Chapter 14

When Hermione reached Sirius' room, Remus met her in the hall, a big grin on his face. As he hugged her, Hermione couldn't help but smile back, "Is he awake?"

Remus nodded, "Well, he's sleeping now, but it's a natural sleep. He woke about an hour ago."

"How is he?" Hermione asked, feeling the happiness at the news bubbling in her.

"Still in a lot of pain, but he was acting like himself when he talked to me."

Hermione laughed at Remus' words, "That's amazing! I'm so relieved!"

"He told me to wake him when you got here. Shall we?" Remus gestured in the room, and Hermione nodded eagerly, entering the room.

Sirius looked the same as yesterday, but knowing that he was only sleeping and not unconscious made a world of difference. Hermione felt lighter than she had in days.

Remus walked over to Sirius and gently touched his shoulder, "Sirius, wake up. Hermione is here."

It took several tries before Sirius started to stir. He groaned and screwed his eyes shut tight before they fluttered open. After gaining his bearings, his eyes fell on Hermione and he smiled.

Hermione felt tears gathering in her eyes, and she tried to blink them away. But when he reached his hand out to her, she couldn't help the choked sob that left her throat as she rushed forward.

"Oh Sirius! I've been so worried!" She said, grabbing his hand. She felt a thrill when he squeezed it tightly.

"I'm sorry to worry you," he said, voice sounding very gravelly.

Hermione gave him a watery smile, "Don't be sorry, I'm just so glad you're awake!"

Hermione heard Remus slip out of the room to give them privacy. Hermione kept her eyes locked with Sirius', which seemed rather droopy. Without thinking, she reached out her hand and smoothed his hair back. He let out a hum of appreciation and closed his eyes.

She smiled and did it again, and received the same response. She was quite sure that if he had been fully awake, he would not have reacted that way.

"Elaine?" He questioned, eyes still closed.

"She doesn't know you're in the hospital. I didn't want her to worry." She told him.

His eyes fluttered open, and he looked at her, "Tomorrow is Saturday, yeah?" She nodded. "Could you bring her round? I... I think it would do me some good to see her. Unless you don't want her to see me like this?"

Hermione hesitated, "I... don't want her to be scared. But she'll wonder where you are if we don't see you tomorrow. So, yeah, we can come by in the morning. Just for a little while."

He smiled and closed his eyes again.

After a few moments, it was clear that he had fallen back to sleep. She smoothed his hair back one last time then quietly made her way out of the room.

She said goodbye to Remus in the hallway, telling him she would be bringing Elaine with her in the morning.

She was halfway down the hall when someone turned the corner at the other end. Hermione stopped dead. So did the other person. "Hermione?"

"Hello, Harry," Hermione replied. She had known this could happen when visiting Sirius, but she had avoided it so far. Apparently, her luck had run out.

"I didn't know you were visiting Sirius," Harry said, walking slowly down the hall to stand in front of her.

"Yes, well, Sirius and I have become friends. I was worried about him." Hermione's voice sounded snippy in her own ears, even though she was aiming for calm and collected.

"Remus said he was awake?" Harry asked, apparently deciding to ignore her tone.

Hermione nodded, "Harry, what happened? I know he was injured..." She trailed off. Harry's face was pained, and he looked away.

"We had an argument, then went out for a case. His head wasn't in it. I should have been watching his back more closely. Or insisted we didn't go out."

Hermione didn't say anything. She watched as Harry became more and more uncomfortable with her stare. Then she said, "I'll let you have your visit."

She moved around him down the hall. When she heard his voice again, she stopped, but didn't turn around.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. For everything. I know it's too little far too late, and you have every right to hate me and never want to see me again. But please...please, I can't lose Sirius. Please don't take him away from me."

Hermione spun around, suddenly angry, "I haven't done anything Harry! If you lose Sirius, it'll be because of you, not me. If I were you, I'd take a good hard look at how you've treated the people you claim to care about. How you've treated him."

She turned again and stomped down the hallway, anger seething. He didn't stop her again.

When Sirius woke next, Harry was beside him. Once he was able to focus on his face, he saw the tears on his cheeks and the pain in his eyes.

No matter how upset he was or how annoyed he became with Harry, he loved him and didn't want to see him in pain. He reached his hand out and Harry immediately grabbed it and squeezed.

"I'm so sorry!" Harry cried, "I been so horrible lately. Hell, I've been horrible for years without even realizing it. I've taken you for granted, and it took almost losing you to realize it. Please forgive me!"

By the end, Harry was practically begging, grasping Sirius' hand in both of his.

Sirius studied him, "I forgive you, Harry. And I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have relied so heavily on you. You didn't deserve to have me latching on to you when I came back."

Harry was shaking his head before Sirius had finished, "No, I should have been more understanding. I should have made more of an effort to help you adjust when you came back!"

Sirius smiled, "I think we could be here all day arguing who is at fault. Let's just agree that we both feel guilty, and that we both forgive each other?"

Harry nodded, looking relieved. "I-I ran into Hermione in the hallway."

Sirius groaned and closed his eyes, "I'm sure that went well."

"After all these years, I would have expected it to go worse. I apologized, and she had some choice words for me. She's very protective of you, you know."

Sirius smiled. The thought of Hermione standing up to Harry for him warmed his heart, "We've become friends."

"She told me. I'm glad. Glad you had each other when neither of you could count on me."

Sirius open his eyes again to look at Harry. "Hermione may never forgive you, but it's not too late for us. But I'm still leaving the job, Harry. I just can't do it anymore. If I didn't know it before, this would have been a real wake up call for me."

"I know. And I know I need to make some changes, personally. I'm going to be better and make more of an effort. And I'm going to talk to Ginny. I know she's always been a stumbling block in our relationship."

Sirius chuckled, "We certainly aren't each other's favorite person. But I hope that deep down she knows I'm not going to hurt you or your family."

"I'm sure she knows. Deep, deep down." They both laughed at Harry's words.

"Hermione has a daughter," Sirius blurted out randomly, suddenly feeling guilty for keeping it from Harry, "Elaine. She's six and completely amazing. And she likes me."

Harry looked shocked, but smiled, "I can see Hermione as a mother. She's probably brilliant."

"She is. They've really... changed me. For the better, I think. Merlin, that sounds sappy," Sirius chuckled at his pain induced honesty.

"Where's her father?" Harry asked.

Sirius thought back. Had Hermione ever mentioned Elaine's father? He didn't think so. Why had he never asked? Maybe he just didn't want to hear the answer.

"Dunno. I never asked. He's not in the picture whoever he is."

Sirius could feel his eyelids drooping. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He couldn't stay awake much longer.

"I'll leave you to rest. I'll be by again tomorrow," Harry said squeezing his hand.

"Tomorrow afternoon. Hermione is bringing Elaine in the morning. I think it would be best..." Sirius trailed off.

"I understand," Harry said, "Sleep now."