CHAPTER ONE
ANYTHING YOU RECOGNIZE FROM HARRY POTTER BELONGS TO JK ROWLING
"NO! NO, PLEASE DON'T!"
Harry jumped awake in shock, breathing hard. He touched his throbbing scar, wincing. That voice ... He was sure that was the voice of Sirius Black, his godfather. Shuddering, he hopped out of bed and put on a cloak before exiting the common room. "Where are you going in this time?" the Fat Lady demanded. Harry ignored her and headed toward the hospital wing, briefly asking a portrait what the time was.
"Three AM, lad. Where are yeh off to in this time?" the portrait asked.
Harry hurried toward the hospital wing. He crept inside and saw Sirius, writing in his bed. "Sirius," he whispered. Then he froze. Sitting beside his godfather's bed was Professor Remus Lupin, who now stated at him in shock. "Er ..." Harry began awkwardly.
Another wail from Sirius saved him from answering. The hospital wing door burst open and Madam Pomfrey hurried toward Sirius. "Out of my way, out of my way!" she said as she pulled out a potion. She tipped it into Sirius' mouth and Sirius promptly fell quiet. Madam Pomfrey sighed.
"Poppy, is he okay?" Professor Lupin asked, sounding concerned.
"Yes, yes. This is his third nightmare. I fear they are about Azkaban," Madam Pomfrey said dismissively.
"When will he stop having them?" Harry blurted out.
Lupin and Pomfrey both looked at him and he swallowed. "I do not know how long these nightmares will stay. However, there is a solution ..." Pomfrey looked at sirius thoughtfully. At Lupin's questioning look, she continued. "De-aging Sirius would calm his mind. I's say about the age of five would do. It would let his mind heal. Of course, this is only of Sirius agrees."
"We can ask him when he wakes up," Lupin said. Harry nodded.
"Mr. Potter, I suggest you leave. You have class tomorrow and you don't want to sleep in," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Ah-Harry."
Harry stopped. Lupin stood up. "A word, if you don't mind." Harry nervously followed Professor Lupin into his office.
"Professor, I'm sorry I was out late for curfew, I-"
"It's okay. I do understand your worry for your godfather. It's quite understandable."
"You ... You're not going to ..." Harry stopped, his face flushing.
"Spank you like I did last time? No," Lupin answered with a smile.
Harry sighed in relief. Then he frowned. "If that's not why you called me here, what is it?"
Lupin leaned forward, his amber eyes fixed on Harry. "Harry. Do your relatives mistreat you?"
Harry's emerald eyes widened. "Uh, well-" and he poured everything out. Lupin's face was pale by the time he finished.
"That's it. You can't live with them," the professor announced.
"Will I have to go to an orphanage?" Harry asked anxiously.
"No, no, of course not," Professor Lupin said. "I'll tell everything to Dumbledore. If he gives me permission, I will adopt you. That is, of course, if you want to. If you don't, I understand."
Harry broke into a grin. "Of course I want to, Professor!"
Lupin smiled. "Oh, and we can't have you calling me 'professor' all summer. How about Uncle Remus? But only in private, mind you. Otherwise I am still 'Professor Lupin'," Lupin said.
"Yes, Uncle Remus," Harry said enthusiastically.
Remus smiled.
"So ... So this will really make my nightmares go away? My mind will recover from Azkaban?" Sirius asked.
"Yes."
"... All right. I'll do it. But I won't stay five forever, right?" Sirius said anxiously.
"No. We'll age you back little by little when we think you're recovered enough," Remus said.
"Do you want to take the potions now?" Pomfrey asked.
Sirius nodded. "One last question-who will take care of me?"
"Remus will. He's adopting Harry as well," Professor Dumbledore said.
"Really? Is that true, Pronglet?" Sirius grinned, ruffling Harry's hair.
"Yep. Uncle Remus told me yesterday," Harry answered earnestly. Sirius laughed.
"Here's the de-aging potion. Go on." Madam Pomfrey handed Sirius a potion. Sirius made a face when he finished drinking it.
Slowly, Sirius Black's body began to shrink.
END OF CHAPTER ONE
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