It was the Birthday Cake
Summary: Harry visits Hagrid while he's at Hogwarts with Sirius and Remus to get their room ready. While there Hagrid gives Harry a birthday cake since he's missed Harry's birthday. It was the birthday cake that causes Harry to get sick.
Harry laid sprawled on the couch, reading a Defense book. Remus was busy organizing the classroom, he would be using this year, while Sirius was getting their quarters in order. Harry's only job in the process was to organize and clean his room. Since he was at Hogwarts and can use magic, the job was done in about twenty minutes.
"Harry, are you going to take your broom to the shed?" Sirius asked.
"I'm keeping it in my room here, this year," Harry answered, his eyes remaining on the book he was reading.
"That's fine." Sirius began unpacking the things he needed for his desk, opening and closing doors and organizing the quills.
Remus was busy in the classroom and he wanted to do that job on his own. After an eventful summer with Sirius and Harry, Remus was looking for a place to have some 'me time'. He rarely got it at home.
He had to say in the year since Harry had been living with them, things have improved around the house. It was an adjustment to live with a teenager, but Remus counted his lucky stars that Harry was a boy. Less drama or at least that was what Minerva told him.
But Harry was a good kid. He didn't cause a lot of trouble. He could be cheeky, but Sirius and Remus welcomed it, giving what Harry had been through.
On that night over a year ago when he and Sirius confront Pettigrew, they thought that their chances of getting Sirius's freedom would be gone forever. But when they received a floo call from Dumbledore, telling them to meet him in his office in an hour and then discover that Pettigrew had been found, they were beyond shocked.
Because of the public outcry, if word was to get out that Sirius never had a trial, Fudge decided to give Sirius the Minister's Pardon. It was all for the sake of keeping up his good image and Sirius knew that, but agreed to it anyway. Veritaserum was used just to make sure that Sirius was telling the truth. It was also used in Pettigrew's trial. He was now serving a life sentence in Azkaban.
Sirius was given compensation from the ministry for the twelve years he was falsely in prison. Fudge asked if there was anything that Sirius wanted and his immediate answer was custody of Harry. The at the time thirteen-year-old was overjoyed. The summer that followed was filled with healer appointments to restore Harry's health and a lot of counseling. They got through it and managed the best way they could.
And Harry was thriving, he was healthy and was currently at the weight of the average fifteen-year-old. But Harry was self-conscious about his appearance and his body, like any teenager.
But Harry was happy, living with Sirius and Remus. They loved him and they showed it.
Sirius glanced at the clock Remus had insisted they needed and told Harry that he would be late for tea at Hagrid's.
When the half-giant heard that Harry would be with Remus and Sirius when they came to Hogwarts to get things organized, he asked Sirius if Harry could come for tea.
"I'm going," Harry said, getting up off the couch and headed to his room to drop the book off on his desk. He returned to the sitting room and waved to Sirius. "See you later," Harry called over his shoulder and headed out of the portrait.
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Sirius walked into the classroom that would be his and Remus for at least this year. It was a miracle that Professor Dumbledore to rehire Remus to teach Defense once again. The number of letters from parents and students in Remus's favor was overwhelming that the Board of Governors really had no choice. It helped that Dumbledore had given Sirius a position on the board, taking the chair that many Blacks before him had taken.
Sirius assured the board that the students would be safe during the night of the Full Moon. Remus would never be on the grounds when there was a Full Moon, deciding to use the Shrieking Shack for his transformations. Sirius would teach the next day or give the kids an assignment to complete in the library, asking Madam Pince to have them sign in.
"Has Harry mentioned to you what he would like to do as a career? Remus asked Sirius, entering the closet with extra books in his hand. "That's something else he'll have this year."
"That's a talk that can wait until Easter break." Sirius paused for a second before he turned to Remus. "I think we should also tell him what's going on, and you know what I mean Remus."
"Should we really burden him with that?" Remus asked, stopping what he was working on to look at his best friend.
"I think we should. He should know why this is happening, Remus. Maybe we could help prevent things from happening. He should know the prophecy, Remus. If James was alive he would tell Harry."
"I know he would," Remus sighed. "But Lily wouldn't allow it. He would have to go behind her back to do it."
"So, do you see any reason why we shouldn't tell Harry at all or tell him at Christmas?"
"Tell him at Christmas," Remus decided. "This way, it gives us time to think about how we're going to start the conversation."
"Okay, so we're agreed we'll tell Harry when we're home from Christmas Break?"
Remus nodded. "I hope this isn't a mistake."
"I don't think it would be," Sirius assured him. He walked out to the corridor and into their private quarters. He had just begun to unpack his things in his room when he heard the floo activate.
"Hello, anyone here," the voice of Albus Dumbledore called.
"I'm here Albus," Sirius said as he entered the sitting room. "What do you need?"
"I was wondering if I might have a word with you?" the headmaster asked.
"Sure, give me a minute." Sirius wrote a brief note to Remus and Harry and flooed to the headmaster's office.
"Settling in alright?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, we seem to be," Sirius answered. "We'll officially move on the first September. Just wanted to get some things ready before we get too busy."
"Good." Dumbledore handed Sirius a packet of parchment. "This is the information I came up with for the Defense club. You can let me know what you and Remus decided and we'll go from there."
"We decided to do it, Albus, and let Harry do the teaching with Remus and me supervising. For a fifteen-year-old wizard, he's powerful and knows a lot of the advanced charms, spells, and everything really. I think there isn't a book in the library he hasn't read once and when we're at Grimmauld Place, he's always practicing."
"He's a good kid, Sirius. Considering everything he's been through. I don't think I could apologize enough for leaving him at that horrible place. Minerva has repeated that to me for weeks now." Albus paused to take a sip of tea. "How's he doing since what happened in June?"
"He's improved. The nightmares seem to be getting less about Voldemort's return and Cedric's death and more about something happening to me or Remus. He's had a few nights where he didn't sleep at all. The healer you recommended has helped a lot. I don't think we could thank you enough for suggesting him. Healer Sammons told Remus and me that it would take time. Considering the fact that the Ministry now believes Harry's story and Rufus is now the Minister, I think things will return to a normal life, considering the times we're leaving in."
Albus nodded and hummed as Sirius talked. Then he asked, "Have you decided on whether or not you'll tell Harry the prophecy?"
"We're telling him at Christmas. He's gone to Hagrid's. He had invited Harry for tea. He's been gone for about an hour. Roaming around here, I don't mind since the wards are in place. He should be back soon, though."
"Okay, well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. Thank you, Sirius."
"You're welcome, Albus." He got up to go to the floo when Dumbledore said. "By the way, I know I said this last year, but, it's nice to see Harry happy again."
"Is it," Sirius agreed and flooed to Remus's office, so he could tell him about the talk with Dumbledore.
Harry wouldn't back for another hour, probably taking his time walking back to enjoy the sunny August afternoon.
Sirius figured he would go to the library to talk with Madam Pince about his idea of sending his classes to the library for a research assignment if he wasn't able to teach the days during the Full Moon.
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If Sirius walked into his quarters at that moment, he would have his godson in the same position he would have that morning before Harry left for Hagrid's: lying on the couch.
Only this time, Harry was curled up on his side, his eyes closed, trying to concentrate on not throwing up. Visions of the green glob of frosting that reminded Harry of toothpaste were floating around in Harry's mind, making the teen feel queasier than he was. The worse part of all this was he knew what the green glob tasted like, only Harry didn't know which was worse, the frosting or the cake, which, when it met Harry's tongue, it was all he could do to swallow.
The cake itself was dry, and Harry was positive the white powder in the middle was flour that wasn't stirred in well enough.
His stomach grumbled, letting Harry know it didn't appreciate the second piece of cake Hagrid served him or the third or until Harry had realized he had eaten half of the cake. It wasn't until Harry returned to Remus and Sirius's quarters that his stomach let him that eating the cake was a bad idea.
Not trusting himself to breathe through his mouth, Harry blew the breath out his nose. The cake must have turned into clay in his stomach. Green, lumpy, chunky, clay.
Turning over to lie on his stomach, Harry smashed his face in the plush pillow. He hoped that for a moment he wouldn't have to feel this awful rolling, churning in his belly.
Just when he thought that he would have to get up and find Sirius, despite not wanting to move from the couch, he heard the door open and close and the familiar footsteps of Sirius. He could never sneak up on anybody because he walked loud.
Feeling relieved that Sirius was there, Harry kept his face smashed into the pillow, afraid any movement would upset his already unhappy tummy further.
"Harry, we're going to go home in about an hour. Remus is talking to Severus about his Wolfsbane potion and then we'll floo home."
The sound of cabinet doors opening and closing told Harry that Sirius was finishing putting up the cups for tea in the kitchenette. Another cabinet door opened and the soft thump said that the tea box was now put up.
"Remind me when we get home to read over your Defense essay. I'll let you know if Remus would find it acceptable to turn in."
Harry ignored Sirius talking. It then occurred to Harry that the one thing he wanted to do while here was to find a book to help him with his History of Magic homework. But they would be back here to set things up again since Remus and Sirius would be beginning lesson planning and they liked doing it here so they have access to the books they needed.
Harry's stomach rumbled, causing Harry to muffle a moan.
A part of him debated over whether or not to tell Sirius he didn't feel well. During his fourth year, he had gotten sick a few times and every time, Sirius was there to take care of him. Sirius didn't care what time of the day it was if Harry was sick, he wanted to know.
Before he could say anything, he felt Sirius's hand on the back of his neck. The hand was cool, rough like sandpaper.
"Tea wear you out? I wouldn't think walking to and from Hagrid's would overexert yourself," Sirius commented.
"Hagrid had shown me where he placed Buckbeak. He said to tell you thank you for getting approval to bring him back," Harry told his godfather, turning his head away from the pillow. The position Harry was laying was somewhat uncomfortable with his neck turned the way it was. Sirius's hand moved to the middle of his back.
Before Sirius could say another else, Harry groaned into the pillow, lifting himself for a moment to press a hand to his abdomen.
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked, his voice sounding like a loving father. Harry felt his other hand in his hair. "What aches?"
Harry managed, somehow, to turn onto his back, one hand remaining on his belly only to be joined by the other. Lying belly down didn't help. Harry pondered how laying on his stomach helped when he had stomach aches, but lying on his belly was one of his first responses to stomach aches.
"My stomach," Harry admitted. He felt childish, admitting a stomach ache to Sirius. The churning and roiling in his stomach were getting worse. "It's killing me," he slurred, groaning slightly.
Sirius's hand had moved to the back of the couch when Harry turned over on to his back. He gently reached down and placed his hand on Harry's abdomen, feeling the warm skin under his cool hand. He wasn't sure, but he thought he heard Harry whine when he took his hand off his godson's belly.
"Stay there," Sirius murmured. "I'll go and get you a stomach soother."
Harry looked at Sirius as if he was saying where would I go? With his stomach acting the way it was, Harry wasn't going to be moving suddenly anytime soon.
Sirius entered the bathroom and opened the cupboard. He had asked Madam Pomfrey to help them keep the potion cabinet stocked with potions. She agreed since Remus opted to stay in his own quarters to recover from Full Moons. Madam Pomfrey was kind enough to give Sirius some extra potions for himself and Harry.
Looking into the cabinet, Sirius reached for some stomach soother and smiled when he found the familiar pink potion. He closed the cabinet with the potion in his hand and returned to the sitting room.
The only change in Harry's position was both hands were on his belly and he had returned to lying on his side.
"Good thing we had some in the cabinet or we would have had to make a trip to the hospital wing and I know you would have wanted to. Sit up."
Harry obeyed, propping himself up on a hand. "I'm sorry."
Sirius used his free hand to lift Harry's chin to look in his eyes. "You don't have to apologize. This isn't the first time you've had a stomach ache."
Without another word, Sirius brought the potion to Harry's lips, tipping it slightly so he didn't spill it all over Harry.
Without complaining, Harry drank the potion. To his relief, it wasn't as disgusting as the other potions he had to take in his lifetime. Thankfully, Sirius grabbed a cherry flavored one. When he swallowed the last of the potion, he leaned back against the couch, letting his body slide down to where he laid on his side once again.
"How long does it take to work?" Harry asked, imagining the potion coating the lining of his stomach. He hated the agonizing waiting period between the swallowing and the reparation.
"Not lone, give it time," Sirius soothed, rubbing Harry's back.
"I think I had too much of it."
"Too much of what?" Sirius paused the back rub, something telling that this wasn't a simple stomachache.
"Cake. Hagrid had made me a birthday cake to go with the tea," Harry explained.
There was a pause and a moment of silence before Sirius repeated, "Cake."
"I didn't want to hurt Hagrid's feeling so I ate most of it. The frosting reminded me of toothpaste and the cake, was indescribable." Harry wrapped his arm around his abdomen, his left hand pressing against his belly.
"Define most of it," Sirius requested.
Harry closed his eyes, wincing when he remembered exactly how he got himself where he was now.
"Half, maybe more," Harry replied.
"Half, maybe more," Sirius repeated. He was surprisingly calm. "I know Hagrid made the cake for your birthday since we weren't here for your birthday. But did you have to eat almost the whole thing?"
"I didn't want to hurt his feelings," Harry argued.
"I know, Harry. But you eat a piece of cake and not the whole cake."
The portrait door opened and Remus stepped in. He stopped when he saw Sirius and Harry. "What happened?" he asked.
"Harry had too much cake when he went to Hagrid's" Sirius explained.
"Stop saying that word. Please," Harry moaned, curling into a ball on the couch. The arms wrapped around Harry's middle tightened.
"The stomach soother should start taking effect," Sirius informed his godson.
"It's not." Harry couldn't keep the whine out of his voice. "My stomach really hurts, can I have another one?" he all but begged. He felt himself breaking out into a sweat, whether or not it was humid in the room, Harry couldn't tell at that moment.
Remus headed to the bathroom and returned a moment later with another stomach soother and handed it to Sirius.
"Sit up for me and I'll give you another stomach soother."
Harry propped himself up, this time being assisted by Remus. He leaned against Remus as he slurped on the second potion, this one tasting like mint, reminding him of the toothpaste he was currently using at home.
He let himself relax, leaning against Remus. If only for a moment before…..
His stomach moaned, growling loudly, Harry swore he felt it bubbling
Without further ado, Harry jumped off the couch and ran for the bathroom. Sirius and Remus shared a look before following.
One thought crossed both of their minds: it was going to be a long night tonight.
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Upon returning to Marauder's Place, Sirius carried Harry upstairs to bed. This was the first time that Harry had lived with Sirius and Remus that Harry was in bed before supper. Sirius and Remus both agreed to never send Harry to bed without supper, ever.
But to their surprise, Harry fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Around one in the morning, Harry woke up to his stomach coiling. A sudden cramp rolled through his abdomen, causing Harry to press his hands deep into his belly. He promised himself that he wasn't going to eat cake anytime soon, maybe never again.
His stomach rumbled unhappily. "What's your problem? There's nothing in you," Harry groaned, rubbing his stomach in hopes of soothing it. He reached for his glasses and slipped them on.
"How did I get here?" he pondered. Sirius had to carry him up here because his stomach was too upset to even let him walk.
Another rumble from his stomach and Harry throw off the covers and slowly as he could shuffle to the thankfully open door.
The corridor in the old house was dark, cool with dim light leaking from a crack of the hall bathroom and the glow of the nightlight. Harry knew he was the reason for the night light so he could see to get to Sirius's bedroom.
The door to Remus's bedroom was shut with the sounds of snoring coming from the room. Sirius's bedroom door was cracked open, the moonlight streaming from the hall window and from the crack of the bedroom door provided Harry with more light to see.
As Harry turned the corner towards Sirius's bedroom, he heard the tick-tock of the grandfather clock. It was the first thing that greeted whoever came up the stairs. It didn't chime thanks to charms Remus placed on it since it often was the cause of Sirius's middle of the night insomnia.
Harry stood in front of Sirius's bedroom door, clutching his stomach and feeling like a child, as he debated over whether or not it was worth it to wake up Sirius or to go to the bathroom and hunt for a stomach soother himself.
Harry was very familiar with the potion, having almost lived on it last summer.
The cold hardwood floor changed to the soft plush carpet as Harry stepped over the threshold of Sirius's bedroom. The carpet was warm to Harry's bare feet compared to the coldness of the hardwood floors of the corridor.
The only sounds in the quiet room were Sirius's soft snores. Harry only walked two steps towards the bed when Sirius turned over, facing Harry. Sirius's eyes cracked up for a second and then sprung open and like a shot, he sat up.
"What's wrong, Pup?" Sirius asked, his voice sounding groggy,
"My stomach hurts again." Harry would deny that he whined this. But Harry was getting used to being cared for when he was sick that a part of him wanted to fake a stomach ache just for the attention he got when he was sick.
Sirius just padded the place next to him, motioning for Harry to come and get in bed with him. Harry had only slept with Sirius when he was afraid to go to sleep after a nightmare. Either he would sleep in Sirius bed with him or sleep in his own bed with Sirius as Padfoot.
"I'll go and see about getting you a stomach soother. You stay here," Sirius murmured as he tucked Harry into bed on the left side of the bed. Harry huddled himself beneath the warmth of the covers and turned to glance at the pillow. It was a little bit harder than the soft one Harry slept on.
His stomach made its presence known, grumbling and gurgling loudly. Harry gripped his stomach once again. He didn't notice Sirius reentering the bedroom until he heard a soft thump.
"I got you your pillow, figured you would want it instead of the hard ones I use."
Harry lifted his head so Sirius could change out the pillows. Before Harry returned his head to the now soft pillow he was used to, Sirius helped him sit up to take another potion.
"I brought you some water to sip on after you take the potion. This is the maximum strength one, it should help your stomach feel better."
Harry let Sirius turn the vial up and he swallowed the potion. Once Harry swallowed the last of the potion, Sirius sat it down on the nightstand and then summoned a gray bucket from the hall closet.
"Just in case you need it," Sirius informed his godson.
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry mumbled.
"You're welcome." Sirius returned to his side of the bed and laid down. He watched Harry for a moment as he turned over to face Sirius. It didn't seem too much longer until Harry was asleep.
"Sleep well, Prongslet," Sirius whispered and kissed Harry's forehead before settled in bed and fell asleep once again.
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Sirius and Remus let Harry sleep until close to noon the next day. Sirius woke him up by bringing Harry a bowl of porridge with some apple juice for breakfast.
"Harry, time to wake up," Sirius soothed as he shook Harry's shoulder gently. Harry's eyes opened and Sirius handed Harry his glasses.
"It's almost noon, Remus and I let you sleep in some today, figuring you needed some rest," Sirius explained. "How's your stomach?"
"Better," Harry replied, through a yawn. He then noticed the bowl of porridge. "Is that breakfast?"
"Yes, it is. Eat as much as you want."
Harry scooped some of the porridge in his mouth and soon the whole bowl was gone.
"Sirius," Harry began. "Thanks for taking care of me last night."
"You're welcome," Sirius murmured, he leaned over and kissed Harry's head.
Once Harry was done with breakfast, he went to take a quick shower and change clothes so he could go with Sirius to Diagon Alley to get his school things.
"We're leaving in a few minutes," Sirius announced when Harry was tying his shoes.
Upon arriving at the Leaky Caldron, Harry and Sirius headed straight to the entrance of Diagon Alley. They met the Weasleys and Hermione at Flourish and Blotts.
"So are you coming to the Burrow this weekend for the Quidditch game?" Ron asked Harry as they collected their school books.
"Yeah, I'm coming. Sirius said something about playing too. I think though he's a little rusty.
Harry and Ron talked about the Quidditch game that weekend until Hermione slammed a book about OWLs on Harry and Ron's stack.
"By the way Harry, we're going to have your birthday cake at the Burrow before the game."
Harry paled at the thought of cake, Sirius chuckled. "Um, what kind is it?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.
"Your favorite, chocolate with chocolate icing" Hermione replied.
Harry nodded and looked at Sirius, who laughed and left Hermione and Ron looking at Harry puzzled. Harry briefly explained to them what happened the day before. Ron winced in sympathy, while Hermione cooed, "you poor thing."
Harry knew that he had a few days to prepare for Molly's cake. But one thing Harry knew for sure, Molly's cakes were a lot better than Hagrid's and hers would never cause a stomach ache unless he ate too much.
AN: If Harry couldn't live with his parents, then I wished he lived with Sirius. Let me know in the reviews, or PM me if you have an idea of Harry Lives with Sirius situation or story idea. I'm open to ideas and I'll see what I can do.