A.N. Thank you to everyone who reviewed!!!!!! Wowzers!!!!!! Anyhoo, I hope that you enjoy this chapter!!!!!!! Thank you to Green Day for the use of their song!!!!!! And if you have the time, try and read the story that I made with Tadariada and SEEKER_2000! It's under the penname Define Normal. It's called Harry Potter and the Torch of Darkness!!! Thanx again!!!

Malena

"Harry…"

The boy that was sitting in a corner of the room didn't move when Sirius spoke.

"Are you okay?" Sirius urgently asked, rushing over to the corner where Harry was crouched. Harry wrapped his robes closer around him and shuddered softly. "Harry?"
"Harry?" Remus had come up behind Sirius.
Harry didn't look at them or move, besides the occasional shudder. Sirius was having trouble focusing on his face, for it was very dark in the cell.

"Is there any chance we could get more light in here?" Sirius said, turning to the guard who was still standing outside the cell. The guard rolled his eyes acting like the simple act of turning on a light was a huge burden. He clapped his hands and a torch lit the small cell.

Sirius got his first good look at Harry since they had seen each other at Hogwarts.

His hair was dirty and his face was smudged. There were flecks of dried blood under his lip, on his arms, and on his hands. Sirius could also see a bit of blood under his bangs, right before his hairline.

"Harry? Where did this blood come from?" Sisius asked. Once again, Harry didn't answer, and just backed into the corner some more. Sirius reached out and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. He jumped, but still didn't look at them, and pulled his arm out of their reach. Even though Sirius had only gently put his hand on Harry, he could feel that Harry had gotten very thin. He gently looked over his shoulder and saw an untouched plate of food.

"Harry, are you hungry?" Remus asked, noticing this as well. No answer. No nod. Nothing. Harry was just staring blankly at the wall with his green eyes with bags under them. His glasses were off, and placed near the "bed" that was in the corner. His eyes weren't the same sparkling emerald green that they used to be. They were dull and darker looking. They didn't seem to focus on anything. Of course, Harry refused to look at them…

"Harry, have you been sleeping?" Sirius whispered. No response.

"Er… gentlemen, perhaps I should take a look at him…" said Dr. Bochell. He moved forward and gently took Harry's pulse. Harry started shaking and pulled away.

The doctor frowned slightly and reached into his doctor bag. He pulled out a bar of chocolate.

"Harry, I want you to eat this," Bochell said seriously. Harry didn't move. He didn't even look at the chocolate. Bochell frowned again and put the chocolate away. Then he pulled out a little spray bottle with a liquid in it.

"Do you really think that this is the time to reapply your cologne?" Bochell didn't answer, just sprayed around the cell. The thick scent of chocolate filled the air.

"ACCHOO!" Remus sneezed.

"Chocolate spray," The doctor explained. "I bring it with me whenever I'm going near Azkaban or Dementors."

"Wish I had that…" Sirius said softly.

The doctor reached down again and tried to take Harry's pulse once more. He still flinched, and tried to pull away, but the doctor was persistent and held onto Harry's thin wrist tightly.

Harry shivered and tried pulling away.

"Harry, I need to do a small examination to see if you're all right," Bochell said softly. "Can you stand and walk over to your-er…bed." He eyed the broken down pile of wood suspiciously, wondering if it would collapse.

Harry didn't move.

"Harry…" Sirius sat down near to him. "Please. The sooner you can be examined, the sooner we can get out of here…" Harry didn't answer, but he slowly pushed away from the corner and got shakily to his feet. He looked like he was about to collapse under that effort. He put his hand on the wall to steady himself. He was still shaking.

~*~

As I stepped to the edge on the shadow of a doubt

With my conscience beating

Like the pulse of a drum that hammers on and on

'Til I reach the break of day

~*~

Sirius was hovering nearby, in case Harry was going to fall. Harry made it over to the pile of wood without falling, and sat down on it. The doctor moved forward, and took out a stethoscope to listen to Harry's heart and breathing. He flinched when it touched him, and his trembling got worse.

Bochell moved on to look at his eyes and ears, and to test his reflexes. Sirius and Remus just sat back and watched. The doctor was finishing examining the spots where the blood was, when Remus looked at his watch.

"Er… we have 10 minutes," He said. "Do you suppose we should be going?"

"Yes," Bochell replied. "I don't think I need to examine him much more… I'll tell you what he needs when we're on the boat."

Sirius nodded and turned back to Harry. He had curled up again, sitting on his bed this time. Sirius reached down and picked up the dusty glasses that were sitting on the ground. Sirius held them up for Harry to take, but he didn't even seem to notice them.

"Harry, we're getting you out of here," Sirius said. "Can you walk on your own?"

He didn't reply, just got to his feet again. He was so thin that it looked like his bones could have broken at any second. He held onto the wall again, supporting himself as he followed Remus and Bochell out the door.

"Come on," growled the guard, beckoning them. They slowly followed him down the twisted hallways.

Sirius desperately wanted to close his eyes again and not watch the prisoners that were moaning, screaming, and sticking their faces out of their cells at them. Harry paid no attention to them, and just sort of limped slowly after Dr. Bochell.

"There you go," said the guard, pointing to a door. "Now I have to go tell the Dementors that they can return to their posts…" The guard turned and disappeared down another hallway. Harry was still staring intently at the floor as they walked towards the exit of Azkaban. Remus pushed the door open and blinked from the brightness of the sun. They walked outside of the prison, and started to walk down the beach. Sirius was keeping an eye on Harry, making sure that he didn't stumble and fall.

They reached the boat, and the impatient looking guard.

"About time. Was 'bout to leave without you," he hissed. Harry was staring at the boat, and Sirius saw a flicker of fear in his eyes.

"Don't worry," he said softly. "We're going home Harry." Harry gave a shudder and slowly crawled into the boat. He sat down immediately and stared at the floor, wrapping his arms around him again. The thin, gray robes he was wearing were not going to be warm enough. Sirius removed his cloak and draped it over Harry's shoulder. He jumped, and looked around wildly. For the first time he looked into Sirius' eyes. But only for a moment. He quickly looked at the floor again and trembled.

The guard pushed off from the shore and they sailed off onto the sea. Dr. Bochell was talking quietly to Sirius and Remus.

"These are nutrient pills," he said, handing them a small bottle full of green pills. "Harry is malnourished, and needs these. Just slip one into his food at every meal." He dug around in his bag and pulled out a jar. "These are Power pills. Most of the prisoners at Azkaban have lost a bit of their magic, and it can take a while for it to return to its full power. Since Harry is still in school he will need his all his magic back as soon as possible. He needs one of these a day. Also, you might be wanting this…" He dug around in his bag and pulled out a black bottle full of liquid. "It's the Dreamless Sleep Potion. I don't think I need to tell you what to do with it…"

"No, that's perfectly all right," Sirius said, smiling weakly. "Thanks so much."

"Just doing my job," Bochell said, returning the smile.

Sirius turned and looked at Harry, who was now staring out over the dark sea. He watched as Azkaban slowly faded into the fog…

~*~

A cry of hope

A plea for peace

And my conscience beating

It's not what I want for it's all that I need

To reach the break of day

~*~

Remus walked up the hill to where his Muggle car was still parked. He offered to give Dr. Bochell a ride home, but Bochell eyed the car suspiciously and proclaimed that he would just Disapparate.

Sirius opened the car door for Harry, who just sort of stared at the car for a second, before slowly climbing in.

"Er-you can take a nap back there if you like," Remus said to Harry, giving a small smile. Harry just stared at his shoes and didn't answer. Remus glanced at Sirius before starting up the car. Harry jumped as though he had never done something like this before, even though Harry had spent most of his years living as a Muggle. Sirius watched as Harry sat rigidly in his seat and stared out the window. Sirius gave a soft sigh and turned forward.

He had seen people come out of Azkaban before, but none of them had had the reaction that Harry was having. He seemed scared, which was an emotion that Sirius had never truly seen in him. He was pale and sick looking. He certainly wasn't getting enough to eat or enough sleep. Hell, Sirius had been in Azkaban for 12 years, and he hadn't come out this bad…

"But he's had to go through so much more in his lifetime…" said a small voice in the back of Sirius' head. "He's had to see his parent's and friends killed, and Voldemort's rebirth…"

Sirius glanced around at Harry again, and saw that he had closed his eyes, but was still sitting rigidly in his seat.

"How's he doing?" Remus asked softly.

"His eyes are closed, but I don't think he's sleeping," Sirius replied. "But I think he's only resting."

"Well, if he's sleeping I'd hate to wake him up," Remus said. "We're almost back to my house."

At these words Harry opened his eyes.

~*~

Sirius opened the door to let Harry out of the car. Harry put his hand on the car to steady himself, even though Sirius had offered to help him. Harry didn't seem to want any human contact at the time.

"Come on Harry," Remus said softly. "This is my house, and where you'll be staying until school starts." Harry slowly followed Remus up a small brick path that led to the house. He pushed open the door and stood back so Harry could go inside. He looked around the living room, taking in all of the new scenery.

"Sorry… er… do you want to see your room?" Sirius asked. "Or do you want something to eat? We can do whatever you want to."

Once again, no answer. "If you follow me, I'll show you where your room is," Sirius said. Harry looked at the stairs and slowly followed him. Sirius led him to a room at the end of the hall. It had a small plaque on it that said, "Harry's Room". He pushed open the door.

Sun was streaming through the room that was painted emerald green. There were several Quidditch posters on the walls, and Harry's Firebolt was sitting on the bureau.

"Here it is," Sirius said, giving Harry a smile. "I painted it, and we both arranged your stuff."

Harry didn't pay any attention to Sirius, and walked over to his bureau. He ran a hand lightly over the shiny handle of his Firebolt. Then he jerked it away and turned to look at the bed.

"Would you like to take a nap?" Sirius asked. Harry just sort of walked around the room some more.

"I'm going back downstairs, Harry," he said. "Would you like me to get you anything?"

Harry was now looking out the window. Sirius walked out of the room and downstairs.

~*~

BRRRIIINNNGG! Once again the Weasley family had been waiting around the phone. This time Ron was able to pick it up without bumping his head against anyone else.

"Hello?" He said calmly.
"Ron?" Came Remus' voice.

"Do you have him?!" Ron asked urgently. There was a pause, and then, "Yes."

"Is he okay? When can we see him? Is he hurt?" Once again there was silence on the other line.

"Remus?"

"He's changed a bit Ron…" said Remus slowly. "His time in Azkaban wasn't easy on him…"

"What do you mean, changed?"

"Ron he suffered a bit while he was in there. You've seen how he reacts around Dementors… well, he was deeply affected there… and…"

"And…"

"Well, I can't really describe it. He's just very thin… and tired…"

"Can we speak to him?"

"He hasn't spoken to us," Remus replied. "Sirius is just now showing him his room."

"Oh…well, when do you think we'll be able to see him?"

"I don't know Ron. Maybe when he's feeling a bit better."

"Any guess on when that will be?"

Sigh. "I don't know."

"O-Okay," Ron said.

"May I talk to your mother?"

"Yes." Ron handed the phone to his mother.

"Hello Remus," she said cheerfully. At that moment Ron left the room, closely followed by Hermione.

"What's happened?" She asked.

"I… don't know."

"Is he okay?"

"No."

"Why?"

"He's just… not well. At least that's what it sounded like."

"What's wrong?"

"He's just…" Ron shook his head and said, "You'll have to ask Remus. I don't know."

~*~

It had to be almost midnight. Sirius was pacing downstairs, and Remus was hastily doing paperwork at the dinner table. Harry hadn't come down when Sirius called for dinner a few hours ago. They were both really worried about Harry. What happened to the kid that played Quidditch, and loved to talk with them about anything in particular? Harry hadn't even commented on Sirius being a free man. Sirius sighed and walked up the stairs. He paused at Harry's room and slowly opened the door.

Harry was lying on his bed, fast asleep. He hadn't bothered to remove his robes, or even get under the covers. Sirius remembered what it was like to sleep at Azkaban. Nightmares and demons filled your dreams, and you couldn't hide from them. Sirius shook his head and left his godson's room.

~*~

When you lost all hope and excuses

And the cheapskates and the losers

Nothing's left to cling on to

You gotta hold on

Gotta hold on

Hold on

Hold on to yourself

~*~