A/N: YES! YES! I KNOW YOU ALL HATE ME BUT I CAN EXPLAIN! A virus got into my computer and so we had to shut it down for a week and I only now just got access to a computer! Stupid virus…8th chapter!

Chapter 8

Harry woke up the next morning only to find Sirius watching him.

"Finally! You're up!" Sirius teased, but frowned when Harry looked guiltily down.

"I'm sorry," Harry's voice trembled.

Sirius's frown grew deeper. Didn't the kid know he was joking?

"Harry, I'm sorry. I was just messing around with you," Sirius said, wrapping an arm around his cub.

"So you're not gonna hit me for sleeping in late?" Harry asked, and flinched when Sirius's frown turned into a glare.

"I thought I made it very clear that I would never hit you, Harry! How long is it going to take you to understand that?"

"I-I'm sorry," Harry squeaked, backing away.

Sirius fought to control his anger. "No, Harry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't've snapped. I'm just upset that you would think I'd ever consider hurting you."

"N-no, I m-made you angry b-by asking qu-questions. U-uncle V-Vernon was r-r-right; I'm n-nothing but a g-good for n-nothing freak-"

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A FREAK! DON'T YOU EVER CALL YOURSELF A FREAK EVER AGAIN!"

"Sirius! Calm down! I can hear you from all the way downstairs!" Remus scowled, walking in. "And you're scaring Harry!"

"I'm sorry! P-please d-don't h-hit m-me, I'm s-sorry!" Harry sobbed.

"Shh, Harry I'm so sorry for yelling at you," Sirius whispered gently as he pulled the boy into his arms. "I would never hurt you, cub."

Harry sniffed and snuggled deeper into his godfather's embrace.

Remus sighed, and came over. "Are you gonna be alright, cub, or should I get a Calming Drought?"

"Yeah," Harry sniffed, "I'll be fine."

"Good," Remus smiled. "Hungry?"

Harry nodded eagerly, and they all headed downstairs.

HPSBHPSBHPSBHPSB

"Sirius, if you don't want Harry to be afraid of you, then you've got to keep a hold on your temper!" Remus hissed later that night after Harry had gone to bed.

"He called himself a freak, and I think he still thinks I'm going to hit him!" Sirius replied angrily.

"That's only to be expected, Sirius! He's lived with them for fourteen years!"

"But still! Have I ever laid a finger on him in the past? No! I'd feel better if he trusted me a bit more," Sirius said, sighing.

"Sirius, you were the same way with James's parents."

"Don't even remind me of my childhood," Sirius groaned.

"Just think, Sirius, you've been down Harry's road, so you'll know how he's feeling a bit more than I will. Try not to get so angry with him, please?" Remus pleaded.

"I'm not angry with him! It's those Dursley's I've got a problem with," Sirius scowled darkly.

"But every time you get like that he's going to think it's him you're upset with," Remus tried, once again, to explain.

"Alright, I'll try not to let him see my bad side again. I just hate them so much for what they did to him!"

"I do too, Sirius. I do too."