A.N. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I hope that you enjoy this chapter, no matter how much you hated that last cliffy! *evil cackle *

Mal

There was a great rush of energy as the spell was cast. And then, as soon as it had started, it was over…

Two bodies lay sprawled on the ground, both covered with blood. The three people who had stood nearby took their arms down, for they had raised them to shield their eyes from the light and bits of rocks that went flying.

Their eyes settled on the two figures.

"Harry," gasped one of the men. He ran forward, towards the smaller body that was covered in blood. He turned it over, revealing the cut and bloody face of a boy. "Harry please be alright…"

The werewolf and the girl ran after him, watching as the man scooped the boy into his arms, slowly rocking him back and forth. "Harry please, please speak to me. Harry please…"

The boy didn't stir.

"Harry, it'll be alright. It'll be alright, I promise…" The man held the boy in his arms, rocking him as a parent would do their child. He pulled the boy even closer, getting the boy's blood on his robes as well. A great wound was in the boy's side, and the man lifted his shirt to examine it. The man choked back a sob as his eyes fell on the wound, and he ripped off some fabric from his robes in order to try and keep the blood from escaping the boy's body.

"Harry, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Please, please forgive me," the man said, tears streaking down his cheeks as he cradled the boy.

"Someone go get help!" the man cried.

And the rain continued pouring down upon them all…

Voices. He could hear the voices even if he couldn't recognize who was speaking. He couldn't remember the things that they said. He could understand them, but he couldn't respond. He didn't want to respond…

"Harry? Harry it's me. Listen… I'm-I'm sorry for what happened. I know it's my fault. All of it's my fault, Harry. Please, please forgive me and get better. I don't think I could ever live if you didn't get better. The doctor says it might take a while, that-that you might never be the same when you wake up. Please Harry please prove them all wrong… Please forgive me…"

"Harry! Good to see you! How're you doing?"

"Ron, he can't reply, why are you even bothering to ask him questions?"

"Because the doctor said that it's good to hear familiar voices, and that it'll help him get better."

"Ron, I don't think-"

"Listen Harry, the Quidditch team really needs you! The next game is in 2 months, and so far Neville has been the replacement Seeker-"

"No he hasn't! Stop lying!"
"I was thinking that maybe I could scare him awake!"

"Honestly, Ron…."

"Hey Harry. 'How're ye doin' mate? Listen' ye gotta get better right quick! Yer missin' some great Care o' Magical Creature classes. Got some stuff ye've never seen b'fore! B'sides, we miss ye, and yer godfather's in quite a state. Y'know, he came out to the public about still being alive. Now he's just fretting around here all day, waitin' for ye to wake up!"

"Hello Harry, this is Professor Lupin. You know, Remus. You've got to wake up Harry. Sirius is so worried. We all are, but particularly Sirius… the only way I've gotten to talk to you alone is that I convinced Sirius to go get something to eat. He's hardly left your side all week. Harry, it will break Sirius' heart if you don't wake up. You're all his has, besides me, but I'm just a friend. You're his godson, his family! Come on Harry, do it for Sirius…"

"Hello Mr. Potter. The whole world has heard about your adventure last week. Your parents would be very proud of you. As Headmaster, I've done my best to keep every detail from getting out, so only some of the teachers, your godfather, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger know the whole truth. Needless to say, Mr. Potter, the wizarding world owes you a huge favor. Did you know that you were awarded the Order of Merlin, first class? The Ministry also gave you a trophy, which, if you don't mind, will sit in the Hogwart's Trophy room. You've done great things, Mr. Potter, more than anyone could have imagined…"

"Here's the potion."

"Thank you Professor Snape."

"God, he looks awful."

"Most of the bandages on his face come off tomorrow. That is, if this potion works."

"Madame Pomfrey, do you doubt my potion brewing skills?"

"No Professor, of course not…"

"Good. Now I have to get back."

Thump, thump, thump… creak! SLAM!
"Arrogant prat… Mr. Potter, you didn't hear that. Well, of course you didn't hear that…"

"Harry, they're going to move you today. They're-They're going to move you to my house so you can rest more comfortably. Don't worry, it'll be fast. It's easier this way, so I can watch and care for you all the time. But please wake up soon Harry… Please… Please forgive me."

~*~

Sirius sat beside his godson, the sun streaming through the window and into the room that was painted green. Harry lay on his bed, unmoving and silent. It unnerved Sirius to see his godson so still. He'd been this still for almost two weeks now. Harry's chest was bandaged, down to his waist. His ribs were still healing, and the wound that he had gotten from the Hyncropratinous' claw.

Sirius had been afraid, oh so afraid that he had lost Harry forever… When he saw Harry lying on the ground, his blood everywhere, staining the rock that he had been pinned against… he thought that he was dead for sure. Then he saw Voldemort… lying on the ground as well. He had a great burn mark covering most of his body. He had a slack look on his great ugly face, and he wasn't moving. But Sirius didn't care about that at the moment, all he cared about was Harry.

Sirius pushed a stray piece of hair out of Harry's face and sighed. He was sorry. So sorry for everything bad that had happened in Harry's life. It was all his fault. If he hadn't told Lily and James to switch Secret Keepers…

"It doesn't matter, Sirius," Remus had said. "Voldemort was a very powerful wizard. He would've found a way to kill Lily and James anyway. He might have even killed Harry. We're lucky he didn't kill Harry that first time…"

And he was right, of course. But Sirius couldn't help wondering what would have happened if he had been their Secret Keeper, instead of that rat. Unfortunately they would never know…

Sirius closed his eyes and put his head in his hands. It was useless. It seemed as though Harry would never awake from his sleep. And even if he did, it would never be the same. He would never be the same again. Sure, Sirius would still cherish him, care for him, love him, but would Harry ever love him back? What Sirius had done was unforgivable. He had neglected his duties as Harry's guardian, he had let him get seriously injured. What kind of a parent was he supposed to be? Why had Lily and James trusted him to take such an important job? Why?

Sirius raised his head and looked at his godson. Harry didn't deserve a godfather like him. No… No, he didn't.

Sirius jumped at the sound of the doorbell, echoing through the house. He patted Harry lightly on the arm before standing up and going to answer the door. Before he could even reach the stairs he saw Remus come through the door.

"Afternoon Sirius," he said cheerfully. "How's Harry?"

"Same," Sirius said softly, walking slowly down the stairs.

"You haven't slept, have you?" Remus asked, his smile fading.

"How can I sleep when Harry's like that?"
"Sirius," Remus sighed, leading him into the kitchen. "You've hardly slept for two weeks. Do you really expect to watch Harry every night until he wakes up?"

"Yes," Sirius replied stubbornly.

Remus gave a soft chuckle, and put a pot of water on the stove. He tapped the stove and a blue fire appeared. "You can't do that Sirius, you know that."

"I can try," Sirius grumbled.

"Listen, after this cup of tea why don't you take a nap. I can watch Harry and if there's any sign that he wakes up, I'll come get you."

Sirius began to shake his head.

"No, Sirius, I insist. You aren't looking so good, and you need to sleep. Please. If you won't do it for me, do it for Harry. He wouldn't want you to waste away, just because of him."

Sirius ran a hand through his black hair and slowly nodded.

"Good. Now, drink your tea."
Remus placed a steaming cup of tea in front of Sirius and sat down across from him.

"Don't worry, Harry will wake up soon enough. He'll be fine."

~*~

Rain. Rain pouring down everywhere…

Pain. Unbearable pain. Pain that made you scream until your voice was gone. But the rain kept coming down, stinging the fresh wounds that marred your skin…

Coldness. A coldness that you couldn't hide from. Coldness that still remained, no matter how thick a coat, no matter how big a fire.

Fear. Fear that coursed through your veins like a poison. It paralyzed you, so you could do nothing. Not even fight back. Not even shield yourself against the rain. The rain that poured down everywhere…

Harry whimpered slightly. Not loud enough for anyone to hear though. Everything was black, and he couldn't open his eyes. He didn't want to open his eyes. He was afraid of what he could see if he did…

"No one's going to find you Potter. Not alive, anyway… Crucio!"

Harry whimpered softly again (still not loud enough for anyone to hear) remembering that spell. It had been cast upon him again and again… pain had wracked his body, until he couldn't feel anything but that pain. He could still taste the blood from when he bit his lip.

He could remember almost everything. Everything was so vivid, the pain was so fresh and raw that he flinched. He remembered the crimson eyes that seemed to burn into his soul, and would haunt his dreams forever. Those eyes seemed to be burned into the back of his eyelids, and the only way he could get out of staring at those eyes was to open his.

The light seemed to burn him, making him wince and close his eyes again. There had been someone sitting in a chair beside his bed, reading the newspaper from what he could see. The person didn't even seem to notice that he was conscious. Harry took a deep breath that hurt his chest, and settled back into the warm cocoon that he was nestled in. A bed? Yes… a bed. An unfamiliar bed, but still a bed.

Quickly, exhaustion overtook Harry, and he was once again pulled into unconsciousness.

~*~

"He didn't wake up, did he?" asked a sleepy voice from the doorway.

"No, not that I could tell," Remus said. Sirius gave a sad sigh and knelt next to Harry's bed. He was breathing lightly, a piece of hair in front of his face fluttering every time he inhaled and exhaled. Sirius brushed the strands out of his godson's face and stood up.

"Should I go?" Remus asked. "I was supposed to write Kelsy (A.N. his girlfriend)."

"No. Stay," Sirius pleaded. "Please. You can write her from here and use my owl. Just… don't leave."

Remus stared at his friend for a moment. "All right. I will. But you're not cooking!"

Sirius smiled and nodded. "I'll owl out for pizza or something. Don't worry, I won't set anything on fire in the process."

Harry whimpered in his sleep.

"No! Please! Stop… it just hurts so much… please! Someone help me!"
"Crucio!"

"Help me please… Sirius… Remus…anyone, please help…"

Harry shuddered unconsciously.

"Please, just make it stop… I don't care how… just make the pain go away…"

Harry's eyes snapped open. The room was now dark, and no one was there. Two voices floated up from downstairs, but Harry ignored them. Everyplace on his body ached, as though all of his muscles had been thoroughly stretched out, and then snapped back together. He could hardly move, he was so stiff.

He sucked in a pained breath as he tried to sit up. He could feel that his chest was wrapped up in some sort of gauze, so tight that he was having trouble breathing. Or maybe that was just from pain. He bit his lip as he tried to sit up fully, finally able to prop himself on one elbow. Everything hurt, and Harry was panting from exhaustion. He tried to speak, but nothing came out that was louder than the lightest of whispers.

No one cares that you're in pain, Potter… No one cares for you at all…

Harry gave up, collapsing back onto the bed. He slowly pulled his knees closer to his body, curling into a sort of ball. Everything hurts so much. All he wanted was for the pain to go away…

A.N. Like I said earlier, thank you to everyone who reviewed. Now, as much as I hate to say it, this story is coming to a close. Either the next chapter, or the chapter after that, will be the last chapter. Thanks to those of you who've stuck through till the end!

Malena