AN Disclaimer Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling I own nothing. This is fanfiction, I make no money out of this whatsoever. Now that's out of the way...

Chapter 9 – Healing

Sirius raced towards the fire in the sitting room. His godson still hadn't regained consciousness, not even when he apparated and Sirius knew from experience that the sensation was more than a little unnerving when you first started. There are almost been a disaster with the wards but thankfully since Sirius had already keyed him into the wards he was able to carry his pup inside even though he had collapsed before he knew the secret, he didn't know what he'd have done if he had been unable to get Harry onto Black Island. He threw a frantic glance back towards the still form of his godson, still there was no change. He needed help and he needed it now.

Throwing a handful of floo powder into the fireplace he stuck his head into the flames, calling out Andromeda Tonks as he did so. His favourite cousin had always dreamed of becoming a healer and she had received a placement at St Mungo's soon after she graduated, he could only hope she wasn't at work and she had heard of his innocence. He was in luck.

Andromeda Tonks leapt up with a muttered oath as she saw her cousin's head appear in the fireplace, "Siri what?" Instantly he raced into an explanation, by the time he had finished she was still standing there shocked, she hadn't taken in a single word he'd said. Biting back one of his more colourful phrases Sirius forced himself to begin again and this time to speak at a speed that was comprehensible at least. "Andy, Harry's ill or hurt, I don't know, he just collapsed when I went to pick him up, he still hasn't regained consciousness, please could you come over right now? The address is Padfoot's Den, I'm on Black Island." There was no mistaking the plea in his voice. Without waiting for an answer he pulled himself out of the fireplace and added her name to the wards to ensure she would be able to get through. Even though she was of Black blood the wards were designed to keep everyone out.

Within minutes the flames turned emerald green and Andromeda stepped out of the fireplace her healer equipment held loosely in one hand. The moment she was in the house Sirius beckoned her over to the sofa his godson lay on. She sucked in a deep breath as she caught sight of Harry, the bruises from his uncle's beating stood in stark relief against the pale skin that seemed to cling to his bones. Even in unconsciousness the boy seemed to be in pain and it was painfully obvious his bones stood out prominently, covered by nothing more than a thin layer of skin. "Who did this to him?" she gasped out. Sirius glanced up at her and an ugly expression flashed across his features, "Those thrice damned bastards that call themselves his Aunt and Uncle." Shock flashed across her face but regardless of her reaction her healer training kicked in and her wand was up and moving almost of its own violation performing scans and taking readers.

Throughout the whole process Sirius merely sat by Harry's side, never taking his eyes off the teen, thoughts flashing through his mind so fast he couldn't see where one worry ended and the next began. What if he never woke up, what if the condition was irreversible, what if Harry had already sustained permanent damage? Andromeda's soft "Merlin," broke him out of his thoughts. Worry etched in his face he turned to her a question in his eyes.

"He's suffering from severe malnutrition, I would estimate he hasn't eaten properly, if at all for several weeks. He is extremely fatigued and he has become light sensitive, I wouldn't be surprised if there were also problems with his other senses. Thankfully those are all side effects of the malnutrition and should clear up after a few days on a proper diet. The other issue is that he is heavily bruised and cut. This wouldn't be much of an issue normally but the problem is due to the malnutrition his body lacks the proteins to repair the damage."

"You can do something though," Sirius interjected, fear clouding his face. Andromeda sighed,

"I can spell a nutrient potion and some fluids into his stomach to give him a bit of a boost but malnutrition is something that will take a long time to clear up. I can give him enough to get him through the night but after that all that can be done is ensure he gets fed proper meals at regular intervals and gets plenty of sleep. Nutrient potions twice daily should help with the malnutrition but it will still be several weeks, if not a couple of months before he is completely healthy again. As for the bruising, bruise paste should reduce some of the pain and swelling but there is little it can do without the resources in the body and those he simply doesn't have and there is nothing magic can do to help with that." She smiled sympathetically as Sirius sighed.

"But he'll be okay eventually?" Andromeda nodded,

"What those creatures did will be healed Siri. Now," suddenly she became brisk and businesslike, "He will be very weak for several days and is likely to spend a lot of time sleeping and he is not to do any strenuous activity for a least a month to give his body time to recover. Keep him in a dim room until his light sensitivity decreases; it should only take a few days. In terms of food it is important he has a balanced diet which is high in protein and vitamins and regular meal times. For the first several days he won't be able to eat large meals so it is important that you feed him little and often, say about every two hours. His body will not be able to cope with large quantities of food at this point so trying to give him proper meals at this point will just make him sick so I wouldn't recommend returning to regular meals for a week, by that point his body should have become accustomed to food once more. Ensure he has plenty of fluid and drinks regularly as well. Nutrient potions should be taken three times a day for the first month after which the dose will probably go down to two. Pain relievers and bruise paste can be used at your discretion but don't take them within an hour of the nutrient potions." She grasped her cousin's shoulder,

"Harry will be fine Sirius, I'll spell the first lot of potions into him now and leave the first week's dose with you. I'll have to check up on him weekly anyway so I can bring the next dose then." She smiled slightly as the potions vanished, "Why don't you go put him to bed Siri? The poor child's exhausted, he'll sleep till morning without a doubt and you look as if you could do with a rest as well." Sirius laughed but the sound was slightly strained as his gaze stayed fixed on his godson. Andromeda patted his shoulder, "You got to him in time Sirius, Harry will be fine. I'll leave the rest of the potions on the table there and you go and sort yourself out. Merlin knows you need it." She paused then added quietly, "I'm glad you didn't betray them Sirius. I couldn't really believe it off you, and I'm glad someone is actually looking out for the boy now." She paused slightly then added the last bit, "I'm glad you got to him when you did, if he had stayed there I'm not sure he would have made it through the summer."

Sirius went cold as her last words penetrated. He might have lost his godson, if he had headed abroad, if he hadn't cleared his name Harry might not have made it to September. Finally he managed to summon his voice again, "Thanks Andy, at least I know that no matter how bad it looks now he will recover." Andromeda nodded decisively,

"Yes he will Sirius. Well then I'll see you in a week." Sirius nodded in her direction but his attention had been diverted straight back to his godson. In a single swift movement he scooped Harry up into his arms and carrying he carefully he headed upstairs to the room he had spent hours decorating.

Settling the boy down into the large bed Sirius was struck by how young his godson looked and how fragile. His thin chest rose and fell, the only sign the child was still alive, but even in that slight movement his ribs could be seen clearly against his clothes. Harry was small, too small and Sirius knew that if he didn't know that his godson was nearly fourteen he would have thought he was nine or ten, eleven perhaps. Gently he reached out and brushed Harry's hair out of his eyes. His godson looked so helpless, so fragile, it looked to Sirius like a breeze could break him. His heart broke again as he thought how close he had come to losing his pup, leaning over he placed a light kiss on the boy's forehead, he was here now and he wasn't going to let anything else hurt his godson, his child. He would protect Harry to the very end, even at the cost of his own life.

With a flick of his wand Harry's trunk and belongings flew out of his pockets, resized and placed themselves haphazardly in one corner of the room to be dealt with later. Another flick of the wand and he conjured up a comfortable armchair for himself. Both Andy's warnings and Harry's reaction when he had arrived at the Dursleys told him beyond a doubt that he would need to be here when Harry woke. Leaning back Sirius settled down, his watchful eyes never leaving his godson as he waited for Harry to wake.

Harry was first aware of an unfamiliar sensation; he was comfortable despite the lingering soreness from layer upon layer of bruises, something that had never happened at the Dursley's before. He shifted slightly, the movement making him immediately aware there was something soft covering him and he was warm. Why was he warm? He kept his eyes tight shut as he considered the question, searching his memory for any clue to what was happening.

The memory of his godfather's face rose in his mind. Sirius had come for him, he had held him, comforted him in a way no adult before him ever had. He could remember feeling safe and cared for and then he could remember Sirius leading him towards the door then nothing, and now he had woken in the strange place. The answer came crashing down on him. He had been dreaming, he had dreamt Sirius had taken him away, and he was still dreaming now. He knew he ought to open his eyes, it would only be worse when he actually woke up if he didn't but he didn't want to. He wanted to cling onto the feeling of love and security he could remember surrounding him. Even if it was nothing more than his imagination he wanted so desperately to feel like he belonged somewhere that he was loath to let the dream go and wake up. It had been such a good dream.

A slight sound off to his side made his mind up. If he was caught whilst still asleep by his uncle the results would not be pretty. Resignedly he opened his eyes but he shut them again almost instantly, he was still dreaming it seemed, for the sight which had met his eyes defiantly wasn't that of his cupboard. Cautiously he opened his eyes again only to be met with the exact same sight although this time he was aware of a slight stinging in his eyes as he took in the sight before him. The room was dim, but it was definitely a room not a cupboard, the walls were painted a pale shade but what caught his eye were the Gryffindor banners hanging from the ceiling and the numerous photographs and pictures that hung on each wall, He squinted slightly trying to make out details but the light was far too dim. He turned his head slightly in order to take in more of the room when suddenly he froze. He shut his eyes tightly then reopened them; not daring to believe what he saw was real.

His godfather lay sprawled in a large chair beside the bed. His eyes were closed and it was clear that he was sleeping, but even in sleep his face was turned towards Harry and he appeared to be watching over him. Harry felt his breath catch in his throat, Sirius was the perfect image of a parent falling asleep by their child's side and it was obvious from his posture that the child was Harry. All his life Harry had dreamed of having parents or someone who would care for him and treat him like a son, seeing Sirius waiting for him, caring for him was a dream come true, he couldn't believe it was real. "That's because it isn't" a small voice in the back of his mind whispered, "You'll never have a family of your own."

Harry tore his eyes away from the sleeping figure of his godfather, he couldn't allow himself to hope, couldn't allow himself to believe, it would only make it that much worse when he finally did wake up. He already knew that the images he already had would torment and taunt him for the next several days and nights, a mocking reminder of what could never be. He pulled his knees up to his chest, "It's not real, it's not real," he repeated over and over, frantically trying to make himself believe the words despite the yearning in his heart.

Sirius jerked awake the moment Harry started speaking, blinking his eyes to remove the sleep he was disorientated for a moment before he remembered the events of the evening before, concerned, his gaze snapped immediately to his godson. Relief swept through him as he saw Harry was awake and alert and he was on his feet and at the bedside before the words penetrated. When they did coldness swept through him, Harry was so accustomed to the conditions that he had to endure at the Dursley's that he couldn't accept it as true when something finally went his way. Sirius felt a lump rise in his throat; no child should be unable to accept goodness in their lives because experience had taught them it was never real.

"Harry it's okay, it's real," he whispered comfortingly but the teen just shook his head and repeated his mantra, unwilling to let himself believe the words were true. Slowly, to avoid startling his pup Sirius laid his hand on Harry's shoulder, hoping that the contact would in some small measure help to reassure the boy of the reality. He felt Harry relax slightly at his touch but still he continued to repeat the statement, his voice getting louder and louder with each repetition. He needed to get Harry to realise the truth before he worked himself into a panic.

"How do I prove that this is real?" he asked quietly. The rush of words stopped as Harry considered the question and the silence began to stretch, but Harry still didn't answer. "What couldn't you ever imagine?" Sirius asked gently, hoping it would be something he could actually do. He wished he had a less risky strategy but he had to get Harry to calm down and he was running out of options.

Harry fell silent as he wracked his brains for something he was sure he would never make up, something he would never imagine, would never dream, could never dream. Finally the answer came to him, raising suspiciously bright eyes to the figure of his godfather he whispered, "Being loved." He closed his eyes waiting for the proof that would send him straight back to reality.

"Harry, oh Harry," he heard Sirius say, then a pair of strong arms encircled him and drew him towards the animagus, pressing his face into the rough fabric of his godfather's shirt. One hand reached up and buried itself in his hair whilst the other held him securely as Sirius murmured reassurances and comfort. Gradually he opened his eyes and tilted his head back to look the older wizard in the eye. Love was shown clearly in Sirius's grey eyes as he continued to hold his godson. Harry relaxed further into the embrace as he felt his godfather's love wash over him and surround him. "Is it really true?" he whispered brokenly,

"Yes," Sirius's soft voice answered, "It's real Harry, you're safe now, the Dursleys will never hurt you again I promise." Harry wanted to believe him, he wanted to feel this was real and just to relax completely in the love that surrounded him but there were still gaps he couldn't explain, "How did I get here?" he asked quietly, hoping the older wizard would have the answers. Sirius's voice was tight as he answered and Harry felt his grip tighten.

"You collapsed as we left the Dursleys. I carried you here, you were unconscious. I was so worried Harry." Harry felt joy bubble up inside him with those words, Sirius had cared, had worried about him but he still had one more question,

"Do you love me?" His voice trembled at the end, he knew he sounded like a five year old but he didn't care, he wanted the answer to be yes so badly it hurt, he wanted to know he belonged with someone. Sirius drew him even closer, "Always pup," he answered, his own voice cracking, "I'll always love you." Harry flung his arms around his godfather and clung to him, pressing his face into Sirius's chest to hide the tears that were streaming down his face. It was real, Sirius loved him and he would never have to return to the Dursleys. His godfather held him close, his own tears flowing fast as his godson held him in a desperate embrace. Very quietly he murmured words of comfort, holding Harry tightly as he cried, finally realising he was home.

And that's chapter 9 folks. Thank you so much for all the reviews, I'm pleased and humbled by the interest you have shown in this story, particularly as it is my first fic. Glad you're all enjoying it and look out for the next update in a few days.

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