Disclaimer: I don't own them. (Seriously, need we keep doing this? We had read this lines millions of times in different versions and we all know that all fanfic writers don't own them.)
Author's Notes: Wow, I didn't even expect more than 5 reviews. Thank you! You guys are the best! I hope you continue liking this.
Caution: I've made some changes in that protection thing to go along with the storyline. Hey, this is AU :)
With Time Comes Trust: Only Time
Mad was an understatement. Furious would also be an understatement. Sirius Black was beyond mad, furious, pissed and angered. Entering the Hogwarts grounds after apparating to the nearest place the shields allowed, Sirius clutched his godson protectively against his chest. Harry wasn't moving and whether he was unconscious or sleeping, Sirius didn't know.
Striding into the Hogwarts' halls and down hallways making his way to the hospital wing, Sirius looked down at Harry, his eyes lingering on the famous scar and then searching for visible wounds uncovered by the boy's large clothes.
"Sirius!"
Without turning, Sirius knew Professor McGonagall was the one calling his name. He kept walking, knowing that right now, the professor was scurrying down the stairs from the second floor to meet him.
"Have you got Harry?" she called, taking large strides to reach Sirius.
"Got him I did. Whether we'll get him ever again in this lifetime, we have yet to know," Sirius muttered.
"What do y..." Professor McGonagall was now level with Sirius and gave a gasp when she saw the broken body of the 10-year-old. "My...is that Harry?"
"No, it's James and Lily's second son," Sirius scowled. "Of course it's Harry."
Shocked beyond words, Minerva forgot to keep up with Sirius, standing still in horror. "What?!"
Sirius ignored her. Answering Minerva's questions were not among his priorities. Minerva blinked and snapped out of it, this time practically running to reach Sirius and Harry again.
"What on earth happened?"
Sirius entered the Hospital Wing, ignoring the professor. "MADAM POMFREY!"
"Now young man, I'm not deaf yet, thank you very much. I'll prefer if you'll repeat my name two octaves lower, please," Madam Pomfrey popped into the Hospital Wing.
"Hurry up, will you!" Sirius bellowed.
Madam Pomfrey scowled. "Sirius Black, of all..."
"He's going to die if you..."
"My God..." Madam Pomfrey finally spotted the limp form Sirius was carrying. "Is that..." She snapped back quickly to nurse mode. "Put him down on the bed. Why didn't you call me earlier?"
"I..." Sirius opened his mouth to protest but seemed to think better of it. He lay Harry gently on one of the beds.
"Okay, now get lost," Poppy rolled up her sleeves, waved her wand pushing Sirius out of the way as the screens closed around the bed shielding her and Harry from view.
"Sirius?" McGonagall started.
"You take good care of him, Poppy!" Sirius said loudly. "I - "
Poppy poked her head out from the curtains. "Need I remind you that I am a fully trained, experie -"
"Yes, no doubt you are," McGonagall hurriedly put in. "I'll take it from here."
Poppy disappeared behind the curtains again. McGonagall tugged at Sirius' sleeve. "I'm sure Professor Dumble..."
"Yes, DUMBLEDORE!" Sirius snapped. "Where is he?"
Minerva pursed her lips. "He's at his office."
Sirius pushed past her, taking hurried strides to reach Dumbledore's office. Reaching the gargoyle he paused. "Ummm."
He peeked sheepishly around the corner trying to see if McGonagall was anywhere near. "Obviously still slowpoking somewhere," he grumbled. "Dancing hotdogs! Bloody sherbets! Lemon poptarts! Pumpkin pudding!"
The gargoyle remained intact. "Stupid thing!"
"Excuse me," Professor McGonagall pushed him aside rather haughtily. "Bandanna Banana." She turned back to Sirius with a rather pleased look then took a step forward.
Sirius yanked at her cloak before she could smash herself into the gargoyle. "I would really hate to bring you down to the Hospital Wing again when I have much important things to do," Sirius said.
Minerva blinked. "Oh. Must have gotten it wrong. Banana Bandanna."
The blasted thing finally opened to admit the two wizard and witch. "I told you, ten years ago, let Harry live with me," Sirius began. "No. You refused. Thought he would be better off with those bloody relatives of his. Yeah, right! Let me tell you..."
"Sirius, calm down," Dumbledore rose from his seat.
"Harry's at the Hospital Wing right now," Professor McGonagall answered before Sirius could bellow again. "He has rather extensive injuries, I might add."
"If I had fetched him a second later he would probably be dead!"
"Those Muggles were hurting..." Minerva started.
"Hurting? In an attempt to wipe him off the face of the..."
"You would be pleased also to note that the Ministry of Magic had sent someone to...er...fix their teeth."
Dumbledore took a look at Sirius' smoking face. "Or not."
Sirius opened his mouth again. Dumbledore quickly held out a hand to stop him. "Listen. Please."
Sirius looked like he was about to explode.
"Ten years ago," began Dumbledore somewhat hurriedly. "Voldemort killed James and Lily leaving young Harry behind with just a scar that nonetheless represented sorrow and victory at the same time. When Lily sacrificed herself to save her son, her love was the only protection she could give to Harry and love is the strongest magic of all. To seal it, we had to give Harry to someone related to him by blood. He had to remain with them for a decade to make it permanent and return there only once every year in order to renew it."
"Once a year," Sirius repeated tonelessly. "That means he has to return again?"
"Yes, but..."
"So he has to return in order to be safe from Voldemort but then what the heck, he's good as dead in those hands of the Muggles."
"Si - "
"I don't care, Harry's never going near those relatives of his. I would rather kill him myself than to give him back to the Dursleys. At least it would be fast and painless."
Sirius turned and exited the office, making his way to the Hospital Wing.
"Professor?" Minerva said cautiously.
"As I recall, I haven't finished my sentence yet," Dumbledore said. "Are you interested in listening?"
"Yes, yes of course."
"If someone, unrelated to Harry cries tears of pain and love for him, unconscious of what he or she will unseal, the bond of protection will ultimately be shifted to that person. When Lily died, she had not had the time to choose who shall Harry remain with to keep her eternal protection. She left him in the hands of his blood relatives, and after today, I seriously doubt that they had shed tears of love for him. If Sirius can reseal the bond unconsciously, Harry need not return to the Dursleys."
"We cannot tell him then, for he would be conscious of what he is doing," Minerva said slowly. "He left just in time."
"I never expected him to stay, anyway," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling. "Patience is not one of his strong points."
He sat down once again.
"And let's hope it remains that way," said Dumbledore. "I believe Sirius is capable of taking over Harry's protection, time is all he needs."
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"Severely malnourished, two broken ribs, three cracked, slight concussion, twisted ankle, bruises, cuts..." Madam Pomfrey watched as Sirius gently brushed Harry's hair away from his forehead.
Dressed in white pajamas, Harry's torso was wrapped tightly with white bandages. Tiny cuts and bruises were healed by Poppy leaving heavy ones. His arm and his tiny feet were also bandaged.
"His feet is blistered," Poppy explained. She stared sadly at Harry. "And we'll have to wait until he is stronger before healing the rest of his wounds by magic."
Sirius pulled a chair to the bed, sat in it without even looking and tenderly took Harry's right hand softly stroking his tiny fingers. "No child should be that small at age 10."
Poppy nodded. "When he is better, we have to fatten him up a bit."
Sirius smiled. "Can't wait to."
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"Me?" Snape said incredulously. "ME?"
"I don't know," Minerva said. "Professor Dumbledore said, 'Professor Severus Snape'. YES YOU!"
"Me go get Potter's stuff?" Snape sneered. "I, Severus -"
Minerva gave an impatient sniff and grabbed Snape and with her other hand threw some Floo powder into the fireplace. "Number Four, Privet Drive!"
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