Harry awoke surrounded by blurry humanoid shapes and obscure light. His last memory was of being utterly torn in two both mentally and physically as he was led to the lake where he could end his seemingly ceaseless misery and boundless guilt. As he followed without complaint, almost welcoming oblivion, one thought seemed to force its way into his conscious mind. In that instant he knew he had to fight.

Harry wondered if he had not fought hard enough and that at the moment he was experiencing death. He screamed and panicked wildly as his entire body burned and seized violently.

He heard a muffled voice as something cool and soft was pressed against his forehead. He nearly moaned at the contact. The cool was soothing against his burning skin. He cried out as an angry burbling pierced his ears and the cold abruptly taken away. Suddenly the indecipherable malevolent voices grew louder and louder until a loud bang ripped through his aching head and the world was once again plunged into silence and darkness.

"And for what Harry? I…"

He awoke to a soft voice whispering in his ear and wintry silk caressing his hand. The poor boy could not find the strength to open his eyes so he merely lay as the comforting touch moved slowly above his wrist and then back to his hand.

"…so sorry about everything…"

Harry realized that the voice had been speaking long before he could concentrate enough to perceive it and would most likely continue in its monologue long after he had again succumbed to darkness.

"…sometimes I question that man's sanity. Why on earth would he send you here?…"

While he welcomed darkness it seemed that he could not even be granted that kindness as the voice became stronger and he once again felt the air against his exposed skin and the softness beneath him. The evanescent obscurity became a chromatic swirling light. It seemed as if the scene about him were some kind of abstract painting.

"…I will protect you from him as long as you are here Harry and-"

Suddenly the colorful blur was disturbed as a dark looming shape, its aura gleaming white against a dark brume appeared.

"Your shift ended ten minutes ago wolf." Harry screamed as the white semblance around the dark figure turned the miserable grey-black of a tempest. Whetted shards broke off of the dark shadow of the silhouette as they would of a shattered vase and flew toward him menacingly. In order to avoid the offending shards he dove away, tumbling to the floor in a nude pained pile of quivering flesh and sweat soaked blanket.

The mutual animosity of the pair of obscured figures was forgotten as they dove for the boy, lifted him in their arms (he sighed at the algid feeling as their exposed hands touched his bare skin), and placed him back on the bed.

"He's burning up." A voice smooth as silk stated worriedly and Harry felt the soothing touch against his forehead. When he felt the touch moving away his hand snapped up to meet it, his protesting muscles aching.

"No." He muttered as he pressed the wintry silken hand against the torrid flesh of his forehead, cheeks, and neck.

As he pressed the hand against his chest he heard an angry huff and suddenly a door being slammed.

"Mmm…" Harry murmured incoherently as he moved the hand onto his lower abdomen, the cold hand assuaging some of the crippling heat that gripped him.

"Harry…"

The boy opened his eyes to see the dark indistinct figure hovering above him. The menacing dark which had surrounded it before dissipated and left a beautiful spectacle of shimmering reds and blues. Strangely clear and unmistakable grey orbs (which Harry finally recognized as eyes) pierced him from the ethereal mass. He recognized those eyes.

"S…Sirius?" He muttered as he glided the hand slightly to the left, not cognizant enough to connect it with its owner.

"Yes, that's right love. I'm here."

Harry began to sob and let go of Sirius' hand as his body fell limp. His mind did not function well enough to question why Sirius was there or where exactly he was. He was just barely sentient enough to revel in the comfort the older man lent just by being near. A smile spread across Harry's wan fevered face as he looked up at his Godfather.

"You're glowing." He murmured with awe. His emerald eyes sparkled with almost child-like idolatry. Sirius chuckled and bent down to kiss Harry lightly on the cheek and the younger man blindly reached for him when he tried to move away. Sirius allowed Harry's weak arms to pull him down. He lay still as Harry snuggled against him and lightly wrapped his arms about him after he was certain he was asleep.

"I love you, Harry." He told him over and over again as he slept. Whenever it looked as if he would have a nightmare Sirius kissed it away.

moony-is-a-werewolf: Umm...he's right here...in Grimmauld Place because he can't really leave aside from his infrequent visits to Hogwarts. And it will be explained by the end. Everything will. I promise

AN: Review por favor