Rating: PG-13
Summary: Giving in to a deeply rooted depression, Harry is lost in a world where there is no Voldemort, no tragedy and no pain. Can Sirius convince his godson to give up the paradise in his mind for cold reality?
Takes place: the summer following Book 4: Goblet of Fire
Archived: The Weather Witch's Domain
Additional Notes: I know most of the staff knows about Sirius's innocence after GoF. I couldn't remember off the top of my head if Poppy did or not, so I've decided to make her informed now, if she wasn't before. Please excuse this random use of creative licence – I don't think it will detract much from the story. ^^
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
Chapter 2 (Added 13-Jul-02)
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
That looks like a cat. A big, fat one.
Mmm…nah, I'd say it's more like a sheep. See? It's curly and fluffy.
They're clouds. They're all curly and fluffy.
Oh yeah? Well, what do you see?
……...A Saint Bernard. See that little lump there? That's the container they carry—
Oh yeah – the whiskey containers. Remind me to get lost on a mountain sometime!
They do NOT carry whiskey containers!
Then what are they?
………Never mind.
You don't know what they're called either, do you? I knew it!
Oh, shut up. Don't make me hex you.
Whatever you say!
What do you guys think of that one?
A bird.
Yeah, I'll have to agree with that.
Me too.
You mean no arguments?
I can live with that.
Me too.
Me too.
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
(Excerpt from letter to Ron from Hermione)
…Sirius said that as soon as they get a letter back from Dumbledore, they're going to go and check on him. He promised to write me as soon as they find out what's going on. When they do, I'll let you know…
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
Sirius, with Harry, and Remus blinked into sight on the lush front grounds of Hogwarts. The usually bustling castle was near silent with the entire student body home for the holidays. Only a few house elves could be seen scurrying along the outer corridor, not taking as much care to hide with no one there to see them. In the distance, several large something's wandered back and forth in a giant pen behind Hagrid's cottage.
Probably for the next semester, Remus thought absently. Hedwig spread her large wings and launched herself off Sirius's shoulder, circling around and heading off, presumably to the owlry, content in the knowledge that her young master was finally in capable hands. Speaking of which…
Sirius shifted, cradling his godson to him protectively. Remus started forward, leading the way for the ex-convict, who was still obviously nervous about appearing in public. Thinking about that, Remus stopped and faced him.
" Sirius, why don't you take Harry's invisibility cloak out and enter with it? I'll just levitate Harry to Poppy's office. That way, we can be sure no one will see you."
Sirius tightened his grip reflexively but realized Remus had a point. Holding Harry until Remus pointed his wand and spoke the charm, he let go. Harry hung in mid-air, motionless. Remus tapped the trunk.
" Extractorate cloak!" [i]
The shimmering folds of the silver cloak appeared neatly folded on top of the heavy cedar chest. Sirius picked it up, swirling it about his shoulders. Remus watched as his best friend faded from view.
" Let's go."
Sirius's disembodied voice spoke up, already two steps ahead of him. Remus chuckled wryly and waved his wand, first at Harry to float ahead of him, and then at the trunk to float behind. As they entered the main hall, he flagged down a passing house elf, asking it to take Harry's trunk to trunk to the Gryffindor common room. The female elf who introduced herself as Dixit looked ecstatic to be asked for assistance.
" Oh yes sir! I is very happy to help you sirs, even sleeping sir!" The house elf babbled cheerily, before whistling sharply. Instantly, four more little elves materialized and they marched away, the trunk securely in their knobbly little hands. Dixit waved goodbye with her free hand as they scurried up the stairs that obligingly stopped moving long enough to let them on to the proper floor.
Turning, Remus made a movement with his wand and Harry's limp body fell in behind him. He and the invisible Sirius then made their way to the infirmary. Sirius was so anxious he kept forgetting himself, and despite the apparent severity of the situation, Remus found himself smothering a smile at the sight of the infirmary room door opening by itself.
" Hello Remus!" A cheerful voice called from across the hospital ward. Remus looked over to see Madam Pomfrey – Poppy to her friends and co-workers – heading towards him with a large smile on her face. " What a pleasant surprise this is! Have you come back for the DADA position?"
" Afraid this isn't a social visit Poppy," Remus said apologetically. He stood aside, letting the Head Nurse see the floating body of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Madam Pomfrey gasped and hurried over.
" Good heavens Remus! What happened to Harry?"
" We're not quite sure yet," Remus said forgetfully. Poppy's sharp eyes focused on him.
" We?"
" Good afternoon Poppy," said Albus Dumbledore, walking through the open door of the infirmary. " And Remus too." His eyes had a rather muted version of their normal twinkle behind his half-moon glasses. " And young Mr. Potter. Well, well. This isn't quite what I expected when you said you'd be checking up on him."
" We couldn't leave him there like this," Remus shrugged. Dumbledore nodded.
" Quite right Mr. Lupin, quite right. No, you did the right thing, I dare say. And it will be easier for Mr. Potter to see his godfather if he's here after all."
Remus looked at the elderly Headmaster in shock but Dumbledore merely smiled. He then turned to look warily at the Head Nurse but Poppy was busily sorting Harry out, transfiguring his clothing into pyjamas and laying him on the fresh clean sheets before drawing them up to his chest. Poppy heard Remus freeze into position and gave him a quick, reassuring smile.
" I may not have been in Dumbledore's office after the Triwizard Tournament but every staff member is informed of what involves the students as a whole, especially such an important matter. I'm well aware of Sirius Black's innocence. If Dumbledore believes him, that's good enough for me."
" Really?" Remus asked, shocked.
" Really?" came a disbelieving, disembodied voice. Poppy gave a start and jumped away as Sirius Black's head floated into plain view, his eyes wide as saucers. " You believe me too?"
Madam Pomfrey took a deep breath and let it out slowly. When she was sure her heart rate was somewhat close to normal, she opened her eyes and levelled a deadly glare at the former student. " Yes, I believe you. Now would you please remove that cloak and not be frightening me out of my poor wits? I have a patient to tend to; I can hardly do that if you give me a heart attack!"
Sirius blinked and then nodded absently, shrugging his way out of the cloak and draping it across a spare bed. To be so easily presumed innocent was a huge source of disbelief for him. He started as Remus laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. Taking solace in the familiar gesture, Sirius took a deep breath of his own. Letting it out, he let a shaky smile take the place of the awed look. " Right then." He looked at Harry, still stuck in a not-sleep, as he'd come to think of it as. " What's wrong with Harry?"
" I think it may have something to do with this book I found in his room," Remus put in, handing over the text to Dumbledore. The Headmaster scanned the title: Dreamscapes and the Worlds Within, and nodded slowly.
" Poppy?" He showed her the book. Madam Pomfrey gasped, shook her head and then hurried off for more supplies.
" Headmaster! " Sirius was starting to lose his patience.
" I have to read this book to be sure, but I think I know what young Mr. Potter has done." Albus Dumbledore looked at Sirius and the ex-convict was shocked at the degree of sadness found in those blue eyes. Even the twinkle had vanished. " It's quite a sad thing really, but I mustn't say more until I'm absolutely certain. In the meantime…"
He trailed off, looking in Poppy's direction. The nurse came back briskly, dragging a strange-looking contraption behind her. It looked like a coat rack on wheels, with a plastic bag hanging from it. Sirius looked at Remus who shrugged, perplexed.
" It's a muggle device, " Poppy explained. " Quite ingenious really. It lets certain types of fluid flow into a human body at the same rate as the blood flows inside the body."
" What kinds of fluids?" Remus wanted to know. He looked fascinated with the device.
" Well, water for one thing. Harry is dangerously dehydrated. The goddess only knows how long those irresponsible muggles left him to his own devices, without making sure he ate or drank anything." Poppy shook her head in exasperation.
" Completely unacceptable."
" What about food?" Sirius asked.
" Well, the fluid in the bag is full of carbohydrates, salts, electrolytes and sugar. It will hydrate him as well as provide his system with some much-needed nourishment." Poppy picked up a needle and quickly and efficiently stuck it in Harry's arm, right into the vein, taping it into place. Sirius and Remus blanched but didn't turn away.
" Can't you just use magic?"
" Well, I don't have time to be sitting here, twenty-four hours a day, do I Mr. Black?" she retorted. " If I just dumped what Harry's system needed into his system, he'd die from shock. It has to be re-entered at a natural rate, and I am not sitting here holding my wand over him for the next week when there's no need for it."
Remus looked over at Dumbledore. " So what happened that left Harry in this kind of state?"
Dumbledore looked at the book in his hand. " I will let you know."
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
That's it! Stand tall and proud! Don't let her sway you!
Honestly! It's just a haircut. You'd swear I was threatening to cut off your—
NOT in front of an audience, if you please!
Yeah, some things I'm better off just not knowing.
I was going to say, cut off your forelock there, the one dangling over your eyes that you swore up and down made you look sexy. You just have a dirty mind.
It does make me look sexy. And yeah right.
See? The lies I have to put up with…
So you don't think I'm sexy?
Umm…young ears here! Don't need to be hearing these kinds of details!
That's right! Behave yourself!
Aww nuts….
So anyway…
It won't work. I've had haircuts
before – it always grows back the next day.
That's because you've let muggles cut your hair.
You're muggle-born.
--With magical ability. That sets me above a muggle barber, thank you Mr. Peanut Gallery.
It's okay. I've kinda gotten used to my hair like this. It's…different!
It's messy! C'mon, just a little off the top?
That's the way! Stick to your guns!
That's it. I'm getting the razor.
……You're gonna shave him bald? Jeez you're tough!
The razor's for you.
Better run while you can!
Going now….
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
End Chapter 2
Feedback please?
[i] Not used in the book – I made it up. ^^
