A/N: O.K., guys, you know the drill. Don't like 'em, skip to the chapter heading. But this is my entertainment and I'm not giving it up. And you will miss some possibly useful information this time.

Useful Information: These are tentative posting dates, baring unforeseen circumstances. Which simply means if I miss for any reason, I can blame it on almost anything.

Fever-Chapter Eleven: December 23, 2001

Diamond: December 24, 2001

Fever-Chapter Twelve-December 26, 2001

A Dog's Day: December 30, 2001

I usually do not post until after 6:00PM, but before 10:00PM, EST.

Now, for the rest of you that stuck with me through that, read on. These, by the way, are Chapter Nine and Chapter Ten answers and thank yous together.

Hayleyhedwig 11: I missed something in your last review I wanted to respond to. About those 'evil smurfs', dear? Did I mention I'm a fully fledged member of S.M.U.R.F. (Society To Mush Ugly Repulsive Fairy Folk). You might want to rethink that strategy. Besides, I posted, didn't I?

Why is Snape getting on your nerves? He's just being 'Snape'. Poor Snape.

Hermione Gulliver: Sorry you were sick. Hope you're feeling better for the holidays.

I'm glad you liked Chapter Nine.

Merry Christmas.

VMR: I'm glad you liked Chapter Nine. Ten was my personal favorite. And thank you as always.

Leandra: Sure you do! Say more! Rattle on for pages! P.A.R. won't mind.

I've been writing for years. I never get bored with it.

I have several more stories in the works. Two more new ones coming out before the end of the year. Check the schedule above.

SEEKER 2000: Ohhhhhhhh.......! Thank you!

Wyltk: WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! You people can't send me to my room! Only I get to do that! Bad Wyltk! Bad! Bad! Bad! Go to your room! GO on! Now!!! AND NO SUPPER!!!!!!!

(People, learn from Wyltk's mistake.)

Really, P.A.R. is off for many days (*sigh*, sort of a forced vacation, but I really do need it). So P.A.R. is ***happily*** writing away on stories. I should have some more out soon.

As for the Stupefy spell, it would not have worked. That spell only stuns someone. The poison had to believe the body it was in was dead, not merely unconscious, before it would neutralize.

Silver Fox: OHHHH!!!!! GOODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Theories! P.A.R. LOVES theories!

O.K., let go.

1) No. Don't like that one either. NEXT!

2) I almost killed him the last time you looked? When was that?

Anyway. a) No. P.A.R. needs logical reasons mixed in with the miracle happenings. In Fever, certainly Harry's parents helped him survive by directing him back to Sirius' voice. But Harry also survived because Sirius revived him with C.P.R..

b) Refer back to 'a'.

What did Harry do for those three days in bed? Slept a lot, would be my guess. He'd been poisoned (over and over and over). As Snape said, he needed to regain his strength for what he was going to go through. So, Zzzzzzzzzzz.

I could have gone that far, put in Harry waking up and what he talked about and who to for three days, but I did promise Fever would not be the 49 chapter epic Family Life was.

Despite the fact, technically, he was shot only a few days ago, Remus can be up and about due to the fact that werewolves heal rather quickly.

Rupert Grint or Ronald Weasley, etc: Since this is after-the-fact, you know I did add them (chapters).

I'm glad I hit on you birthday. I didn't see your review until after Chapter Ten was posted, or I'd have added you to it. Anyway, Happy Birthday!

Harriet Weasley: Suspense! What a wonderful writers tool.

Anime Echo: My editor tends to tell me differently at times, but I don't listen to him. But it is his job to abash and demoralize me. But since you're nicer than him, I think I'll listen to you instead.

Sounded harsh? I don't think so. But then, I've been in this field for a lot of years and have had a lot of harsh reviews. You get a thick skin after awhile. And you need one if you're going to be a writer.

Juliana Black: O.K. 'BWA'. I get it now. Sound, not acronym.

You're probably right on 'dudette'. If you read the bio., I admit openly to my spelling ability, or lack thereof.

December 31st, huh? I'll see what I can do.

Lin-z: Ah, college life. Yes, I can almost remember it. Seven years of you-know-what.

Yes, I did see the review for Family Life. Thank you! A lot of time into it? Somewhat. (Five-six months.).

I am awe-struck and honored by anyone who would put the time and effort into Family Life to read AND review it. And I thank you.

I hope to check out some stories and return some reviews while I'm on my 'forced vacation'.

AngelKitty 9798: But cliffhangers are FUN! (For the writers.).

Wolf Of Solitude: P.A.R. is happy you are back!

Well, the first question was sort of answered. As to the second, Lupin is fully recovered. He's a werewolf, and they heal somewhat faster than regular human's. Sort of a side benefit. I mean, it can't be all bad news, can it? Last question, also answered.

My, my, my. Such a review for Chapter Ten. I'm honored, and stunned, and speechless. Again, for all who say this is the best story on Fanfiction.net, I humbly direct your attention to Midnight Visitors by RavenNat which, personally, gets my vote.

Quillow: I'm honored. I know many people read and don't review (yes, I'm one of those), so I appreciate each and every review.

I greatly enjoy working with the relationship between Sirius and Harry. I think J.K. Rowling has set up a wonderful, imaginative situation and I deeply appreciate her allowing those of us on Fanfiction.net to explore the possibilities of it.

Merry Christmas.

Sara: Chapters Nine and Ten are, of course, up. Here's Chapter Eleven.

Pigwideon: As soon as the explanation of the original poison went up, a lot of people came up with the 'poison as a cure' solution. And actually, a poison was the solution, just not all of it.

Remus is indeed one of my favorite characters, simply because he's so nonchalant about everything.

Zimmy Russell: What can I say? Family Life should keep you busy for at least a couple of hours, no?

Attack me? With my two attack cats? I don't think so!

A jolt? You don't mean.........JOLT COLA? No! No! Don't do it! Put the can down! You won't close your eyes for days!

Silent Shadow: I am going to try and read your story and give a review. However, please remember I do not review nice, I review honest.

Coqui: It's mostly Sirius/Harry tot he end of the story. Hope you enjoy it.

Unicorn Whisperer: Awwww, you deserved it. You've been a great reviewer, and P.A.R. appreciates it very much.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the story and the new ones coming up.

Teva1313: *P.A.R. opens her wallet yet again and begins peeling off bills.* O.K., how much to buy you off and keep quiet about that?

Actually, as I mentioned in the Q&A once before, A LITTLE KNOWN FACT, Sirius' wand is a homing wand, and it just found it's way back to him during the story.

It could happen, people!

Seriously, you're right. It is a major continuity error and does significantly effect the plot line. If I can find a loop hole, I'll certainly jump through it.

I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Thank you.

I do, in fact, write my own things. I am a working author(ess). I am currently working on the last few chapters of my next novel, but have a horrible case of writers block. So, until it clears, I'm doing this as an outlet for my writing.

I don't think J.K. Rowling will 'redeem' Snape. She said before in interviews that some people are just 'bad' and you have to learn to live with that.

Snape and Harry may be a little OOC, but that's part of what makes them fanfictions. Being able to change the characters a little.

Jess: (See above.) O.K.? How much?

RioRapter: I'll take fans wherever I can get 'em. Thank you.

Dumbledore's True Love: What is it with the birthdays? Is everybody born in December but me?

Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday.

Black Sparkles: Ohhhhhhhhh, I love it when I get that kind of response out of people. Thank you. Here's the next chapter.

Kiara O. Lawrence: Did the name change again? Or is P.A.R. just not paying attention? Anyway, you should be happy to the end of the year.

Marie Potter: So many questions. P.A.R. likes it.

O.K., in order.

Seems that way.

I hope not.

Don't you think he should?

Naw. Every village needs an idiot. He's just the one for the Ministry of Magic.

Course not.

When Fever is done, it's done. No sequel. Sorry. But concepts from Fever will appear in (of all places) the sequel to Family Life, (which is interesting because the two stories aren't tied together or related in any other way.). However, we are working on another Sirius/Harry (Baby Harry) story called The Bonds That Tie that should be out soon.

No.

Yes.

Here you go.

Ostia: Rapidly becoming another of my favorite reviewers.

Yup. Another two.

Silver Star: Thank you for the Chapter Ten review.

She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named: I just love it!!!

Snow? Is that the stuff I get in my freezer when I don't defrost it?

I do have a Christmas post up December 24th called Diamond. A short Snape Fiction.

If I missed anyone, I apologize. But answering for the reviews on two separate chapters is a little confusing. So forgive me.

Chapter Eleven: The Ones You Love-Part Two

The following morning Lupin made the long trek to the cave outside of Hogsmeade to look in on Sirius. He was sure Sirius would be pacing about the cave fretfully, awaiting his arrival and word of his godson.

But when Lupin entered the cave he instead found Sirius sitting on the floor in the middle of the cave, absently tracing in the dirt with a short stick. To Lupin he looked much like he had two years ago, minus some dirt. But aside from that he looked just as disheveled and badly in need of sleep.

Lupin walked over to him and sat down next to him, staring back at him as Sirius refused to meet his eyes.

"Not very smart, Padfoot." Lupin commented. "Sitting out in the open in the middle of the cave floor. What if I had been a ministry wizard? Or a muggle?"

Sirius gave no more reply than to shrug slightly, still staring at the pattern he was drawing in the dirt.

Lupin looked him over a bit closer. Sirius didn't just look like he needed some sleep. He looked absolutely exhausted, and his eyes were red and swollen.

"So?" Lupin asked. "Sleep well?"

Sirius slowly shook his head, still not meeting his friend's eyes.

Lupin paused for a minute. "What is it, Sirius? Is it about Harry?"

Sirius almost looked up at the name of his godson, but stopped himself.

"I heard Snape yesterday." Sirius said in a low, hoarse voice. "What he told you. He told me what I needed to hear to get me to leave." He gave a slight laugh. "Dogs can hear very well, you know. And...and you said you'd come as soon as there was news. And...and you didn't come...until now."

"And because of that you think...you think Harry...didn't survive?" Lupin was stunned at what Sirius had connected the events around him into meaning.

Sirius looked up suddenly, meeting Lupin's eyes for the first time since he came into the cave. His eyes showed nothing but fear of the answer to his unspoken question. But Lupin's expression broke into a sudden smile.

"Sirius, Harry is fine. Well, he's awake anyway. He's a long way from fine. But Snape and Madam Pomfrey say he'll get there."

Sirius dropped the stick he was holding.

"He's...he's fine? He's alive?"

"Of course." Lupin stated cheerfully, as though this should have been obvious. "And the first name he said when he woke up, you big, stupid dog..., was yours."

Sirius sat for a moment in silence as he gaped at Lupin. Then he began to laugh, and then to cry in relief.

Lupin sat next to him, one arm over his friend's shoulder until Sirius finally stopped crying.

"Well then?" He asked with his nearly ever-present cheerful smile. "Ready to see your godson?"

"See him?" Sirius asked. "But what about the ministry?"

"Oh, them. Dumbledore convinced them that the alarm they got was an old booby trap that you set for Snape from your school days that went off, leaving the same magic trace as your wand would since you used your wand to set it up. They left this morning after finding no trace of you anywhere in the castle."

"So, Harry's still at the castle?"

"No, actually. Harry's been moved back to the Shrieking Shack with Madam Pomfrey's blessing. She said he needs rest and quiet. But what he needs most, I think," Lupin stated, giving Sirius a wink, "is his godfather. At least that's what he keeps asking for. Poor child is so delirious."

Harry woke up in a large four poster bed similar to his one in the dormitory at Hogwarts. At first he had no recollection of where he was. But as he kept looking about within his field of vision he began to recognize the bedroom of the Shrieking Shack. He slowly rolled his head over to the other side. He smiled slightly as his gaze fell on his godfather sleeping in the chair next to him. Or more dozing. Not since they had first met had Harry seen Sirius looking quiet as bad as he did now. His hair was a tangled mess and he looked like he hadn't shaved in several days. His cloths were covered in dust and dirt as were his hands and face. And he looked like he hadn't been sleeping very well.

Harry tried to say his name, but it came out as a rasping, hacking cough, which immediately stirred Sirius from his half-sleep.

Sirius pulled up quickly from his chair and moved to the bed. "Harry?"

Harry managed a smile and a slightly better pronunciation of his godfather's name. He was rewarded with a smothering hug as Sirius pulled him into his arms with a cry of joy.

"Harry!"

Harry just smiled in answer to his godfather's enthusiasm, settling comfortably into Sirius's arms as his godfather pulled back slightly, afraid he might be hurting him.

Sirius brushed a bit of hair off Harry's forehead. "How are you feeling, Harry?"

Harry just nodded as he closed his eyes, perfectly content to go back to sleep now.

Sirius laughed softly. "All right. Madam Pomfrey said she wanted you to rest. So you rest."

Harry readjusted himself slightly, and within minutes was sound asleep again in his godfather's protective embrace.

A short while later Lupin quietly pushed the door open to check on Sirius and Harry. Inside the room Harry was sleeping peaceful in Sirius embrace still, while Sirius himself leaning against the headboard of the four poster bed, gently caressing a hand over his godson's hair.

Lupin shook his head with a slight smile as he soundlessly pulled the door closed. He was sure that Harry couldn't be safer than sleeping in the arms he was in right now.

Harry's recovery was steady, but agonizingly slow. By the fifth day he still wasn't able to so much as lift himself out of the bed. And he worried that all he seemed to want to do was sleep.

"Madam Pomfrey says there nothing wrong with your sleeping, Harry." Lupin assured him as he sat by the side of Harry's bed. "In fact, she encourages it."

Lupin had managed, with something just short of a cattle-prod, to get Sirius to take a break from Harry's bedside. To take a shower if nothing else, making some comment about the extent of the welcome if Sirius didn't. Lupin had added cheerfully that the change of someone to talk to would do Harry good. So with a huff and a lot of grumbling, Sirius had agreed to take the evening off.

Harry turned wistfully to the door for a moment, but quickly averted his eyes when he saw Lupin staring at him.

"I can go get him if you'd rather......" Lupin began.

But Harry quickly shook his head. "No. Don't. I actually hope he's just getting some sleep if nothing else. He looks like he hasn't done that in days."

"Five." Lupin replied.

Harry looked up again. "Pardon?"

"Five days." Lupin stated. "At least that's the last time I saw him with his eyes closed for more than ten minutes. The day he came to see you after you came back here. Past that he's hardly even left the room. And back when you first got sick, Sirius never once left your side. I've never seen him more upset or more scared than he was then."

Harry stared at Lupin in stunned amazement. "I had no idea he'd been there that long." He said. "I just remember when I woke up, he was always there. I just sort of figured it was coincidence."

Lupin gave a soft laugh. "More like stacked odds."

"Teaching my godson to bet, Moony?" Sirius scowled, coming into the room with a tray.

Lupin turned an equally disapproving stare to Sirius. "I thought you were suppose to be sleeping?"

"I did."

Lupin stood up and sniffed in Sirius' direction.

"I took a bath!" Sirius protested, pulling back. "So get your lupine nose out of my business."

"Just checking." Remus replied. "Knowing you, you'd gladly cut corners if it meant getting back in this room any sooner. And that would probably be the first one you'd take off the list."

"Well I didn't! I shaved, bathed, and slept. And now," He added, smiling pleasantly at Harry, "I'm going to have lunch with my godson. So," he turned back to Remus, "kindly shoo."

Remus huffed slightly before turning back to Harry. "If he so much as dozes off, you call me."

Harry nodded slightly.

The fact of the matter was, Sirius could curl up at the foot of his bed and go to sleep and Harry wouldn't say a word to Lupin about it. He was just happy to have Sirius back. It wasn't that Remus wasn't good company. But, well....., he just wasn't Sirius.

"All right." Sirius said with a happy grin as he set the tray down on the side of the bed and pulled off the cover. "I'm no cook, so you get sandwiches."

Harry hungrily looked over the tray. "Look good." He said, reaching for one of the sandwiches stacked in the middle.

"So, did you enjoy the change of scene?"

"Change of scene?"

"Remus, instead of me?"

Harry smiled slightly. "Professor Lupin was O.K.. And I'm glad he made you take a break."

"But......?" Sirius prodded.

Harry looked up innocently. "But what?"

"Come on." Sirius pleaded half-heartedly. "Feed the ego. But...?"

Harry smiled as he took a bite of his sandwich. "All right. All right. But he wasn't you. You're the best." Harry said past a mouthful of the sandwich.

Sirius smiled happily. "That's better."

"But I'm still glad he made you take a break." Harry repeated. "He told me how you've been sitting here for the whole five days."

"Remus makes everything sound like a life-time achievement."

"And he said you never left my side while I was sick. And every time I woke up, you were there. You didn't ever leave."

Sirius looked a bit embarrassed. "Well, you were sick, Harry." He explained logically. "And...for a while there, we really were sure if...if you were going to get better. Especially when I first took you from you Aunt and Uncle's house."

Harry quickly lowered his gaze as he felt the blush come up in his cheeks. If there was one thing he desperately didn't want to talk about with anyone...ever, it was what his uncle had done to him.

"Harry?"

"It wasn't such a big deal, Sirius." Harry replied quietly.

"A big deal?" Sirius turned Harry's face to him. "That animal beat you, Harry. I've seen full grown men who weren't as injured after a bar-fight as you were that night. He broke your nose, he cracked several ribs, and bruised nearly half your body. I consider that a 'big deal'."

"Well, I don't. Can we forget it, please?" Harry stated softly, turning his face from Sirius again.

But Sirius turned him back to face him, holding his face under his chin so he couldn't turn away this time.

"What do you think you did that you have to be ashamed of?" Sirius asked past a hard stare and a harder tone.

Harry pulled forcibly back from Sirius, breaking his grip on him as he turned from him.

"Harry?"

"I didn't fight back." Harry said barely above a whisper. "I should have fought back."

Sirius laid a hand gently on his godson's shoulder as he leaned down to look at him. "Harry, there was no way you could have." He said softly. "You were sick. You would have been far too weak from the poison to have ever been able to defend yourself."

"I didn't even try." Harry said meekly. "I just let him...."

"Harry, if you'd have fought back, there's no telling how far he would have gone. What you did was instinct. To just try and protect yourself as best you could until he stopped. You did the right thing."

"I acted like a coward."

"You acted like a sick, defenseless teenager against a man who outweighed you several times over and who was completely out of control. You did the best you possibly could have."

"I should have fought back." Harry repeated a bit more forcefully.

"Harry, if you'd have fought back he might have killed you. Do you understand that? You'd be dead." Sirius reached over and caressed a hand over Harry's cheek. "And at that point I would just as well have gone up to the front gate of Azkaban, knocked on the door, and introduced myself. Because I would be just as dead inside."

Harry turned back to the sandwich in his hands. He hated seeing the look in Sirius eyes that they held now. The pure fear and anguish at the thought of loosing him.

"What's going to happen to me now, Sirius?" Harry asked in a small, quiet voice.

Sirius sat for a moment before answering. "I don't know yet, Harry." Sirius replied. "But I'll make sure you're safe. Don't worry."

"Why can't I live with you? Why can't we stay here? We'd both be safe."

The pain in his godson's voice went directly to Sirius' heart. He hated hearing Harry ask for something so desperately, and knowing that at that time he couldn't possibly give him the answer he wanted.

"I'm going to talk to Dumbledore this afternoon, Harry." Sirius answered. "We'll wait until then and see what he has to say. All right?"

Harry slowly nodded his head.

"All right then. Now," Sirius nudged his arm, "finish your lunch or Moony'll blame me for not making sure you ate something."

Harry managed a small smile for his godfather as he went back to eating his sandwich.

Although the rest of the afternoon that he spent with Harry went pleasantly enough, Sirius was barely containing the rage that had been building up inside of him by the time Remus came back to stay with Harry while Sirius went to keep his meeting with the Headmaster. Just thinking back over the events when he had gone to get Harry from his Aunt and Uncle was enough to enrage him.

But Sirius held it all in and didn't let it loose until he stepped into the elder wizard's office had Hogwarts.

"I have had enough of this!" Sirius started straight out as he closed the door after him. Or more, slammed it shut. He was going to have his say, and no one was going to interrupt him until he was finished. "Now, I understand, Dumbledore, that there are certain forces at work that demand that Harry stay at his Aunt and Uncle's. But by the heavens, man! They nearly killed him this time. Surely there is nothing going on here that can justify leaving him in that place after this."

Sirius leaned over Dumbledore's desk. "He is my godson! I am suppose to be taking care of him. Protecting him. Raising him! He is miserable with those muggles. He deserves, for once in his life, to be happy. To have some sort of life. To have a normal life! He should be excited when the holidays come around. Looking forward to going home to someone who loves and wants him. He should be happy when school ends and looking forward to his summer vacation. I promised his father I would look after him. And all your plans have done is prevented me from doing that.

You should have given him to me that night, Dumbledore! He should have come with me. I would have raised him right. Raised him happy. Given him a home. A family. He would have been better off with me.

But you had to give him to the muggles. You had to leave him with that animal who very nearly killed him. And that was just this time. What about the next time? What if I don't come in time. Or I can't come at all. Or Remus? Or you? Or even Snape? What if it happens again? What if we can't keep him safe the next time?" Sirius pleaded. "He's all I have left in this life. All that keeps me alive."

Sirius suddenly slammed his fist down on the desk. "He should be with me! We both deserve that!" He continued, the anger coming back into his voice. "We have both suffered enough, and Harry more than anyone. His life shouldn't be like this. When he's sick he should have someone there who will worry and fuss over him and drive him nuts with so much attention he can hardly stand it. Not someone who beats him within an inch of his life for it and then locks him in a cupboard."

Sirius calmed his voice down remarkably fast. "Now, I know there are problems. Obstacles to overcome. I'm still wanted by the ministry. I can hardly show my face anywhere that it wouldn't cause mass hysteria and people screaming to be saved from the insane murderer, Sirius Black. But Harry had the perfect solution. Why can't I stay with him at the Shrieking Shack? It's on the castle grounds. We would know if the ministry were around. There's the secret passage that leads to an opening near the Forbidden Forest. I could always escape as Padfoot if the ministry showed up suddenly.

Or for that matter, why not just let Harry suddenly acquire a pet dog? Who would question that, Dumbledore? A boy and his dog? The perfect disguise. This way I could look after Harry, take care of him, and raise him, and make sure he's happy, and I'd be safe from the ministry while I try to clear my name. Everybody wins. Even that oaf, Dursley, who doesn't want Harry to begin with."

Sirius leaned back over Dumbledore's desk, trying to emphasize his point. "They don't want him, Dumbledore. They hate him.

I want him. I love my godson more than anything in this world. I want to take care of him. To protect him. To watch over him. Not sit about night after night wondering if he survived another day in the home of those muggles. Let me take care of my godson the way I'm suppose to be doing. Remus will be there too. He'll help. Harry will have all the love and care and protection he could ever possible want. He'll get positively sick of it by the time he graduates.

Now, I've followed your rules, haven't I? I never interfered right up to that night. I didn't even go after the idiot muggle for what he did to Remus, though well I should have. But you said not to and so I didn't. Now, I'm not one to idly ask for favors, Dumbledore. You know me better than that. But for once, in all of this, I am asking for one thing. Just one thing. Give me my godson. Let me give him the love and the care and the home that he deserves."

Sirius finished with his final plead and look expectantly at the empty chair behind the desk. After a minute, he stood back up.

Right! That sounded pretty good. Now he would just wait for Dumbledore.

Turning around, Sirius nearly stumbled back into the desk behind him.

Standing in front of the door was a very amused looking Albus Dumbledore.

"And now that you've had your say," the Headmaster said calmly, "perhaps you'd care to hear a few other ideas on the subject?"