A/N: I'm SO sorry this took so long. I never expected it to, but I've had
quite the busy two weeks. It's crunch time, as anyone else getting ready
for college must know, and I've had no time to work on this story. Also,
my new work schedule isn't helping matters much, and Ski Team is starting
next week. Hopefully I'll be able to spit out at least a chapter a week.
If you have a problem with that too bad, it's the best I can do! However,
this being Thanksgiving weekend, and allowing me to have many days off I
may be able to do a few more chapters than I normally would. Although, I
have my week packed pretty full anyway, I'll try to work around all the
stuff I'm doing though, I promise!
Harry woke up to find a heavy weight upon his chest, and something heavy laying across his knees. He groggily opened his eyes to see what was on him. It was quite bright in the room, so it took a while for Harry's eyes to adjust. When they did, he found quite a surprise. It was Sirius, dead asleep with his head on Harry's stomach, and one arm draped across his legs. Harry was shocked to see the face of his godfather. Although once awake he remembered everything that had happened, but before he had time to think, his mind was set back at the Dursley's. Relief swarmed over him when he again remembered all he had been through the following night. He lay his head against his pillows and shut his eyes, sighing happily.
He was ready to go back to sleep when the door creaked open. At the Dursley's a creaking door was never a good sign, so Harry began to panic. There was no way Harry could have moved even if Sirius hadn't been half laying on top of him, he didn't know what to do. "What if it's a death eater?" Harry thought, and then began to try to wake Sirius up. It was rather pointless really, Sirius was literally dead to the world.
Harry set into defense mode. Even if he couldn't move, he would still be on the alert. The door kept opening at tiny intervals, as though the person behind it was trying to make a soundless entry. That person was failing miserably. Harry was sweating profusely and never took his eyes off the door.
Finally, the door was opened enough for Harry to see a leg wearing khaki pants. "At least it's not death eater robes," Harry thought in relief, but he was still scared. The person behind the door finally got sick of the slow opening, and decided to just whip it open. Harry tensed up, ready to scream if the need arouse. But rather than scream, Harry let out a deep sigh. I was just Professor Lupin. Harry felt pretty stupid, but was so relieved he couldn't hide just how scared he had been.
"Oh Harry, you're up. I was trying to make a quiet entrance, didn't work did it?"
"No Professor, it didn't. You really scared me, you know that?"
"Sorry, didn't mean to. Are you okay Harry?"
"Yeah I'm alright, but he's keeping me a little too warm," Harry said looking down at his godfather with a grin. Remus just laughed.
"Yeah, he refused to leave your side last night. Here, let me get him off you, and then how about a bath? Sorry Harry, but you're beginning to stink," Remus replied jokingly.
Harry blushed but laughed despite his embarrassment. He nodded his head to signify that he wanted to get out of the bed.
"Now, I don't want to wake him up, or he'll probably try to get in the bath with you!" Remus told Harry, as he grabbed his friend around the chest and dragged him off Harry, laying him on the cot and then spreading a wool blanket over him. Sirius didn't even stir once throughout this process, and Harry just looked on in shock, he would have woken up at having the blanket put over him, how could be pried off of someone not wake him up?
Remus caught the look and felt the need to explain. "Sirius has always been the deepest sleeper I know. One time at Hogwarts your father tried waking him up with a trumpet, but failed miserably. The only way to wake him up against his will is to dump ice water on him. I've had to do that before, I don't recommend it!" Harry laughed lightly at the thought of Sirius having a trumpet played in his ear, and not waking up at all. Yet, the laughter didn't last long when Harry thought about taking a bath.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry began, with a grimace on his face.
"Please call me Remus, Harry. If you're going to be living in my house, you're going to have to stop calling me Professor Lupin! I hated that title when I was your teacher, and I hate it more now." He tried to say this in an amusing way, but Harry wasn't smiling. "What's wrong Harry, are you in any pain?"
"No.It's just. Well. how am I supposed to take a bath if I can't even move from this bed?" Harry stuttered, looking at the lump his feet made under the blankets. He had done that since he was young, but usually made his feet wiggle under the blankets. He tried, but nothing he could do would make the feet lump move.
"Don't worry about it Harry," Remus said soothingly. "I'm going to help you out, and when Sirius wakes up, he'll be around to help you too."
Harry, looked up at Remus with a pained expression, and then looked at his feet again. "Harry, what's wrong?"
"I'm really sorry. I don't want to put you out here. I can't believe it's come down to this. The famous Harry Potter can't even take a bath by himself," Harry responded bitterly.
"Harry, it's okay. Everybody has times like this in their lives. I admit yours came a little early, but everyone needs to be taken care of at times. And you're not putting me out. I want to help you, okay?"
Harry nodded that he understood, but still looked ashamed that he needed help bathing.
"I'm going to go get the bath ready, I'll be right back okay?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded and then watched Remus walk out the door.
"What a nuisance I am," thought Harry. "Can't even take a bath by myself. How am I going to go back to Hogwarts? What am I going to do if Voldemort tries to attack me again? I won' t be able to run. How am I ever going to live like a normal person if I can't even sit up?" These were the things that Harry feared the most. Harry had always wanted a normal life, but his ongoing battle with Voldemort put a damper on that. But now, even if Harry could manage to defeat Voldemort, he would never have a normal life.
Harry heard Remus's footsteps drawing near to his room again. Harry again returned to his feelings of shame. His face was red when Remus stepped through the doorway. Remus noticed the color of his cheeks, but decided to ignore it. "Are you ready Harry?" he asked. Harry just nodded in response.
Remus walked over, pushing Sirius's cot out of the way and scooping Harry into his arms. "You need to eat a little better Harry," Remus joked. Harry did not find the amusing and Remus watched as his face went even redder.
"Sorry Harry, you'll be fine. I promise. In no time you'll be back on your feet, playing quidditch, and Ron and Hermione will even come for a visit," Remus said praying it was true.
"Poor Harry," Remus thought. "Like he hasn't been through enough in his life!" He made his way to the bathroom where the water was running in the tub. Carrying Harry was like carrying nothing. He was so incredibly skinny, Remus could feel most of his bones. When they reached the bathroom, Remus sat Harry down on the toilet, the lid down. He gently helped Harry take off his clothes, trying to be sensitive to Harry's obvious discomfort at having somebody else give him a bath.
Remus couldn't help but gasp when Harry's shirt came off. He had deep gashes across his chest and back.
"I'm so sorry Harry," Remus said in shock at the site before him. "I can't believe they did this to you."
Harry turned redder still, if that was possible, and just shook his head, thinking that if he tried to talk he'd probably start to cry.
Once he was completely out of his clothes, Remus lifted up Harry's bony body and placed him gently in the warm water.
"Are your arms strong enough for you to take it from here?" Remus asked, wanting to let Harry be as independent as possible.
Harry looked at him gratefully and nodded.
"Just call if you need anything, okay?" Harry just nodded and watched as Remus left the room. He then let out a sigh so deep that he sounded more like an old man than a fifteen year old. Harry washed himself as fast as he could, and then decided to just relax in the warm water. He shut his eyes and just thought of the possibilities that he had now that he was out of the Dursley's lives for ever.
All of a sudden, a loud yell came from somewhere outside the bathroom. He heard someone running around, and something fall over.
"Moony! Harry's gone! He's gone!" Sirius called in sheer panic.
Harry felt bad that he had Sirius in such a panic over him, but laughed despite himself. He listened as Remus ran to where Sirius was, and tried to hear the conversation between them.
"Harry's fine Padfoot! He's in the bath tub right now! You need to calm down, and can you please pick up the mess you made?"
"Why the hell didn't you tell me you were taking him out of my room? Didn't you think I'd worry?!" Sirius yelled angrily, yet there was relief in his voice.
"Sorry Padfoot, but you know there's no way to wake you up when you're asleep. Just calm down okay?"
"I'll try Moony, but I was so worried. I can't let anything happen to him again. I can't believe what already has happened."
Harry loved that someone cared so much about him, and couldn't wait to see Sirius again. Knowing very well that he couldn't get out of the tub himself, he called for Remus.
Rather than an immediate return, Harry heard Remus and Sirius get into a little fight over who would get Harry out of the tub.
"I had a hard enough time getting him in their without feeling to awkward, I don't think he wants another person to see him like that" Remus stated convincingly. Sirius didn't care."
"So what Moony? I'm his godfather, I need to take care of him. Okay?" Sirius retorted, pleadingly.
"Fine Sirius, but I'm going to warn you. He looks pretty bad. Try not to gawk okay. I think he'd take worse to you doing that than me."
"Do I really look that bad?" Harry thought, and then looked down at his chest. Scars covered his chest in different directions, the skin around them puffy. He could see his individual ribs without sucking in. "I guess so."
Harry stopped examining himself when he heard Sirius approaching the bathroom. Sirius knocked and then said, "Can I come in Harry?"
"Yeah," was Harry's only reply.
Sirius pushed the door open and then stepped into the slightly steamy bathroom. He looked at his 15 year old godson who was sitting in the bathtub. It took all his might not to run over and pull the boy out of the tub and into a huge hug. He figured he would terrify the boy if he had done that. After all Harry didn't know Sirius all that well yet. But Sirius planned to change all that.
"Are you ready to get out Harry?" Sirius asked, trying to recover from the shock of Harry's state. Harry nodded his head, so Sirius grabbed an oversized dry towel off a shelf. He held the towel loosely with two hands, and tucked it under his arms, careful to make sure it didn't get in the water. He then lifted Harry out of the tub, and sat him on the edge. Sirius then wrapped the towel around Harry's small frame. He then got another towel and started to gently dry the mop of hair on Harry's head. Once it was dry, he picked Harry up and cradled him in his arms, then brought him back to his room. As they were making their way back to Sirius's room, Harry began to shiver uncontrollably.
"Are you okay Harry?" Sirius inquired, very worried.
"I'm really cold," Harry chattered, his body shaking violently in Sirius's arms.
"Okay buddy, we're almost to my room, I'll get you warm, don't worry," Sirius soothed as he quickened his pace down the hall. Remus was in Sirius's room when they got there. He had just made Harry's bed.
"Moony, can you pull back those blankets please?" Sirius asked hurriedly. "Harry's cold."
Remus immediately through back the covers of Harry's bed, and Sirius gently placed a still naked Harry on the bed. He took the towel off of Harry and through the blankets over him. "I'm going to find you some pajamas okay Harry? I'll be right back." Sirius walked to the closet and Remus sat down next to Harry, stroking his hair.
Harry listened as Sirius rummaged through the closet, and he relaxed at the comfort of having Remus stroking his hair. "This is what it's like," he thought. "This is what it's like to have people who care."
At this thought, Harry looked down at the floor with a grin on his face. What he saw in the corner wiped the smile right off his face. There was a large, gray rat in the corner of Sirius's bedroom, looking directly at him. Harry gasped, and Remus grabbed his shoulders. "What is it Harry?" Remus asked quickly.
"S-Scabbers.I mean Pettigrew!" Harry said, glancing again at the spot he had seen the rat. Only this time, the corner was empty.
A/N: If I remember correctly 'pants' in England means underwear..However, 'trousers' just sounds stupid to me so I'm just going to stick with my American vocabulary on this one! This chapter didn't really go where I wanted it to.The whole thing was about Harry taking a bath! Please review though, and hopefully I'll feel inspired to right more this week!
Harry woke up to find a heavy weight upon his chest, and something heavy laying across his knees. He groggily opened his eyes to see what was on him. It was quite bright in the room, so it took a while for Harry's eyes to adjust. When they did, he found quite a surprise. It was Sirius, dead asleep with his head on Harry's stomach, and one arm draped across his legs. Harry was shocked to see the face of his godfather. Although once awake he remembered everything that had happened, but before he had time to think, his mind was set back at the Dursley's. Relief swarmed over him when he again remembered all he had been through the following night. He lay his head against his pillows and shut his eyes, sighing happily.
He was ready to go back to sleep when the door creaked open. At the Dursley's a creaking door was never a good sign, so Harry began to panic. There was no way Harry could have moved even if Sirius hadn't been half laying on top of him, he didn't know what to do. "What if it's a death eater?" Harry thought, and then began to try to wake Sirius up. It was rather pointless really, Sirius was literally dead to the world.
Harry set into defense mode. Even if he couldn't move, he would still be on the alert. The door kept opening at tiny intervals, as though the person behind it was trying to make a soundless entry. That person was failing miserably. Harry was sweating profusely and never took his eyes off the door.
Finally, the door was opened enough for Harry to see a leg wearing khaki pants. "At least it's not death eater robes," Harry thought in relief, but he was still scared. The person behind the door finally got sick of the slow opening, and decided to just whip it open. Harry tensed up, ready to scream if the need arouse. But rather than scream, Harry let out a deep sigh. I was just Professor Lupin. Harry felt pretty stupid, but was so relieved he couldn't hide just how scared he had been.
"Oh Harry, you're up. I was trying to make a quiet entrance, didn't work did it?"
"No Professor, it didn't. You really scared me, you know that?"
"Sorry, didn't mean to. Are you okay Harry?"
"Yeah I'm alright, but he's keeping me a little too warm," Harry said looking down at his godfather with a grin. Remus just laughed.
"Yeah, he refused to leave your side last night. Here, let me get him off you, and then how about a bath? Sorry Harry, but you're beginning to stink," Remus replied jokingly.
Harry blushed but laughed despite his embarrassment. He nodded his head to signify that he wanted to get out of the bed.
"Now, I don't want to wake him up, or he'll probably try to get in the bath with you!" Remus told Harry, as he grabbed his friend around the chest and dragged him off Harry, laying him on the cot and then spreading a wool blanket over him. Sirius didn't even stir once throughout this process, and Harry just looked on in shock, he would have woken up at having the blanket put over him, how could be pried off of someone not wake him up?
Remus caught the look and felt the need to explain. "Sirius has always been the deepest sleeper I know. One time at Hogwarts your father tried waking him up with a trumpet, but failed miserably. The only way to wake him up against his will is to dump ice water on him. I've had to do that before, I don't recommend it!" Harry laughed lightly at the thought of Sirius having a trumpet played in his ear, and not waking up at all. Yet, the laughter didn't last long when Harry thought about taking a bath.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry began, with a grimace on his face.
"Please call me Remus, Harry. If you're going to be living in my house, you're going to have to stop calling me Professor Lupin! I hated that title when I was your teacher, and I hate it more now." He tried to say this in an amusing way, but Harry wasn't smiling. "What's wrong Harry, are you in any pain?"
"No.It's just. Well. how am I supposed to take a bath if I can't even move from this bed?" Harry stuttered, looking at the lump his feet made under the blankets. He had done that since he was young, but usually made his feet wiggle under the blankets. He tried, but nothing he could do would make the feet lump move.
"Don't worry about it Harry," Remus said soothingly. "I'm going to help you out, and when Sirius wakes up, he'll be around to help you too."
Harry, looked up at Remus with a pained expression, and then looked at his feet again. "Harry, what's wrong?"
"I'm really sorry. I don't want to put you out here. I can't believe it's come down to this. The famous Harry Potter can't even take a bath by himself," Harry responded bitterly.
"Harry, it's okay. Everybody has times like this in their lives. I admit yours came a little early, but everyone needs to be taken care of at times. And you're not putting me out. I want to help you, okay?"
Harry nodded that he understood, but still looked ashamed that he needed help bathing.
"I'm going to go get the bath ready, I'll be right back okay?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded and then watched Remus walk out the door.
"What a nuisance I am," thought Harry. "Can't even take a bath by myself. How am I going to go back to Hogwarts? What am I going to do if Voldemort tries to attack me again? I won' t be able to run. How am I ever going to live like a normal person if I can't even sit up?" These were the things that Harry feared the most. Harry had always wanted a normal life, but his ongoing battle with Voldemort put a damper on that. But now, even if Harry could manage to defeat Voldemort, he would never have a normal life.
Harry heard Remus's footsteps drawing near to his room again. Harry again returned to his feelings of shame. His face was red when Remus stepped through the doorway. Remus noticed the color of his cheeks, but decided to ignore it. "Are you ready Harry?" he asked. Harry just nodded in response.
Remus walked over, pushing Sirius's cot out of the way and scooping Harry into his arms. "You need to eat a little better Harry," Remus joked. Harry did not find the amusing and Remus watched as his face went even redder.
"Sorry Harry, you'll be fine. I promise. In no time you'll be back on your feet, playing quidditch, and Ron and Hermione will even come for a visit," Remus said praying it was true.
"Poor Harry," Remus thought. "Like he hasn't been through enough in his life!" He made his way to the bathroom where the water was running in the tub. Carrying Harry was like carrying nothing. He was so incredibly skinny, Remus could feel most of his bones. When they reached the bathroom, Remus sat Harry down on the toilet, the lid down. He gently helped Harry take off his clothes, trying to be sensitive to Harry's obvious discomfort at having somebody else give him a bath.
Remus couldn't help but gasp when Harry's shirt came off. He had deep gashes across his chest and back.
"I'm so sorry Harry," Remus said in shock at the site before him. "I can't believe they did this to you."
Harry turned redder still, if that was possible, and just shook his head, thinking that if he tried to talk he'd probably start to cry.
Once he was completely out of his clothes, Remus lifted up Harry's bony body and placed him gently in the warm water.
"Are your arms strong enough for you to take it from here?" Remus asked, wanting to let Harry be as independent as possible.
Harry looked at him gratefully and nodded.
"Just call if you need anything, okay?" Harry just nodded and watched as Remus left the room. He then let out a sigh so deep that he sounded more like an old man than a fifteen year old. Harry washed himself as fast as he could, and then decided to just relax in the warm water. He shut his eyes and just thought of the possibilities that he had now that he was out of the Dursley's lives for ever.
All of a sudden, a loud yell came from somewhere outside the bathroom. He heard someone running around, and something fall over.
"Moony! Harry's gone! He's gone!" Sirius called in sheer panic.
Harry felt bad that he had Sirius in such a panic over him, but laughed despite himself. He listened as Remus ran to where Sirius was, and tried to hear the conversation between them.
"Harry's fine Padfoot! He's in the bath tub right now! You need to calm down, and can you please pick up the mess you made?"
"Why the hell didn't you tell me you were taking him out of my room? Didn't you think I'd worry?!" Sirius yelled angrily, yet there was relief in his voice.
"Sorry Padfoot, but you know there's no way to wake you up when you're asleep. Just calm down okay?"
"I'll try Moony, but I was so worried. I can't let anything happen to him again. I can't believe what already has happened."
Harry loved that someone cared so much about him, and couldn't wait to see Sirius again. Knowing very well that he couldn't get out of the tub himself, he called for Remus.
Rather than an immediate return, Harry heard Remus and Sirius get into a little fight over who would get Harry out of the tub.
"I had a hard enough time getting him in their without feeling to awkward, I don't think he wants another person to see him like that" Remus stated convincingly. Sirius didn't care."
"So what Moony? I'm his godfather, I need to take care of him. Okay?" Sirius retorted, pleadingly.
"Fine Sirius, but I'm going to warn you. He looks pretty bad. Try not to gawk okay. I think he'd take worse to you doing that than me."
"Do I really look that bad?" Harry thought, and then looked down at his chest. Scars covered his chest in different directions, the skin around them puffy. He could see his individual ribs without sucking in. "I guess so."
Harry stopped examining himself when he heard Sirius approaching the bathroom. Sirius knocked and then said, "Can I come in Harry?"
"Yeah," was Harry's only reply.
Sirius pushed the door open and then stepped into the slightly steamy bathroom. He looked at his 15 year old godson who was sitting in the bathtub. It took all his might not to run over and pull the boy out of the tub and into a huge hug. He figured he would terrify the boy if he had done that. After all Harry didn't know Sirius all that well yet. But Sirius planned to change all that.
"Are you ready to get out Harry?" Sirius asked, trying to recover from the shock of Harry's state. Harry nodded his head, so Sirius grabbed an oversized dry towel off a shelf. He held the towel loosely with two hands, and tucked it under his arms, careful to make sure it didn't get in the water. He then lifted Harry out of the tub, and sat him on the edge. Sirius then wrapped the towel around Harry's small frame. He then got another towel and started to gently dry the mop of hair on Harry's head. Once it was dry, he picked Harry up and cradled him in his arms, then brought him back to his room. As they were making their way back to Sirius's room, Harry began to shiver uncontrollably.
"Are you okay Harry?" Sirius inquired, very worried.
"I'm really cold," Harry chattered, his body shaking violently in Sirius's arms.
"Okay buddy, we're almost to my room, I'll get you warm, don't worry," Sirius soothed as he quickened his pace down the hall. Remus was in Sirius's room when they got there. He had just made Harry's bed.
"Moony, can you pull back those blankets please?" Sirius asked hurriedly. "Harry's cold."
Remus immediately through back the covers of Harry's bed, and Sirius gently placed a still naked Harry on the bed. He took the towel off of Harry and through the blankets over him. "I'm going to find you some pajamas okay Harry? I'll be right back." Sirius walked to the closet and Remus sat down next to Harry, stroking his hair.
Harry listened as Sirius rummaged through the closet, and he relaxed at the comfort of having Remus stroking his hair. "This is what it's like," he thought. "This is what it's like to have people who care."
At this thought, Harry looked down at the floor with a grin on his face. What he saw in the corner wiped the smile right off his face. There was a large, gray rat in the corner of Sirius's bedroom, looking directly at him. Harry gasped, and Remus grabbed his shoulders. "What is it Harry?" Remus asked quickly.
"S-Scabbers.I mean Pettigrew!" Harry said, glancing again at the spot he had seen the rat. Only this time, the corner was empty.
A/N: If I remember correctly 'pants' in England means underwear..However, 'trousers' just sounds stupid to me so I'm just going to stick with my American vocabulary on this one! This chapter didn't really go where I wanted it to.The whole thing was about Harry taking a bath! Please review though, and hopefully I'll feel inspired to right more this week!