Guys, if I could I'd come to each and every one of you to deliver a huge Thank-You-Hug! You're awesome. And yes, I know that I've said that before, but who cares? So, here's chapter 5, and slowly things start getting rather nasty. Slowly.

You're all really great in guessing what might happen next. I know it's unfair (because I know what's going to come), but I really enjoy reading your ideas. And some of you are really clever…

Anyway, on with the A/N, shall we?

Unfortunately, evil spapple pie has taken Remus and Sirius away from my story. If you have any hint as to where they could be held prisoner, please contact me straight away. Without them, the story cannot continue. I beg the kidnapper to return them soon and unharmed, otherwise you'll be in serious trouble, believe me!!! *g*

Zenya: Yeah, you're back! Was already starting to miss you! Unfortunately, I can't answer why Harry won't wake up, and neither how he got into this state. Spoilers, you understand? But you won't be able to take Remus, Sirius and Harry to hide them, I'll find them and bring them back! Mwhaaa!

Avidia: Yes, 10-14 chapters, but that's only an estimation, cause it's not finished yet. Well, it's finished inside my head, but I still need to write a thing or another… And yes: Character Death. And no 'not really deadisms' this time, I'm afraid. It's necessary for the story, you'll see. But it won't be until the end, so you still have some time to figure out who it might be… Harry…Sirius…Remus…Ron…Snape…somebody completely else…I won't say anything *grins maniacally*

A.Dee: No, calm down. You were wrong. Nobody goes mad in this story, at least it isn't planned yet. Think again, think back to The Last Marauder (you've read it, haven't you?). What happened every time that the Cruciatus Curse was used with the intention to kill? Hmm? Another hint: think about Harry and Voldie…got it? That was where I was hinting at. But I won't say more, no! *shuts mouth firmly and turns head away*

kateydidn't: Great name! Favourite's list? Wow, I'm flattered! Thank You!

sara ane: The entire fic and the prequel all at once? Respect! Glad you liked it! Fav authors list? Wow, this day gets better and better and better…interesting theory you got there. Very interesting. Hmmm *raises an eyebrow* Batman, he?

anaticulapraecantrix: I can't tell you that now, can I?

Heather: Interesting theory, but you will understand that I can neither confirm nor deny suspicions here. I mean, I still want some suspense left for the rest of the story…

And I'm afraid that there won't be any romance in this. Not that I think Harry doesn't earn a break and maybe finally a girl at his side, I really do, but I can't write romance. Not if my life depends on it. I'm just too cynical to write something as happy as that!

Well, Lily and James are definitely in Harry's mind, but whether they are only his subconscious speaking to him or whether they are real in another way will come out later in the story. Patience, my dear, is a virtue. Unfortunately.

Mrs. Moony: Well, but you have to admit that thinking about consequences doesn't seem to be one of Padfoot's strongest traits. I've always wondered why he (though he knew that Harry was alive) went and hunted Peter down on his own. He could have convinced Dumbledore that he had not been the secret keeper, a dose of Veritaserum would have done. Then Harry could have lived with him, not the Dursleys.  But no, he just goes off and gets into big trouble because he didn't take the time to think. (sounds strangely as if I blamed him. Hmmm.) But somehow it is his fault, isn't it?

evil spapple pie: RETURN THEM NOW AND I MIGHT FORGET ABOUT THIS LITTLE INCIDENT!!! *please bring them back, I miss them* And no matter what you try, Remus isn't yours. And neither is Sirius. You can have…Lucius?

I absolutely love the image of Draco Malfoy with a bruise the size of a hand on his face! Do you think it glows in the dark? Mwhaaa!

The Dementors wouldn't have kissed Sirius were they still on Ministry business, but now they're with Voldemort and I don't think that they'd pass the chance to suck anybody's soul out. I mean, they feed from it, don't they? So you want Sirius to be breathing at the end of the chapters? I mean, those who were kissed do breathe as well, don't they? Hey, don't flame me, I'm just joking now!

No, the werewolves work for Voldemort because they chose to. I think it was even in the books that he tried to recruit them, promising a cure. That's what he did to get them. What happened after that, I can't tell just yet. You'll have to wait for the next full moon night…

You kinda misunderstood what James and Lily were saying. Harry was afraid that he was only dreaming, that his parents were not really there but that he just imagined them to be. Then James and Lily told him that they were really real if he wanted. Which means that he could finally live with them, all he needed to do was stay where he was. Which is what he did. It didn't mean that he can resurrect them somehow, not at all. But for a full explanation of it, you'll have to wait a little longer. I promise, there will be more James and Lily as the story goes on…

A DEATH THREAT??? Yeah, I got my first Death Threat! I already expected them for 'killing Remus' in TLM! Well, there will be a Character Death in my story, but I won't tell you who! I just tell you that it won't be like in book 4 'Cedric, well he wasn't really important anyway Diggory', it's going to be somebody who appeared more often. A lot more often, actually. HeHeHe! *g*

I plan to update only once a week, but as you've seen, when I'm bored I'll update more often.

Leonie: Yepp, Antworten geben und dabei noch mehr Fragen aufzuwerfen macht unheimlichen Spaß! Solltest Du dringend auch mal probieren, kann ich nur empfehlen! Naja, und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass Lily und James schon gerne ein bisschen Zeit mit ihrem Sohn verbringen wollen, was sie nicht könnten wenn er aufwacht. Aber wie das weitergeht, wirst Du schon noch sehen. Zu James Reaktion, naja, sieh Dir den Review für evil spapple pie an. Ich habe mich bei all den fics die ich gelesen habe, immer gefragt, warum James, wenn er Sirius mal 'erschienen' ist, gleich so vergebend war. Ich an seiner Stelle wäre ziemlich wütend, kann ich Dir sagen. Erzählen wird Harry Sirius erstmal nix, aber er wird es seinen godfather schon merken lassen, lies einfach weiter. Antworten wirst Du schon bekommen, wenn Du immer schön fleißig weiter reviewst, geht das mit dem updaten vielleicht auch schneller. Aber nicht in nächster Zeit, nach chapter 6 habe ich da eine etwas größere Lücke, die muss erst nochmal gefüllt werden…hmmm…

FirePixie28: Well, Harry's parents told them that he didn't only imagine them to be there, but that they were real. Which means that he's not merely dreaming about them, but actually meeting them. At least that's what they say…As far as the waking up is concerned…read and find out!

So, that's enough for today, isn't it? Here you go.

Enjoy!

Caught

With a happy smile, Harry relaxed into the sofa. His head rested against his father's shoulder while James' hand lay on top of his head and combed through his unruly hair. His mother sat on his other side and listened to her son's tales with a warm smile on her face.

At first, Harry had only wanted to tell his parents stories from Hogwarts and nothing about the Dursleys at all, but once he had started, it had all flooded out of him.

He had told them about the first eleven years of his life, about the day when Hagrid told him that he actually was a wizard, about his adventures at Hogwarts and his encounters with Voldemort, and also about his holidays with the Dursleys. He even had told them what had happened the day when Sirius had rescued him from them, how Vernon had beaten him into oblivion.

Though he could only see his mother's face while he told them about his life, the movements of his father's hand in his hair showed him how he reacted to it. He had stopped combing through his hair whenever something had upset him, and he had stopped quite often. Mostly when the names of Voldemort, the Dursleys or, much to Harry's surprise, Sirius were mentioned.

Now that he couldn't think of anything more to tell them, he just relaxed and bathed in the feeling of comfort and love that their presence gave him.

His mother broke the silence.

"Well Harry, I'm glad that you're finally safe from my sister's husband. I knew that he wasn't a kind man, but what he's done to you has gone way too far. I'm so sorry that you had to go through this."
Before Harry could answer, he was interrupted by a snorting sound from his father.

"If I had been there, Vernon would have paid bitterly. Nobody does something like that to my son without getting something worse in return."

"Dad, there was no time for revenge, and for my part, I am glad that Sirius has had some self-restraint. Cursing them or beating them up would not have helped me either."

James obviously wanted to say something in return, but a stern look from Lily shut him up immediately. She got up.

"I think I'll go to the kitchen and make us some dinner. How about pasta?"

Harry smiled.

"That would be great."

Lily left for the kitchen and Harry relaxed even further into his father's arms. He closed his eyes with a content sigh and only felt. James draped his arms around his son's body and pulled him close. Harry smiled as he snuggled himself as close to his father as possible.

"You know, when I still lived with the Dursleys, I often imagined how my life would be if you and mom were still alive. I even hoped that you were still alive and would take me home one day, but as soon as Petunia got to know that, she did everything she could to destroy that hope.

And so I started dreaming that one day somebody else would come and get me, an uncle, a distant relative, maybe a friend of yours, but nobody ever came.

Then I went to Hogwarts and didn't need to dream about something like that anymore because now I had friends and people who cared. I didn't even realize that still there was something lacking.

And then Sirius and Remus came into my life and suddenly I knew that the people I dreamed about were really out there and simply couldn't help me because of the circumstances. But the knowledge that they wanted to be there for me and did everything they could gave me the strength to cope with the Dursleys, and I was hoping that one day I'd be able to leave.

And just when I was about to give up, just when Vernon crossed the last line, my dream came true and I could live with somebody who really cared for me. Somebody who was like a parent to me, who said he loved me. And that was so new and it felt so good, so I didn't realize that still something was amiss.

And only now I understand what this was. There is no substitute for you, no matter who tries and how hard they do, nobody can ever take your place. Only now I know what it means to have parents, to be a child who is really loved. I belong here, and everything else will only be a poor substitute for this."
He turned around and looked into his father's eyes.

"I don't want to lose this again. For the first time I feel completely safe, I feel at home."

James smiled and planted a kiss on Harry's forehead.

"This is how it should have been all the time. This is what you would have earned to have all your life. But unfortunately, people got in the way. Some of them tried to harm you willingly, and some of them did what they thought was the best for you, but what in the end cost you this, the life you should have led. Harm doesn't need to be willingly done, it also hurts if it is caused by a well-meant, but ill choice.

But what is important now is that you finally have your life. As I said, this is as real as you want it to be. If you want to take what is your own, you simply have to take it. We're together again and that's all that matters now.

There's nothing here that threatens you, nothing can tear us apart anymore. Voldemort doesn't exist here, Harry. It's you and us, the Potter family like it should have been all the time."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"…but unfortunately, he didn't know the counter curse – and neither did any of us – so your father had to stay like that for the rest of the day, three feet tall. Believe me, I've never seen James so angry before, and Snape and McNair paid bitterly for it."

Sirius sighed. Now it was already late afternoon and nothing he had tried so far had been successful in raising Harry.

He had spent the morning sitting beside his godson's bed together with Remus, silently waiting for any change in Harry's state.

At noon, after Remus had reluctantly left for classes, Ron and Hermione had visited their friend. But not even their presence had had any effect on the sleeping boy.

So after they had left, Sirius had sat down on the bed, his back against the headboard and Harry cradled in his arms, and had started telling him stories. Somehow he felt a little stupid about it, Harry already knew most of the stories, but in some way it was even more for Sirius' peace of mind than for Harry.

Madam Pomfrey had thrown a fit when she had found Sirius sitting on the bed with Harry, but she had given up the idea to tell him otherwise very quickly. Sirius could be as stubborn as a mule and he had simply pretended not to see and hear the nurse at all when she had scolded him. Deciding that the physical contact posed no threat at all and might even be more of a cure for Harry, Madam Pomfrey had chosen to let the man have his will in that matter. And so Sirius had sat like this for more than four hours now, telling his godson stories and hoping that the sound of his voice might wake him up.

With a click, the door to Harry's small room opened and revealed Remus Lupin, who carried a tray with various goblets and two plates into the room. When he saw the two figures on the bed, he smiled.

"Hello Sirius. Any changes?"

Sirius shook his head.

"No, he didn't even move once. What are those?"

He gestured towards the tray that Remus had put on the beside table.

"Potions for Harry and some food for you."

Remus sat down on the other side of the bed and began giving the potions to Harry while Sirius held the boy's head steady.

"I'm not hungry." Sirius replied, just as Remus had predicted he would. He sighed.

"You're right Sirius, how useful you would be for Harry if you only starved yourself eventually."

Remus shook his head and gave the second goblet full of potion to Harry, then another one full with water. Afterwards, he handed one of the plates with food to Sirius, took the other plate and sat down next to his friend.

Sirius put the plate on the bedside table which earned him another stern look from Remus.

"Sirius, look. When Harry wakes up, he'll need you to be there for him. To be strong for him. But if you seize eating and sleeping, you'll eventually break down yourself. In which case you won't be able to help Harry at all. So take that plate now and eat, before I have to force the food into you. It wouldn't be a pretty sight, believe me."

Sirius contemplated his choices for a moment, then took up the plate again and started to pick listlessly through his food. Remus shook his head. If Sirius had been in a similar mood last summer, he could understand why Harry had wanted to keep an eye on him all the time.

"I guess you'll spend the night here?"

Sirius nodded.

"Good. But promise me that you'll at least try to get some sleep."

Sirius, who had already put his plate aside again and now was totally focussed on stroking Harry's hair, nodded again.

Remus sighed. This was even more difficult than he had thought it would be. Sirius didn't seem to notice anything but his beloved godson.

"I already wanted to ask you this morning, how did you manage to get here so quickly? Even if you had apparated immediately, Dumbledore's owl could have never managed to get to Scotland before early afternoon.

Sirius sighed and his gaze remained unfocussed while his hand remained in Harry's hair.

"Well, like we had guessed, the Death Eater sightings in Scotland were merely a distraction, and after we received the news from the Ministry, we broke our camps there and left only a small unit for further investigation. I was already halfway back when the owl reached me, and then apparated to Hogsmeade immediately."

"So you know about the Dementors."

It was a statement rather than a question, but Sirius nodded.

"Yeah, Arabella told me. Even if nothing had been wrong with Harry, I'd have come here after those news. Wielding really doesn't want to station Aurors here? He should know that Hogwarts is one of Voldemort's main targets, where else should he strike first?"

Remus shrugged his shoulders.

"He said that they don't have the capacities and somehow I understand. It's not only the Dementors, the Ministry also has to worry about the Death Eaters. And they have shown quite clearly what they are able to do last summer."
Sirius slowly nodded.

"They can worry about whatever they want, I'll stay here. Not even Albus can talk me out of that. If Voldemort strikes here, he'll have to kill me before he ever lays his hands on Harry again."

Remus thought for a moment.

"Sirius, how strong is your Patronus?"

Another shrug with his shoulders.

"Haven't tried it in ages. But you know that I never had problems with it, do you think I can't do it anymore?"

Remus quickly raised his hands.

"Relax Sirius, of course I don't doubt your abilities. I know that you've always been able to do a Patronus. What I meant is the following: in case that the castle really gets attacked by Dementors, we'll have fourteen, fifteen including you, wizards to defend it. Eight are able to produce a stable Patronus, but only four of us have ever been in the situation to try and produce one in the presence of a Dementor. Now, in case that we'll really be attacked, I need to know into which category you fall, that's it.

And twelve years in Azkaban plus two more as a fugitive without a wand certainly have had an effect on you, that would have damaged even the strongest wizard's magic."

Sirius re-adjusted his arms around Harry's still unmoving form and thought for a moment. Eventually, he spoke.

"I think whatever damage Azkaban has done to my magic has healed when I got away from the Dementors. Ever since I have my wand back, there has been no spell or charm that was a problem for me. And Moody tried some hard ones when I joined the Ministry again. I'm convinced that the Patronus charm is no problem for me."
Remus interrupted.

"Even in front of a Dementor?"

His voice barely more than a whisper, Sirius answered.

"I don't know Remus, I don't know. I can't tell you how I would react if I came face to face with one of those things again. But we could try it, if…if you found me a Boggart."

He didn't look into Remus' eyes, as if admitting that his former jailors had become his biggest fear was something to be ashamed of. Remus only nodded.

"Filch and the ghosts already look for one. We…we wanted to ask Harry to face it, so that the other students could get a feeling what fighting a Dementor really means."

Tightening his hold on Harry even more, Sirius nodded.

"Well, if you find one, I'll try it. If it works, I can show the students."

Remus smiled at him.

"I'd love to see that comet fly again. Though if the Boggart would turn into a Dementor, it would mean that I won't see another bald version of yourself."

He laughed and even Sirius managed a weak smile while he absent-mindedly ran a hand through his shoulder long, black hair.

"Times have changed Remus. If becoming bald would still be my biggest fear in times like these, I could volunteer to get my soul sucked out."

Those words were followed by a long silence in which both men got lost in their own thoughts about times when their lives had been easier and their fears more insignificant. Finally, Remus got up.

"I think I'll retire now. Oh, and Madam Pomfrey said that she'd come over for a last check at around nine and that she would hex you into next month if she still found you in Harry's bed by then."

Sirius snorted.

"I'd like to see her try."

"Well, I wouldn't risk her wrath if I were you. But seriously, please try to get some sleep. It's no use if you can't keep your eyes open tomorrow. Good night Sirius."

"Good night Remus."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Even after two days it was still a strange feeling for Harry to wake up on his own. Truly, he had only suffered from that strange insomnia for only a week, but during that time the question if he would wake up on his own had become a constant thought in the back of his head.

The first morning waking up had been extremely strange, because in addition to the unknown feeling of waking up on his own, he had also woken up in unfamiliar surroundings. It had taken him some moments to realize where he was.

This was his room, his room in his parents' house. It was furnished with a large four poster bed, a desk near the window, two large shelves with books and, as if his parents had known it, a variety of Quidditch posters on the wall. It looked as if it had only waited for him to move in, waited for all those years.

With a happy smile on his face, Harry jumped out of his bed, took a shower and dressed himself, before he went down to his parents to grab some breakfast.

It was only the morning of his third day with his parents, three nights after he had arrived with his mother, but he already felt as if he had spent his entire life with them. There was no feeling of unfamiliarity between them, it felt as if he had known them for all his life.

After breakfast, he spent his mornings in the kitchen with his mother, talking about this and that, but nothing in particular, both were simply enjoying the other's presence. After lunch, he mostly went outside with his father and either they explored the area around the house, or they played Quidditch. In the evenings, the Potter family sat in front of the fireplace and Harry listened with wide eyes to his parent's stories.

Last summer, Remus and Sirius had given him his father's journal, and he had read it more than once from cover to cover, but it was something completely different to hear his father tell the stories.

James had also promised to teach him how to become an animagus, a promise Sirius had given him as well, but so far had not held.

Yesterday afternoon, some of their neighbours had paid them a visit and from what his parents had told him, a couple of their friends would come over the next weekend.

It truly felt like home after only such a short time.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Sirius closed his eyes and let his head roll around in order to ease his troubled muscles. Harry was in this strange coma now for more than four days and nothing had changed.

His life had fallen into a routine which only circled around his godson. Early in the morning he would rise, if he had slept at all, then take a quick shower and upon Madam Pomfrey's insistence he'd eat something. Afterwards he assisted the nurse in cleaning Harry up, gave him his potions and then he settled onto the bed with Harry in his arms, stroke his hair and told him stories. Day after day.

Remus would drop by before and after his classes, and Ron and Hermione would pay their friend a visit after lunch. Dumbledore would come every evening after dinner.

Though Sirius was lost in his own sorrow about Harry's state, he realized that this situation had its affects on the others as well. Remus looked as if he didn't sleep very much as well, Hermione's eyes were reddened from crying, Ron appeared to be angry at nobody in particular but at the world as a whole, and Dumbledore seemed to search for the right words in a very helpless way. It could not go on like this, they needed to rise Harry and they needed to do so soon. Even if Sirius didn't like admitting it, his godson was far more than any ordinary boy, and if Voldemort would start acting again, Harry simply had to be conscious. If there was any wizard besides Dumbledore who might be able to fight and kill the Dark Lord, it was Harry.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

It was the afternoon of Harry's seventh day with his parents and he couldn't imagine that once he had led another life any more. This was his life, he had his parents around him, he could see them, listen to their stories or cradle himself in their arms, he could bathe in the feeling of unconditional love that surrounded him with those two people. Here, he truly had everything he ever needed.

He had nearly forgotten about the Dursleys and the first eleven years of his life. His parents gave him their undivided attention whenever he needed it and with every hour that he spent in their presence, he felt more at home.

However, during the last couple of days, two strong and contradicting feelings had started developing inside of him, far beyond his ability to control them. And ever since Harry had acknowledged their presence, he could no longer ignore them.

One was the feeling that despite he was living his dream, something was still amiss. Something that even his parents and his home could not replace – his friends. He missed Ron and Hermione dearly, from time to time he could even imagine Ron pouting because he had left him alone at Hogwarts and Hermione scolding him for missing classes. Harry missed the evenings in the Common Room together with Ron and Hermione in front of the fireplace, he missed Exploding Snap with Dean and Seamus and he missed playing Quidditch with his Gryffindor team mates.

The other, even stronger emotion was the feeling of constantly rising anger. The more time Harry spent with his parents, the more time he spent at home, the bigger his anger towards those people who were responsible that he had not had this before, grew. The people who had taken his life away from him.

He grew more and more angry at Voldemort, he hated him with a passion because he had killed his mother and father before he had had a chance to know them. The hatred he had felt against the Dark Lord even before now multiplied a thousand fold.

The same happened with his hatred for Wormtail. Just because he had betrayed his parents to Voldemort, they could have been killed in the first place.

And – something he had never thought possible – his anger focussed more and more on one other person. Whether it was his father's influence or not, Harry could not tell, but ever since he had arrived here a thought had woken in the back of his head and ever since then had been nagging at his thoughts. There was one person who had enabled all this to happen, one person whose well-meant, but ill and in the end cowardly choice had cost him his happiness. And the longer he stayed with his parents, the longer he got to know what he had never had, the more his anger towards this one person increased. The person who carried far more guilt than Wormtail and even Voldemort himself, because other than them he still pretended to be interested in Harry's wellbeing.

But now Harry understood whose fault all of this was. Now he fully knew whom to blame for his life. The man who had the nerves to call himself his godfather, the man who, after all the pain he had caused Harry, still claimed to love him. Sirius. It was all Sirius' fault.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"No, Albus you can't do that! I won't let you! There has to be another way!"

Dumbledore sighed and for a moment allowed his façade of calmness to drop. They had been over this before, but still Sirius refused to see the obvious. He threw a quick look at Remus who sat on the other chair in front of his desk and who had the same desperate look in his eyes that he himself had. It had already been a huge task to convince Sirius to come into his office in the first place, but Dumbledore had not wanted to have this discussion in Harry's presence. In the infirmary, they would have had no chance to convince Sirius at all.

As if understanding the headmaster's silently pleading gaze, Remus spoke up.

"Sirius, I don't like the idea as well, but you have to see that it's reasonable. In St. Mungo's, Harry can receive the care he needs. Maybe they can even find a way to rise him. It's been over a week now and there has been no change at all, we have to look for other possibilities."
"Harry is doing fine here and I won't allow you to give him into the hands of strangers. Here he's got everything he needs and he has his friends around. There's no better place for him than Hogwarts."

Remus sighed.

"Sirius, if he's doing so fine here, then tell me why he still doesn't wake up?"

Sirius hit Dumbledore's desk hard with the palm of his head, the sound made even the headmaster flinch. Remus knew that his friend was angry, but if Sirius' wrath had to be raised in order to make him see reason, then so be it.

"Do you say it is my fault that he doesn't wake up?"
"No Sirius, I don't want to say anything like this. But you have to finally understand that the infirmary here is not cut out to care for cases like Harry's. Harry needs special care all day long, and this is not Madam Pomfrey's field of expertise. She's here to deal with Quidditch accidents, Potions mishaps and curses that went wrong, she has seven hundred other children to take care of, she can't be there for Harry as much as he needs it."

Sirius stubbornly chewed on his lower lip.

"I'm here. I'll take care of Harry."

"Sirius, you're no medi-wizard. I know that you love Harry more than anything else, but in this case this is not enough. If you really love him as much as I think you do, then you'll agree that he needs the best treatment that can be given to him."
Sirius nodded, but looked away.

"Fine. And if this best treatment can't be given him here, then you surely agree that he has to be moved to a place where it can be given to him."

Sirius looked out of the window and thought for a moment. Then, barely recognizable, he nodded again.

Remus sighed and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Sirius, I know that it's hard, but it's for Harry's best."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement.

"Remus is right, Sirius. And even in St. Mungo's you will be able to be at his side, just like you are here. I've talked to one of the medi-wizards at the hospital, we'll be able to move Harry on Wednesday morning if nothing has changed till then. They put up special security wards, he'll be as safe as he's here in the castle."

The old headmaster looked up and caught Sirius' eyes.

"It's hard for all of us Sirius, don't think that we want to get rid of Harry. But there is nothing Poppy can do for him. Thank you Sirius."

Sirius nodded gravely, then got up and left the room without another word. Neither Dumbledore nor Remus had any doubts where he was hurrying to. Remus sighed heavily and put his face into his hands.

"Albus, if Harry doesn't wake up soon, I'm afraid that Sirius won't get through this."

Dumbledore nodded.

"I know. But it's not only Harry and Sirius I'm worried about. It's been over a week since the raid in Azkaban and I fear we're running out of time. Whatever Voldemort will do next, he won't wait much longer.

How are the Defence lessons going?"

Remus shrugged his shoulders.

"I think all the students know how to fight a werewolf by now. But I'm concerned how they would cope if they really encountered one, especially the lower classes. Albus, we're talking about children here. I've seen grown men running away when facing something even less threatening than a werewolf.

As far as the Patronus lessons are concerned, it is as I said. No student below fifth year is able to produce one, only some fourth years have managed to conjure silvery mist out of their wands. Some fifth years and most of sixth and seventh years were more successful, though I doubt that many of them would be able to repeat this in the presence of a Dementor. They don't know how intimidating it is to stand in front of them and face their worst memories. They totally underestimate the impact of it, I don't think they can imagine that all of them have dreadful things in their past."

Dumbledore looked at his former student for long moments before he answered.

"All we can do is take care that none of the students is facing alone whatever might attack us. Especially none of the younger students. And we still have the wards around the castle, though we should not rely on them, maybe they can win us some time. In case they fall down we'll try to apparate the younger students out first."

Remus raised an eyebrow.

"Group apparition?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"I know that there are risks, but none that I won't take in such a situation. Better have the students spread around the country in such a case than in the middle of Dementors, werewolves and Death Eaters. The teachers who don't trust their own Patronus will do that, they're working on it now."

"Albus, there is another problem. If Voldemort really sends werewolves against Hogwarts, then he'll have to do it in a full moon night. The next is in ten days."

Again, Dumbledore nodded.

"I know Remus, I know. And, as I said, I don't think that he'll wait any longer. That would give us only time to prepare and he knows that. He'll either try it this full moon or next month latest. But I fear we won't even have another month."

"Have you thought about evacuating the castle?"

"Yes Remus, I have. I just don't know if it would help. The entire country is preparing for the next war, and most of the parents think that their children are safer here. I've had Minerva send out word this morning to the parents, however. I explained why we think that the castle might be a target for the Dark Lord and those parents who decide to take their children home will be given the possibility to do so.

But in case that, despite everything we fear, the castle will not be attacked within the next months, school has to continue as normal and the danger remains the same. We don't have many choices Remus."

Remus nodded thoughtful.

"Of course you are aware that I won't be of very much help if Voldemort really attacks in a full moon night?"

"Yes Remus, I am. But especially now it is important that you stay in the Shrieking Shack during full moon, otherwise you could too easily get in the line of fire, Wolfsbane or not. You're far too important to lose you just because of your lycanthropy."

Remus knew only too well, especially that he'd be just the same threat to his friends than any of the other werewolves might be.

"I know Albus, don't worry about this. I'll make sure that I'm safe, it's just that I wished there was a way for me to help if it comes to battle.

But there is another thing which worries me, in fact more than anything else."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, but Remus could not seize to wonder whether the old headmaster already knew what was bothering him.

"Albus, I know that there are many things to be thought of in case that we get attacked, and even if we could defend ourselves against Dementors, or werewolves, or Death Eaters, or in the worst case all three of them together, the question remains how to deal with Voldemort."

Dumbledore nodded gravely and got up from his chair. He stepped towards the window and gazed outside, looking at the quiet lake and the forest beyond. Remus knew better than to interrupt the old wizard and quietly waited for him to speak again. When Dumbledore turned around again, his face seemed to have grown older and the ever-present sparkle had left his eyes. In a very serious and low voice, he began to speak.

"Yes Remus, this problem remains and I fear that I have no answer to the question of how to solve it. But I'm afraid that Harry is far more involved in it than any of us would like."

The headmaster stepped across the room towards Fawkes' perch and gently stroke the phoenix's feathers.

"To be of any help, Harry has to be awake, and the longer he remains withdrawn in himself, the more I fear that his state shall prevent exactly this."

Remus shook his head.

"You don't want to say that Voldemort somehow has caused all this? How could he have done that?"

"I don't know if the Dark Lord caused this Remus, but you have to admit that it is a huge coincident that Harry doesn't wake right now, exactly when Voldemort has the capacities to strike again."

Remus nodded while he contemplated that thought. It sounded reasonable, but still he could not explain how Voldemort could be able to control Harry's physical condition.

"So what are we supposed to? How can we do something against Voldemort?"

Dumbledore sat down in one of the vacant chairs next to Remus and looked at his former pupil. Before he could prevent it, the memory of the day long ago when Remus had first sat in precisely this office came to his mind. It was so many years back now, when Voldemort had been barely more than a rumour about which people in the pubs talked after they had had too many drinks.

He could clearly remember the frightened little boy that had sat in a far too huge chair in front of his desk, at the verge of tears, his amber eyes full of fear. Remus had been only eleven then, but rejection and isolation had already become well known feelings for him.

Inwardly, Dumbledore smiled.

He had never regretted that he had allowed the young werewolf into Hogwarts, not even after the incident with Snape and the Willow.

Here, Remus for the first time had been like all the other children of his age and, even more important, here he had found friends for the first time in his life. And not even when they had found out his secret they had pushed him away, on the contrary they had tried everything they could to make his life easier for Remus.

Sirius, James and Peter, yes even the traitor, had shown the boy that his human side was so much stronger and far more important than the wolf that surfaced once a month, and Dumbledore was sure that a huge amount of the dignity with which Remus carried his burden today was thanks to them.

The Remus that sat in front of his desk right now was so unlike the little and scared boy that he had once been. He was a powerful wizard, far more powerful than he gave himself credit for. And he had become a strong man, one of the very few of which Dumbledore was convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that he would rather die than turn towards the Dark Side. Especially Remus knew its power, he felt it every month, and he'd never let it turn against someone else willingly.

"Albus?"

Remus cautious question rose Dumbledore from his thoughts. He smiled.

"Oh, I am sorry Remus. I'm afraid that I got lost in my memories for a moment."

Remus' raised eyebrow indicated that he wondered in which memories one could get lost when talking about Voldemort, but knowing the quirks of Dumbledore's mind, he decided not to pursue this question any further.

"Albus, I want you to be honest with me. Is there any way that Voldemort can be killed? For good this time?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily.

"Yes Remus, I think there is a way, though I don't know how to make it work. Ever since Harry faced Voldemort last autumn I've been thinking about it.

Voldemort has become very powerful by now, and Avada Kedavra is not enough to kill him. There's too much darkness in him, too much that is not human or living at all to make that work.

But I think that he has made one big mistake in the past, one mistake that we might use for our advantage.

Sirius has surely told you what happened at the Triwizard Tournament, in the night of the Third Task?"

Remus nodded and a shadow fell over his face. Sirius indeed had told him about that night, and the anger that had risen in him had only been matched by Sirius' own. If he'd ever meet Wormtail again, he would not restrain himself just because they had once been friends.

"Voldemort resurrected himself with the use of Harry's blood. He gained his body back, is that what you mean?"

"Yes Remus, it is. And I still don't understand why he did this. Truly, the protection that Lily left in Harry through her sacrifice is very strong and ancient magic, but he also created a connection between himself and Harry, a connection that can work against him as well, as we have seen. I guess that he had planned to kill Harry after the rite had been carried out, then all this would not have been important. But fortunately, Harry has survived and I think that this leaves a possibility for us to act against him."

"Albus, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"You see Remus, though Voldemort is no human being and therefore cannot be killed like one, he has a human body. You might say that he's divided in two, a dark spirit that is hosted by a human body. And only if those two parts are combined, it is that he is close to being invincible.

He had his reasons to hide in Albania after he had been reduced to a barely living spirit, without a body he is a lot weaker and there is an ancient spell that can kill spirits like this. Not many wizards remember it, but he knows about it and fears that I do as well. With which he is right."

Remus nodded.

"Then the only thing that prevents us from killing him is that he has a human body again?"

"Something like it, yes. But now we come to the point why I'm not so sure whether we will be able to make this work for us. To make the spell work, it would be necessary to separate the spirit from the body. The body that is connected to Harry."

Remus frowned his forehead.

"But their connection cannot be so strong that killing one of them would mean the death of the other. Otherwise, Voldemort wouldn't try to kill Harry."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Remus, I don't pretend that I understand everything about the bond between Harry and Voldemort, because I don't. There has never been a case like this which we could compare to it.

But if Voldemort wants to kill Harry, then he is sure that he won't kill himself with it as well. Which means that Harry should be able to do just the same: Destroy Voldemort's human shell and set the spirit free so that we can wipe it out.

What I am not so sure about is what the consequences for Harry would be if any other person would try to break their connection by killing Voldemort."

Realization dawned in Remus and his eyes widened.

"So you want to say that is has to be Harry? Harry has to be the one to kill Voldemort?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"I'm afraid he is, at least if we don't want to risk Harry's life. And this is a step which I would only take if we had no other possibility. But it means that if Harry doesn't wake up soon, we might miss the only chance that we'll probably get. As long as there is still a large number of wizards who fight Voldemort, it is more likely that he shows himself during the battle, which makes it easier to get to himself. And the fact that he desperately tries to get hold of Harry could work for our advantage as well. And it makes me even more certain that Harry holds the key to Voldemort's destruction. But if we are sure that Harry won't be able to confront him in the near future, we will have to do this on our own."

"Sirius won't allow this."

Dumbledore closed his eyes and sighed, tiredness showing clearly on his face.

"I know Remus, that's why I haven't told him about it so far. By now there is still a chance that Harry will wake on his own and all we can do is pray that he will.

I don't want to sacrifice Harry, I don't want to see him die. But on the other hand I think I can't let the chance to kill Voldemort pass by only for the sake of one, especially since we don't know exactly whether it would really kill Harry as well or not. Who knows if we get another chance?"

"There's one thing I still don't understand."

Dumbledore mockingly raised an eyebrow.

"Just one? Then maybe you might explain one thing or another to me. But go ahead."

"How is Harry supposed to separate Voldemort from his body? I mean, if he tried Avada Kedavra and failed, there's nothing more I can think of."

"There's a spell, just as ancient as the one who can destroy the spirit. They have been passed on for many centuries, but slowly got forgotten. Today there are only few wizards who still remember them.

The only problem with that spell could be that Voldemort is far too strong for it to work. We need to weaken him, but as for the how, I still don't have an idea. But we'll find a way, I hope that we still have enough time for it."

Remus nodded slowly, trying to digest everything that he had just heard. All of a sudden, Remus felt more tired and worn out than he had in a long time. All he wanted to do was get into his room, lay down, sleep and not wake up until everything was over. He knew that of course this was no possibility, but a man was allowed to have his dreams, wasn't he?

"That has been pretty much to take in for just one afternoon, but I want to thank you that you've been so honest with me. If there's anything that I can do, just let me know.

But I think I'll return to my office now, there are still some papers I have to grade. The Slytherin sixth years are always good for a distraction, mind you."

For the first time this afternoon, Dumbledore smiled.

"I'd bet they are. Thank you for your help with Sirius. Take care that he doesn't blame himself too hard, please."
"I will. Good bye, Albus."

"Good bye, Remus."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Harry, what's wrong with you?"

Lily looked at her son with motherly concern. During the last two days she had noticed a growing uneasiness in him and she felt that there was something he needed to talk off his chest.

Harry sighed and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. That motion gave him the attention of his father, who until now had been sitting in his armchair, his head bent over a book.

"Don't you feel well, Harry?"

"No…yes, oh I don't know. How to tell you, I mean."

Lily skipped closer to her son and lay a comforting Hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, you know that you can tell us everything. Whatever it is, just say it, we won't get angry."

She gave him a warm smile and Harry felt his resistance melt away.

"It's weird and I don't know how to find the right words. Ever since you brought me here, it felt as if I've finally come home. You said that this was as real as I wanted it to be, and there was nothing that I wanted more than this. Than you. There has always been something missing in my life, and now I know what it was. To have you back, to know what I could never have and to finally live it, that was the last piece I needed to know about myself. I see a lot of things in a different light now.

Believe me, I really wanted this to be real, I really did, but I couldn't help but start missing the things I left behind. I miss my friends, I miss Quidditch and school, Dumbledore, Remus, even Snape. Because that is my life as well, and it's just as real.

Voldemort might not exist here, but he exists in the world I left behind. And he still is a threat to my friends, a threat that I helped rising again.

They need me, they need my help to fight him and it would be a cowardice to turn my back on them now, now that they might need me. Staying here would be the easiest choice, but it would be the wrong one. I don't want to make a choice that is the best for me, but the worst for the people I care for, I am not a person who pushes away a burden when it's mine to bear. I have experienced the outcomes of such a spinelessness."

Lily's eyes filled with tears and James nodded gravely.

"You want to leave."

A statement, not a question.

Harry nodded.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Sirius finally had given up telling stories to Harry, mostly because he was too lost in his sorrow than to think about happier times.

Tomorrow morning, Harry would be removed to St. Mungo's and there was nothing he could do about it. He would accompany his godson and leave Remus and the rest of the staff and students alone with whatever they would have to face. Harry was his only concern, and after so many years of longing and failure towards his godson, this was the only thing he could do for him now.

The sound of footsteps made him rise his head. Remus had come into the infirmary and smiled at his old friend. His gaze shifted to Harry and, upon noticing his still unchanged state, his smile faded a little.

"Still nothing changed?"

Sirius shook his head.

"No. But even if it takes years, I'll sit by his side when he finally wakes up."

With a sigh, Remus sank into a chair next to Sirius.

"I guess you will. You'll go with him to St. Mungo's then?"
Sirius nodded.

"Yes, I will. I know that the Ministry needs all Aurors, but I couldn't care less at the moment. Harry is the only thing that counts now, nothing else matters."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"If it is possible, then yes, I want to leave."

James merely sighed.

"Of course it is possible Harry. I only hope that you are sure you want to do this."

Harry nodded.

"It's the only way. Of course, I could stay here with you and live the life I always wanted to have, but somehow it would feel wrong. Not because it's not real, but because the people who took this from me still have received no punishment for it. Because they might still do it to others.

I never cared about this The Boy Who Lived crap, but I've realized that I might still play a role in all this. It might be my role to eventually kill Voldemort and if it really is, then I have to go back. You understand that, don't you?"

His mother nodded and so did his father.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Remus was startled when Sirius spoke after long moments of silence.

"Do you know that I often ask myself what his life would look like if everything had gone different? If James and Lily were still alive?"

Remus sighed.

"Sirius, it's of no use to ask 'what if' questions. You know that, don't you?"

Sirius slowly nodded.

"I do, but I can't help it."
He buried his face in his hands and closed his eyes.

"Sirius, have you slept at all last night?"

A hardly noticeable shake of Sirius' head was all Remus received as an answer.

"Why don't you try and get some sleep? I don't have any classes for the next hours, I'll stay here and wake you as soon as I have to leave. How about that?"

"No Remus, thank you. I don't need to sleep, not now. I'd wake up after a short time anyway."

Inwardly, Remus cursed. Sirius was slowly driving himself into exhaustion and didn't even seem to care. How on earth was he supposed to get some reason into this stubborn idiot?

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Will I be able to come back?"

Harry couldn't hide the anxious tone in his voice, no matter how hard he tried. He and his parents stood at the front door of their house to say their last good byes. Lily smiled at him.

"You won't be able to return here, no. This chance was given to you so that you learn to see things differently. But I know that it won't be long until we see each other again, trust me. We'll always be there to help you, just remember to take up our help when the moment comes. I love you, Harry."

She smiled a warm smile and for the last time took her son into a warm embrace.

"I love you too, Mom."

Wiping his face with the sleeve of his robe, Harry turned towards his father. James was smiling though his eyes seemed to be sad.

"Just take care of yourself, my son. I'm proud of you, you are far more courageous than you give yourself credit for. I love you."
"Love you too, Dad."

For long moments, Harry held tightly onto his father, before James released him with a last ruffle across his hair. Giving his parents one last smile, Harry turned around and walked ahead into the direction he had come from over a week ago.

His feet chose their path without Harry noticing it, and it was only a matter of minutes until he was surrounded by the thick fog again.

'Great! Maybe I should have asked how on Earth I am supposed to get back. I could walk in circles without end and not even notice it.'

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

With a smile Remus noticed that Sirius seemed to have fallen into a light slumber. Though the hard infirmary chairs were not the best place to find a restful break, at least it was better than no sleep at all. After he had convinced himself that his friend was finally seeing to his own needs, he pulled out a book to distract himself. There were no essays to mark and no preparations to be done, so he'd use this precious moments to let his thoughts finally drift away from the harsh reality. There'd still be enough time to worry as soon as he left the hospital wing again.

For long minutes, no sound filled the room except from their breathing and from time to time the sound of a page being turned.

Remus was so lost in his book that he literally jumped off his chair when he heard Sirius' voice.

"Did you hear that???"

Gripping his chest tightly with one hand, Remus tried to still his erratic heartbeat and glared daggers at his friend.

"If you mean whether I heard you, the answer is yes. Loud and clear. I wouldn't mind if you tried to be a little less loud next time, though."

But Sirius only waved his hand at him and bent over Harry. Remus frowned his forehead.

"What is it, Sirius?"

"He moved! Harry has moved, I heard the blankets rustle!"

Remus shook his head. If Sirius now also started imagining things, he'd soon have his own room at St. Mungo's.

"Sirius, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I heard nothing."

"But I did. He moved!"

"Sirius, you were asleep, how on earth could you hear him moving?"

But Sirius didn't seem to notice him anymore.

"Harry! Harry, can you hear me? Wake up Harry, come on kiddo, I know that you can do that."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Harry thought he had heard voices somewhere. Could that be? Would someone guide him back?

If only he had heard where those voices had come from, then he could start walking into their direction. This way had worked when he came here, why should it not work to bring him back?"

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Sirius, let's call Madam Pomfrey and see if she can find something. But I'm afraid that you only imagined things."

Sirius feverishly shook his head.

"I didn't imagine it!"

"Okay, let's for one moment assume that he did move. That still doesn't mean that he wakes up."

"Harry, Harry come on. Listen to me, please. Wake up Harry. Come back to me."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Harry could hear the voices more clearly now. There were two of them, that much was sure. And he knew them both. One of the voices sounded loud and disturbing and Harry didn't like listening to it. This voice kept on calling his name, however.

The second voice was a lot calmer, it didn't shout hectically, but instead talked smoothing and calmly. Harry liked that voice and he decided to focus completely on this one and ignore the other.

His feet started walking automatically, and soon the fog around him seemed to lighten.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

"Harry! HARRY! I know that you can do it, just listen to me, okay kiddo? Just listen to me and wake up, it's not that difficult. You have to fight it Harry."

"Sirius, if you continue shouting like this, Madam Pomfrey will come and throw you out. Please, relax and then we'll see, okay? You're far too hectic, it's no good."

"Remus, will you please leave it? I'm trying to get Harry back, okay? It's all that I can do right now. Harry, Harry come on. Open your eyes, okay?"

"Sirius, please…"
"Remus, just…"

Both men shut up immediately when Harry stirred and moaned softly.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

If only that voice would finally stop, it started giving Harry a headache. And it made the second voice angry, and Harry had found the second voice far more likeable. But he was close now, that much he could tell. There was hardly and fog left around him and soon he'd be able to see the two people who were talking all the time. He knew them, but who were they?

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Sirius was startled for a moment and Remus seized that time to bend over Harry and to calmly call out for him.

"Harry? Harry can you hear me? It's me, Remus. Just open your eyes Harry, it's alright. We're here."

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

That was the smooth voice again, and it was so close. It was calling out his name and for a moment the annoying voice was silent. Maybe its owner had gone away? Harry decided that it was safe now to open an eye and so he did. He was a little surprised that his eyes were closed, he could not remember that he had shut them. But without another thought to that matter, he slowly opened one eye, then another, and looked into a very familiar face.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Remus stared open-mouthed at the sight in front of him. A pair of green eyes stared at him, somewhat unfocussed but nevertheless awake. Remus couldn't help but smile.

"Harry? Can you hear me?"

Harry nodded and managed a weak smile. Still, he kept on blinking and tried to focus his gaze. Remus suddenly remembered something and grabbed for the boy's glasses on the bedside table. While he did so, his gaze fell on Sirius, who still sat on the edge of Harry's bed and simply stared at his godson. There were tears in his eyes, but he didn't make any movement to hide them.

Remus turned and gently slid the glasses onto Harry's face.

"Better?"
Harry nodded and smiled again.
"You gave us quite a scare, do you know that?"

"How long…"

"It's Tuesday."

Harry's eyes widened.

"Nearly three days?"
Remus smiled.

"No Harry, nearly ten days."

Harry took some moments to digest that piece of information and let his gaze wander across the room. Finally, his eyes settled on the form of his godfather, who tried to manage a smile.

Suddenly, it all came back to Harry. All the anger that had started boiling in him while he had stayed with his parents suddenly rose to the surface. After all that he had done, Sirius still had the nerves to sit here and smile at him? As if nothing had happened? As if he expected Harry to be happy to see him?

Harry's features immediately hardened and Sirius frowned.

"Harry?" He asked cautiously.

"Go away."

Harry's voice sounded distant and cold. Sirius shook his head in an irritated way.

"But Harry…it's me, Sirius."

Harry closed his eyes and inwardly counted to ten.

"I said: Go away!"

The icy tone in his voice would have made a mountain troll back away. Sirius helplessly looked at Remus, who merely shrugged his shoulders, then back at Harry.

"But Harry…"

Harry opened his eyes widely and rose into a half-sitting position.

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU, IS THAT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND???"

Sirius kept on shaking his head in disbelief while Harry sank down on his pillows again. Reacting like this had cost him a lot of strength, but he hoped he had made his point clear.

Sirius didn't know what to think. The amount of anger and even hatred in Harry's eyes had been nearly unbearable, and those emotions had been directed at him. He had no explanation for this, why in Merlin's name did his godson react in such a way? Remus' soft voice pulled him back into reality.

"Sirius? Sirius, maybe it's better if you leave now."
Sirius wanted to protest, but one look into his friend's eyes shut him up immediately. He nodded and left the room without another word. Remus sighed and sat down on the edge of Harry's bed.

"Harry, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Harry didn't look into Remus' eyes, a sign that clearly told Remus that the boy wasn't telling the truth.

"Harry, if nothing was wrong then you would not have shouted at Sirius like that. Come on, what is it?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Remus nodded.

"Okay, I'll have to accept that. Maybe you want to tell me what you can remember of the time when you were sleeping."

Harry only shook his head. Remus sighed.

"Harry, please look at me."

Reluctantly, Harry turned his head and stared into Remus' eyes. There was something in Harry's gaze that made Remus shiver. Harry's eyes didn't look as warm and friendly as they had always done. Before he had fallen into that coma, such a look in his eyes had seemed nearly as impossible as his outbreak towards Sirius. But Remus quickly put those thoughts aside and smiled warmly.

"You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. But there's something I wanted to tell you before everybody comes running in here and starts fretting over you.

You've been asleep for nearly ten days and there was nothing we could do to wake you up. We were all very worried about you, but especially Sirius. He was sitting beside your bed the entire time, and he'd have continued sitting there until you woke up, no matter how long that would have taken.

I don't know why you reacted like this, I can't imagine what made you so angry, but I'd ask you to talk to him about it.

And if you don't want to talk to Sirius, you can always talk to me, okay? Anytime, about anything, without Sirius getting to know it, I promise. Okay?"

For a moment, Harry remained unmoving, then he slowly nodded. Not a moment too soon, because right then, the door to Harry's room was opened and Madam Pomfrey entered, a relieved smile on her face.