Harry woke up to murmuring voices - his first reaction was to jump up and walk over to his father's bed, but his pounding headache prevented quick movements. Instead, he sat there for a moment, trying to decipher what the people to his right were talking about.

"It was a giant, Minerva. Hagrid brought a damn giant into the forest!" A voice Harry recognized as Remus's said.

"Hagrid is torn to pieces about the entire thing," McGonagall said warily. "He says the giant is his little brother and hasn't harmed anyone thus far besides Sirius."

"How many people have seen the giant, though?" Remus asked incredulously.

"Er-" Harry finally spoke up, opening his eyes and sitting up. "Other than Hagrid, three of us… including myself."

"Harry," Remus said, turning to him surprised. His facial expression immediately turned to anger. "You knew about that thing and didn't tell us?"

"I promised Hagrid I wouldn't," Harry mumbled, looking down. "I regret that promise now. But he really didn't hurt Hermione, Ron, or I. I don't know why it went after dad…"

"Remus, why don't you explain to Harry exactly what happened now that he's awake." McGonagall suggested gently, wanting to avoid the werewolf's anger.

"I can't believe you drugged me!" Harry said, his own anger reigniting after remembering last night's events.

"What good would you have been worked up like that? Madame Pomfrey needed peace and quiet to save Sirius, you would not have helped the situation in the state that you were in." Remus said gently but firmly, trying to console Harry.

"He's my dad, though! I already lost my mum and my real dad, what would have happened if he died while I was drugged?" Harry said angrily, tears pricking his eyes again. He wiped them away frustratedly, refusing to break down until he knew what was happening. "He… he hasn't died, has he?" Harry asked, his demeanor changing from furious to timid.

Remus gave his shoulder a soft squeeze. "He's stable now, but Madam Pomfrey's not sure when he will wake up. She's cleaned him up and fixed all his injuries, so he looks a lot better than he did when you saw him. You have been excused from classes for the rest of the week. But if you stay here with him, you have to be calm and take care of yourself. I'm talking twelve hours of sleep and three meals; Sirius would kill me if I let you fret so much that your own health deteriorated."

Harry sighed dejectedly and nodded. "So, what happened then?"

"Sirius and I had heard that something was disrupting the centaurs and other creatures in the forest, so last night on the full moon we went to see what it was - if we had been told it was a giant, we wouldn't have gone… it would have saved us a lot of trouble if you had been honest, young man." Remus said sternly, as Harry looked away guiltily.

"Stop, Remus," McGonagall said. "If anyone is at fault, it's Hagrid for bringing a giant into the forest. Harry was just trying to help him - Sirius wouldn't blame Harry. I know you're upset, but be upset at what happened, not at one of your family members."

This time Remus looked away guiltily and took a shaky breath, knowing his former professor was right. It didn't take a genius to see that Harry was already blaming himself, but it took an arse to point it out further to the traumatized boy. "I'm sorry, Harry, I don't blame you. But you do realize how dangerous it was keeping that from the staff? It's not your fault at all that Sirius was injured, but by not telling anyone, other students or staff could have been hurt. Giants are no laughing matter."

"I know," Harry mumbled, looking away. "Hagrid had been taking care of him, bringing him food and toys. He just said he wanted someone else he trusted to know about it. I mean, Hagrid is technically a professor - I didn't think it would happen like this. I wish I had told one of you, because if I had, Sirius wouldn't… he wouldn't-"

"Stop it, Harry." This voice wasn't from Professor McGonagall or Remus. Harry turned abruptly to Sirius's bed, where he saw his father's eyes open and looking at him intently.

"Dad!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over as Remus and McGonagall followed. Remus was right, Sirius looked a lot better than he did last night. Madame Pomfrey had fixed all of his broken bones and healed most of the cuts and bruises that had littered his body, as well as cleaned off all the blood. Harry was immensely relieved to see him only appearing to be weak.

Sirius smirked at all of them. "Hey," he said weakly.

"How are you feeling?" Remus asked, moving over to Sirius's other side.

"Like I've been trampled on by a giant," Sirius said, shaking his head gently as if to clear it. "Also, a bit disappointed," he added shooting Remus a disapproving look that said we'll talk later.

Remus looked back at his friend warily. "How long have you been awake?"

"I heard the entire conversation," Sirius said simply.

Harry bit his bottom lip and looked down at his feet. "Dad, I-I'm sorry-"

"I said stop it." Sirius said again, his words firm, but gentle. "I'm not angry at you, and even if I were, the only reason I would have to be angry is because you lied when I asked you what was wrong yesterday. You know I expect the truth from you. Other than that, you have done nothing wrong at all."

"But if I hadn't lied, you wouldn't-" Harry began only to be cut off by his father.

"If you hadn't lied, nothing. I don't condone dishonesty, but you were trying to protect a friend, and I think that is very commendable of you. Besides, Remus and I weren't exactly honest with you either, were we? We said we were going for a stroll last night. Perhaps if we had told you we were searching for a dangerous creature causing a ruckus in the forest, you would have spoken up, but we didn't tell you that. You can't blame yourself because it is in no way your fault. Do you understand me, Harry James?" Sirius said, sternly, grabbing Harry's hand and giving it a squeeze.

Harry swallowed thickly and nodded. "So… so what exactly happened? Remus didn't finish telling me."

"To be honest, I don't remember." Sirius said, shrugging. "We were walking through a clearing and I was in my dog form, then I got picked up and thrown into the air multiple times. Eventually I changed back into my human form and passed out. Not sure what happened after that…"

"For whatever reason, he put you back down on the ground… too much longer and you might not have made it…" Remus trailed off, looking down at his own feet, his eyes suspiciously teary.

Sirius looked at him for a few moments sadly, then reached up and squeezed his hand. "Thanks for getting me out of there, Rem."

Remus shook his head slowly and Sirius turned back to Harry. "Pup, can you go grab a couple of magazines in my quarters for me? If I'm stuck in here for the week, I'll need something to do."

Harry nodded, recognizing the double-meaning of Sirius's words. His father wanted a moment alone with Remus, and though Harry was reluctant to leave Sirius's side, he knew they needed it. With that, he walked out of the room, Professor McGonagall following closely behind, leaving the two remaining Marauders by themselves.

"I meant it," Sirius started again, looking intently at his friend. "Thank you for saving me. But I will say, I was not happy with what you said to Harry this morning."

"I know, Sirius, I regretted it as soon as Minerva pointed it out to me." Remus said sheepishly, looking away. "I was just angry. He knows not to lie, and if he had told the truth-"

"We would have been warned ahead of time, yes, but Harry had good intentions behind why he lied. He didn't want to betray Hagrid - it's a hard thing for someone with Harry's good heart to deal with." Sirius said sternly, meeting his old school friend's eyes. "Honestly, Moony, you're normally the level-headed one here, you should know that Harry would have never lied to us if he thought bad things would happen because of it."

"But you almost died, Sirius!" Remus exclaimed, tears filling his eyes at once. "What would I have done if you had?"

"What I would have wanted you to do if that happened, was take care of and love my son. That was what consoled me when I was being tossed in the air - that at least you were okay and you could take care of Harry. Then I heard your conversation with him this morning - Remus, he blames himself for everything anyway, remember this past summer with Cedric? He definitely didn't need your confirmation of it." Sirius said, getting angry himself. "You know I wouldn't blame him and I was the one injured, so you shouldn't either."

Remus slumped dejectedly into the chair. "I know, Sirius… I just can't lose you again, damnit." Tears were freely falling down his face and Sirius lifted an arm to pull him closer. Throwing caution to the wind, Remus allowed himself to be pulled down into Sirius's embrace, truly breaking down for the first time in years.

This was how Harry found them about an hour later. Realizing they needed time to talk, Harry had sat in Sirius's quarters and finished some homework before returning with the magazines.

He walked over to the bed and his father turned his head to greet him. Remus was laying beside Sirius on the hospital bed, asleep with his head resting on his friend's shoulder.

"Guess he had a long night," Harry mumbled, placing the magazines on the table beside the hospital bed. "I always forget how hard the transformations are for him until I see him the next morning."

Sirius nodded sympathetically. "He didn't mean what he said to you this morning. It was probably Moony talking, the transformations affect him for a few days after. He wasn't himself-"

"I know," Harry said hurriedly, "I'm not angry with him or anything."

Sirius nodded in understanding. "Come here," he said simply, holding his arm out to his son.

Harry hesitated. "I don't want to wake Remus… or hurt you."

"Come here," Sirius repeated, his voice firm, despite its lingering weakness from the night before.

Harry sat on the edge of the bed and turned to face his dad, but Sirius simply grabbed his shoulder, turned him around, and pulled him against his chest. Harry rested his head against his father's shoulder like Remus had, and finally let the tears fall.

"Oh, kiddo, don't cry." Sirius said gently, kissing the top of Harry's head. "I'm okay. I'm not leaving you, puppy."

Now that Harry had started, he couldn't stop. He buried his face in the crook of his father's neck and rested there with his guardians, so happy to have his dad safely beside him again, alive and as well as he could be, considering the circumstances. He let the tears fall and gladly accepted the affection coming from his father, thankful the man was still alive to deliver it.

A/N: I just couldn't kill off Sirius (yet, you'll have to wait and see if he's safe for the whole story or not). Please review!