AN: Not mine. I own the plot and anything not recognizable, nothing else.
Recovery
September 4th, 1996,
Recovery seems to be the hardest thing out of all this. It is a grueling process and you know that nothing will ever be the same. During recovery the best thing is too have your family and friends with you at all times. Mine were and for that I am forever grateful. You try during recovery to pretend that everything will be okay some day and that you do not hold hard feelings toward those around you. I did, for a long time I did. I blamed them for not getting to me sooner, or for not protecting me better. I didn't know how to express these feelings and they built up until yesterday when I exploded and yelled for hours at Remus, Sirius, and Harry. I would have shouted at Dumbledore as well, but he is gone. After I had screamed myself hoarse they held me and explained everything that was done as protection and in the search effort. I realized that they tried everything possible to keep me safe and well.
(Excerpt from the diary of Arianna Potter)
Sirius woke with a start, noticing that he was warm and comfortable for the first time in over a month. He looked around and saw Harry and Ria still asleep and Remus sitting in a chair by Ria's bedside. "Hey Rem, how long have you been up?" "Oh, about two hours. Madame Pomfrey is about to kill me if she catches me out of bed again, but I wanted to make sure she is alright." Sirius swung his legs off the bed and walked slowly over to Harry. He noticed that Harry was pale and had scars now on his arms. He sat in a chair next to his bedside and just held Harry's hand. "How long since we were rescued?" "Two days." Remus responded. They sat quietly for the next hour until Ron and 'Mione came in and checked up on the twins, later they were also joined by James and Lily.
Two more days passed and Sirius and Remus had taken to sleeping in the same beds as the twins. Each night they were plagued by nightmares of what went on in that dungeon, but they couldn't help feel that the twins would be much worse off. Neither could even begin to fathom how Ria had survived her previous torture and now this one on top of it. How could the twins not break down and give in? The twins were stronger than either had ever imagined. Somehow the boys knew that they would always wait for them, even if it took twenty years for them to be together.
Finally later that day Ria opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was Snuffles lying at her feet, she bonded to him and saw Remus sitting on the bed reading and felt him carding his fingers through her hair. She couldn't help but wonder why he would still want her after she had gotten him kidnapped a tortured. She cuddled closer to him and her movements alerted Remus to the fact that she was awake. He looked down at her and meeting her eyes he smiled. "Hey baby, I was wondering when you would be waking up." "Hey Remus, you didn't have to stay here with me. I understand if you don't want to be near me because of what happened." "Oh, Ria, of course I want to still be with you. I didn't leave when I found out that I am twenty years older, and I won't leave because you are a target. I am a target as well, as is every other person who defies Voldemort and fights against his reign. Never believe that I would leave you." "I am so lucky to have you Rem. I love you so much." About a minuet later she turned to him, blushing, "Um Rem, could you help me up, I kind of have to go to the bathroom. Remus chuckled at her as he helped walk over to the bathroom and then back to the bed. She climbed in and he crawled up right next to her, running his fingers through her hair, Ria yawned and then smiling, curled up around him and drifted back to sleep.
She continued sleeping and about half a day later Harry stirred. Sirius was sitting next to his bed and saw his movements; he grabbed Harry's hand and began rubbing small circles on it with his thumb. Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked around blinking, trying to focus on where he was. He saw Sirius first and tightened his hand around Sirius's. He hurt all over and when he tried to move he had to bite back a groan of pain. His mind finally caught up to what had happened and his eyes quickly scanned the wing, relieved to see Ria alive and well, even if she was still sleeping. He stumbled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom, Sirius watching his every move with concern and had to stop himself more than once from going to aid Harry's movements. He turned to Sirius and asked, "How long have we been back?" "About five days." Harry yawned and Sirius, noticing this, crawled up onto the bed and began to stroke Harry's head lightly. Sirius saw the shocked and almost fearful look on Harry's face and asked him what was wrong. "Sirius, what are you doing? I thought you would want to be far away from me after what happened." "Harry how could you even think that? I love you. I wouldn't give you up because of something you can't control. I was already on Voldemort's bad side, being a blood traitor and fighting against his ideals. Plus I know I make it to the future without any other incidents so what's the big deal." "Siri I'm glad you're here with me. I love you. Thanks for staying. Will you stay until I fall asleep again?" "Sure love, I'm not going anywhere." With a contented sigh Harry rested his head on Sirius's chest and fell back to sleep.
Madame Pomfrey came bustling in about a minuet later and when she noticed the two boys in bed with her other patients she stalked over to them and began a soft tirade about how it was inappropriate and they should wait until the twins had woken up. Remus calmly explained that the twins had awoken each for about half-an-hour and were now back asleep. This led Poppy into a rant tirade about the boys not getting her when her patients awoke. The boys steadfastly ignored her, and when she wound down they apologized profusely. She left and the boys promptly settled down for their own naps because they were still tired from everything that had happened. When the others walked in after dinner that's how they found them.