back with another explosive sneeze. With this, Harry was thrown back against the cupboard. He tried not wince as he cracked his head and stinging tears filled his eyes.

He waved off Hagrid's profuse apologies as he lifted the kettle and surreptitiously rubbed the knot forming behind his ear.

HPHPHPHPHP

Been writing tons of stories lately but I usually end up overthinking and not putting them up. Here's my attempt to break this habit. If you like it please tell me… I definitely need motivation. If you don't like it… well there's a good chance I'll neglect this story like the others.