Author's note: OK I admit, it has been a ludicrously long time since I updated this so I am not actually sure if anyone will still be reading it or not. In my defence RL has been exhausting of late and I am suffering from a rather severe bout of writer's block with this...so if anyone has some suggestions on where they think they might want to see this all go next I would love to hear them.

Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed this story so far, particularly for the last chapter thanks me^,^, Fair Lady Ravenclaw, Iniysa, S@bre Bl@ck, Samantha Black, Summersun, Black Lace, Fate's Child, Charma1219 and Vanne , I am astonished that I have as many reviews as I do and appreciate each and everyone, its those reviews that have made me sit down in an attempt to finish this.so thanks!!

On to the chapter, not much action I am afraid and incredibly short as well, for which I apologise but I hope it answers some questions.

Chapter Seven.

For Harry waking up was a gradual process. The first thing to return was the physical sensation; the feeling that he was no longer kneeling on a cold stone floor, or tied upright in a stiff backed chair, but that he was in fact lying on what appeared to be a soft mattress, covered by cool, soft sheets. Smell followed next, that crisp and slightly sweet smell, which can always be associated with hospitals of any description. Finally there was the return of sound, of the faint rattle and clink of glass bottles somewhere off to his right and closer, on his left, the gentle sounds of someone's deep breathing.

Trying to avoid making any sound himself and alerting others to the fact he was now awake, Harry slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings. Staring up at the vast expanse of a white washed, curved ceiling high above him, it did not take long for Harry to recognise the Hogwarts hospital wing, even without his glasses, considering how often he had found himself in almost this exact position during his school years. Stifling a sigh he turned his head slightly to the left and his gaze fell on the sleeping figure slumped in the chair by his bed, Sirius was sat with one elbow wedged between his body and the arm of the chair, his head, titled at an uncomfortable looking angle, propped on his hand. His face was pale and unshaven, his clothes rumpled and he looked like he had not slept in days. Harry felt a lump rise in the back of his throat and he tried to blink against the burning in his eyes as he took in his godfather's too thin face, the dark smudges underneath the closed eyes, the lines around his mouth. Harry blinked again furiously as his vision swam and swallowed thickly against the lump. He looked old, he realized with a start, Sirius looked old and Harry did not doubt for one second that it was his fault.

Closing his eyes Harry turned his head away from his godfather, took a deep, shaky breath and tried to calm down, to make some kind of sense of the jumbled mess that was his mind. It seemed as though there were suddenly a million thoughts, pictures and faces rushing around in his head trying to get into some kind of order. There were memories he had from growing up, from childhood, school and then there were the ones from the hospital after the accident, Harry's stomach lurched at the last. It was too much to take in all at one, two different lives to remember, to deal with and Harry was not sure what to do with either one.

There was a rustle of fabric next to him and he heard Sirius' breathing quicken as the other man woke up. There was a small grunt as the animagus stretched stiffened joints and Harry squeezed his eyes closed more tightly and willed himself not to put his hands over his ears in what would be a futile attempt block out the rest of the world. Unable to prevent it, he felt a solitary tear squeeze its way free to roll unchecked down his cheek. There was a sharp intake of breath and then.

"Harry?"

Swallowing Harry turned his head once more and fixed watery eyes on the expectant and almost painfully hopeful face of the other man. He licked suddenly dry lips and nodded.

"Sirius" he managed to croak out in reply, his voice barely more than a whisper but the effect that that one quiet word had on the other man was instant. His whole face lighting up with the relieved smile that spilt his ragged features, Sirius pulled his chair forward slightly and reached out a trembling hand to grasp Harry. Without even meaning to Harry flinched and pulled his hand quickly away before Sirius could touch it. Sirius wide grin faltered slightly as his brow creased again into a slight frown and ashamed Harry quickly tried to cover his unconscious reaction by lifting his hand to his face and rubbing at his eyes. There was an uncomfortable pause as Sirius settled back in his chair, both hands now firmly clasped in his lap.

"How are you feeling?" Sirius asked, finally breaking the strained silence. Harry just shrugged.

"Tired." He replied finally. "Confused." Sirius nodded.

"That's to be expected I suppose." He paused "Do you..?" He broke off "What do remember?" Harry closed his eyes and swallowed thickly having no idea what he should say, or what Sirius wanted to hear.

"I'm not sure" he said vaguely "Everything? Nothing? It's all muddled" he waved a hand over his head as if that would explain everything he could not manage to put into words. Sirius brow furrowed even further in an equal mix of confusion and concern.

"I don't understand." He said. "You know me though right? You recognise me?" he asked and it was impossible for Harry to miss the desperation in his voice. Harry nodded.

"Yes. I know you, and I know where I am and I remember Hogwarts and.." Harry stopped and sighed again "it just needs...organising" Sirius seemed to find his explanation more satisfactory and his face broke in a smile again and this time when he reached out, Harry forced himself to remain still and let the other man grasp his hand firmly.

"That's alright Harry" he said warmly "take as much time as you need. I'm just pleased to have you back, you can't imagine what I've been through." Sirius stopped and squeezed his hand. "But that doesn't matter now, just rest and you'll be back to your old self in no time ok?"

Almost suffocating under the weight of the guilt pressing down on him as he looked into his godfather's bright eyes, Harry nodded, then closed his eyes and turned away from Sirius; rolling over so that his back was facing the other man, trying to ignore the nausea rolling around in the pit of his stomach as he heard Sirius leave with a heavy sigh.