And When The Dawn Begins
Clarification
Harry's mind started to clear slightly, and he slowly began to prise his eyes open.
"Harry? You awake?"
"Sort of.." Harry moaned, rubbing his arm which was tingling slightly, obviously the after-effects of skele-gro.
As his eyes finally opened fully, Harry blinked a couple of times in quick succession, trying to focus the scene, before somebody handed him his glasses.
He looked around and saw, somewhat predictably, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Pomfrey and a big black Dog - Sirius.
"Are you alright Harry?" Hermione asked softly,
"Yeah, I think, but what happened exactly? I'm slightly confused, and I have absolutely no idea how I came to be at Hogwarts, last thing I remember was going to sleep at the Orphanage.."
"Sirius and Remus brought you back, Harry, the reason you don't remember is because you suffer from the Vagus syndrome."
Harry stared blankly at Dumbledore, who, glancing at Hermione, spoke again.
"I shall leave Miss Granger to explain things to you, Harry, now, are there any other questions?"
"No, sir,"
"Well then, if you will excuse me, there are some pressing matters I have to see to."
And with that, Albus Dumbledore departed from the room, followed by Sirius, as Harry sat himself up, helped by Ron. He glanced at Hermione expectantly, waiting for an explanation
**
"So you're sure that he's back to normal now?" Sirius asked pleadingly, "You're absolutely certain?"
"I'm certain Sirius, now, I'm sure you want to talk to Harry, so off you go, and stay in dog form around Madam Pomfrey you have to be careful!"
Sirius smiled, "When am I not careful, Albus, when am I not?" With that he flashed a grin reminiscent of that he used when he was a student. Dumbledore smiled sadly as he watched Black return to the infirmary, wishing things were as simple as they had seemed back then, knowing that they probably wouldn't be for a very long while.
**
"So everybody saw..everything?" Harry asked incredulously once Pomfrey had left.
Hermione and Ron nodded sadly.
"Fudge saw Pettigrew then, and you're proven innocent, Sirius!" he said, clearly delighted.
"Pretty much," Sirius replied with a slightly smug smile, glad not to see his godson dwelling on what had happened.
"When can I get up then?" Harry whined, "I spend more than enough time in here as it is, I'm fine, look, I can stand up."
To prove his point, he stood slowly, and then wobbled slightly, his head spinning. Ron grabbed his arm and helped him back into bed.
"Ok, so, a little while longer lying down before I try anything," he grinned.
The group heard the quick footsteps of the infirmary nurse, and like a flash, Sirius became the large dog again, leaving the three friends to smile sweetly at Madame Pomfrey, who eyed them suspiciously.
"You are not getting out yet Potter no matter what anyone says, so don't even think about it."
Harry frowned, but then smiled again as he remembered that Sirius was proven innocent.
"Why does that dog always seem to be following you around Potter? I wasn't aware they were allowed in the school?"
Harry's mind worked quickly, trying to think of an answer that would not include 'escaped convict,' but Hermione stepped in for him.
"He's a stray, we found him in the grounds, and he won't go away now, of course I told Ron not to feed him but does anybody ever listen to me?"
Harry winked at his friend, who smiled back happily, whilst 'Snuffles' made a good job of buttering up Pomfrey, looking up at her with wide eyes.
"Well, he is adorable," the nurse cooed, whilst Harry thought how well Sirius played the part of a dog
**
2 Days later, and Harry was finally able to leave the infirmary. He cheered, shouting 'see you in a week' at Madame Pomfrey, who muttered something about suicidal children and dangerous activities. Harry met Hermione and Ron as soon as he set foot out of the infirmary, and the three of them walked towards the common room, laughing happily about various different matters of complete and utter nonsense.
As they walked down the corridors, students avoided looking at Harry, afraid of what they knew. The trio tried to ignore it, but when they got the same reaction upon entering the Gryffindor common room, it was more than a little annoying.
"What is wrong with everyone?" Harry asked, still smiling from the laughter which had preceded their entrance.
Still nobody looked at him, but many a person shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"Look nothing is different to before I'm still the same!"
No Reply.
Harry smiled at Hermione and Ron, and then said in a loud voice, dramatically placing one hand on his forehead,
"Woe is me I'm so depressed I fear that I shall go throw myself out of a window!"
Several heads snapped up at this, and then slowly, everyone started to laugh.
"Much better!" Harry said, before walking casually towards the stairs up to the common room, leaving Hermione and Ron leaning on each for support, trying to breathe through their laughter.
Dennis Creevey, however, jumped up and down nervously, saying " We should go after him what if he jumps?" This only left the Gryffindors in a deeper state of hilarity, so that when Harry returned downstairs 5 minutes late, he was pleased to see everyone still smiling.
"Welcome back, Harry," Dean said cheerfully, clapping Harry on the back, "Welcome back."
A while later, Harry was side-tracked by the twins, and given full details into how the business was flourishing.
"We've almost got enough money to open our own shop now!" Fred exclaimed,
"And since it's thanks to you, we are willing to offer you a peace treaty, so to speak."
"A what?" Harry asked,
"Well, basically, if you promise not to show it around, we'll give you a list of everyone of our items, so that you can avoid being affected by them."
"AGREED!"
With that, Harry shook hands with the twins, and was handed a very long list of items to be avoided at all costs.
"Remember not even Ron or Hermione OK?"
"Definitely I don't want to stop any fun."
"Great"
Just as the twins were about to walk away, Harry suddenly thought of something.
"When's the first Quidditch practice guys?"
"Oh well, tomorrow, actually, it was going to be cancelled, but since your back, I guess it's ok."
"Who's the captain now? Angelina, Katie you two?
"It's not decided we're voting tomorrow the team are, it'll go on that."
"OK see you then"
Following this, Harry headed up the staircase to his dormitory, this time to go to bed, and found that Ron
was already there.
"Night, Ron"
"Night"
**
"So his memory is returned, Wormtail?"
"Y-yes, Lord"
"No matter it was only an odd twist in the plan anyway no harm done."
"Good, S-sir"
"With his relatives gone he cannot remain hidden from me any longer I will always know where he is, and will use that to my advantage, striking where he is not."
"M-my Lord?"
"Yes, Wormtail I will drive the Potter boy to distraction, destroying everything around him when he cannot help, until he will do whatever I bid."
"Your plan has begun then?"
"Yes the Dursleys were but a beginning, we will see what a new day holds for the boy, shall we not, Wormtail."
**
Harry woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up in a rush, the memories of what had just happened all to clear in his mind.
"What's up, Harry?" asked a sleepy voiced Ron.
"N-nothing, Ron, I'm f-fine, r-really."
"Sure?"
Ron looked doubtfully at Harry, not sure whether to believe him or not.
"Yes."
Harry thought back to when the Dursleys were killed, Voldemort's message playing through his mind.
"Three less protectees how many left now Potter?"
He sat up in bed that night, never returning to sleep. When morning finally came around, Harry had decided that he would not let Voldemort affect him, that there would be nothing around him. If there was nothing, then nothing could be destroyed, and everyone would be safe.
Disclaimer – I own nothing – JK Rowling owns all.