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To:

Elvett, Momma-Dar, restless-soul -- Thanks for being here and reviewing all the time!

Tory -- Sure, take the arrow. One condition: Continue reading and reviewing! Haha, I'm evil :)

ooo, better than the others -- Blushes, gives you a quick peck on the cheek and runs away. lol.

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With Time Come Trust: Understanding

Sirius had fallen asleep sometime after midnight. Harry still hadn't stirred or moved when he did. Around three in the morning, Harry slowly opened his eyes. The room was unfocused and he blinked a few times before it did. He still couldn't see clearly but he hadn't since a month ago when Dudley broke his glasses.

The pain didn't seem too intense. It was just a dull ache and Harry was glad it didn't hurt that much. He brought his hands up to rub his eyes but his right hand seemed trapped under something. He turned to his right side trying to see what it was that restricted the movement.

Something hairy...

Trembling, Harry yanked on his right hand, the hairy thing jerked and he came face to face with a man with messy hair. Harry yelped and backed away.

"Shhh, Harry, it's okay, you are safe here." The man was still holding on his index finger. Harry pulled and saved it.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

"I'm your Godfather, Sirius," he replied. He got up slowly and sat on the edge of the bed causing it to tip slightly.

"I have no Godfather."

"Now you do," Sirius said firmly.

"Where's Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked. He dangled a bandaged foot over the bed, ready for escape.

"You will never need to see them again," Sirius' face darkened.

Harry burst into tears.

"What...Harry? Why are you crying? Shh, baby," Sirius reached out for Harry but again, Harry avoided his arms and scrambled off the bed, landing with a soft thud untangled in bedclothes.

"Harry!" Sirius jumped off the bed and scooped the sobbing bundle into his arms. Harry continued to cry. "I d-don't want to g-go to the orphanage."

"Harry, it's okay, this is not the orphanage. You are my godson, and I will take care of you from now on till eternity," Sirius said cradling Harry.

Harry opened one eye. "Godson?"

"Yes, Godson."

"I-I like this dream."

Sirius watched, puzzled. Harry snuggled in his arms, tiny hands clutching his shirt afraid that Sirius would leave him. Harry's mood swings was definitely worth looking at. Then his face broke in a smile. What the heck, as long as Harry wasn't running from him. He settled back in his chair, finding a comfortable position then gently shifted Harry up on his chest. Arranging the bedclothes so that it covered the little one properly, he put a hand on Harry's back and watched him sleep.

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The Dursleys sat in a row on a couch in the living room, trying to recollect what had just happened this morning. Since the Magic Reversal Squad knew that they knew about magical beings, they had not bothered giving them a memory modifying charm.

"Did that snob's Godfather actually came?" Petunia finally said.

"Did my teeth grow that big until it touched the floor?" Dudley asked.

"Oh, my darling," Petunia put an arm over her fat son and pulled him to her.

"If those freaks ever dare to step into my house again..." Vernon started angrily.

A loud burst sounded at the fireplace, the sound equivalent to a tiny explosion rocked the house.

"What the hell!" Petunia screamed.

"MOM!" Dudley wailed.

"You'll do what?" A woman asked coldly as she stood in front of the fireplace.

Another man was behind her, his long hair greasy with oil. "Do you ever clean your fireplace?"

"Harry used to cl..." began Dudley.

"Shhh!" Petunia said. "Don't talk to them!"

"Harry, huh?" The woman looked even colder.

"How dare you come here for the third time!" Vernon erupted. "Is this a place for you freaks to come in and out as you wish? I demand that you get the hell out of here at once!"

"Don't worry," the man replied. "I'm with you."

"Severus!" the woman snapped.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Where's Potter's things?"

"Ho!" Vernon shouted. "Come to get his things now, have we? I never..."

"Never mind, I'll find them myself," the woman interrupted. "I have no time to hear this pig out."

"I'll wait for you, shall I?" Severus volunteered. Minerva threw him a dirty look but went on her way to the cupboard.

Severus sighed in relief. Rummaging through that Potter boy's toys and stuff were at the end of his list. He frowned. The Muggles were staring at him, Vernon's mouth opening and shutting like a goldfish.

"What's your problem?" snapped Severus.

"What's my problem?" Vernon spluttered. "You, you freaks enter my house, ruin my fireplace, what do you think this house is? Is it for you to come and go as you please?"

"Yeah, you said that already," Severus interrupted. "And what freaks? Mind your mouth."

"Where is Harry's stuff?" Minerva poked her head in.

"What do you mean Harry's stuff?" Vernon barked. "Do we look like we are well-off to provide that boy luxury toys and possessions? He should be glad that we let him stay here. For free!"

"Well, you definitely look well-off," Severus remarked surveying Dudley's clothes and chubby face.

"You certainly used that to your advantage, actually more than you ought to," Minerva said icily. "You'll be hearing from us as soon as Harry wakes up and delivers his official complaint towards you."

"Excuse me..." Petunia screeched.

But the two 'freaks' had already left through the fireplace again, sending up clouds of black smoke. Intentionally. Then through the haze came:

"Tarantallegra!" Then an insincere: "Oops, sorry."

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"So where's his stuff?" Severus asked as they strode down the hallways.

"Weren't you listening?" Minerva snapped.

"Come on, at least a boxful of toys," Severus said.

Minerva turned around. "You haven't gone to the Hospital Wing and seen Harry, haven't you?"

"Of course not, I wouldn't want to!"

"If you did, you wouldn't find the no belongings situation hard to believe." Minerva left him alone at the hallway disappearing to Dumbledore's office.

Severus had a thoughtful look on his face. "Just a peek to see what's the fuss about." With an overly-dramatic swish of his robes, one that he had been practicing secretly, he made his way to the hospital wing.

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Feeling the feeble rise and fall of Harry's chest seemed to give a calming relief to him. His hand came up from Harry's back to lightly stroke the soft raven hair. Harry's right hand lay on his chest, clutching a tiny fist of his shirt. Sirius bent down to observe the cherubic features of the sleeping child then slowly stood up and placed Harry as softly and gently as possible on the bed, then freeing his light hold on his shirt.

Harry stirred.

"Shhh. Go to sleep," Sirius said softly covering him with blankets. For the first time, Snape got a clear view of the bandages, bruises and cuts on the youngster's body. He let out his breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Did those Muggles really do that to him?"

Sirius turned around sharply. "Keep your voice down! You'll wake him!"

Too late. Harry's eyes opened drowsily and took in the two men in absolute surprise and distrust.

"Evening, Harry!" Sirius said brightly. He reached out for the boy but Harry avoided his arms again.

"I don't dream that long," he replied.

"This is not a dream, baby," Sirius answered. "It's real."

"Real?"

Harry slid down the bed again, wobbling unsteadily on his bandaged feet. He held on the bedpost to support himself.

"Come here," Sirius went to Harry, kneeling down in front of him and drawing him close. "You are safe. With me."

Harry pushed at Sirius feebly trying to free himself from Sirius' grasp. "Let me go!"

"Are you hungry?" Sirius asked ignoring Harry's desperate attempts.

Without waiting for a reply, he took the protesting boy in his arms and headed for the kitchen not looking once at Snape.

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Be nice!

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