Chapter 16: You are just my Godfather

The Hospital Wing was eerie, an atmosphere of despair. Madam Pomfrey was putting some vials back on a bedside table. A balding wizard in dark blue uniform robes was speaking quietly to a disheveled wizard who was pushing his thick glasses up his long nose. And on the bed lay the unconscious form of Sirius Black, deathly pale and unmoving.

Remus led Harry in, hands still gripping Harry's arm unconsciously.

"You'll save him. He'll listen to you. He will do what you tell him. I know he will. I know..." Remus continued to speak to no one in particular. Madam Pomfrey and the other two turned around to stare at Harry in amazement, his banshai black robes and glittering necklace as dramatic as his windswept white hair.

As the other three continued to gape, Remus dragged Harry over to where Sirius was lying. Harry looked upon his unconscious godfather with a sense of utter detachment.

"Sirius, wake up! Look who's here. Harry's back. See, he came back. That's what you wanted, isn't it? That's what you were waiting for. See, now he's here, you can wake up. Sirius, it's time to wake up! Sirius" Remus' voice still had a hysterical edge as he knelt by the bedside and shook Sirius in order to wake him.

"Sirius, why aren't you waking up? You wanted Harry to come back. See now he's back. Don't you want to wake up, talk to him? Come on, wake up. Wake up" he shook Sirius harder.

Madam Pomfrey rushed over, and gently pried Remus away from the bedside.

"He's going to wake up soon, Remus. He's just a bit tired. Now that Harry's here, he is going to wake up real soon. We just need to give him some time. Now, I thought I told you to go rest..." Madam Pomfrey was trying to gently lead him away but Remus wrenched out of her grasp.

"Harry, you have to talk to Sirius. You have to tell him that you are back. You have to tell him to wake up. He'll listen to you. Just talk to him please. Just talk to him before he...before he..." Remus voice broke as he looked desolately at his dying best friend.

The once unflappable Professor was very close to a breakdown. Harry would have felt surprised and maybe worried if he hadn't become so completely aloof.

"Now Remus, don't be upset. Harry will talk to Sirius. See, he's right here. He's not going anywhere. We'll all talk to him when he wakes up. But you're tired. How will you talk to him if you are so tired? You need your strength. Here, sit down. I'll give you a Strengthening Potion, alright? Drink this, it will restore your energy. Drink it, Remus! You can see Sirius after you drink your potion." Madam Pomfrey had coaxed him into sitting on a bed and handed him a vial of purple potion.

Remus tried to protest and get up, but finally had to give in to Madam Pomfrey's gentle but firm coaxing. He drank the potion half-heartedly and before he knew it, he was fast asleep. Madam Pomfrey adjusted him into a more comfortable position on the cot without showing the slightest remorse for tricking Remus into drinking a Dreamless Sleep potion.

Turning back to Harry, Madam Pomfrey approached him a little cautiously. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing the fierce matron so close to tears.

"I am very relieved to see you are alright, Harry." she tried to smile but she looked defeated and exhausted. There was no formal 'Mr. Potter' or stern look from her this time.

The other two wizards had come to stand on the other side of Sirius' bed, watching silently.

"Sirius has been unconscious ever since the day you....went away. We tried rousing him using the normal spells and potions but nothing worked. Realizing his condition was probably caused by banshee magic, we had experts from St. Mungo's examine him. Ever since then, we have tried every possible cure we could think of, but alas he has been sinking deeper into a coma. And even Sir McDowell came all the way from Ireland to examine him if he could maybe come up with a solution. Sir McDowell is a mediwizard and has been researching human-magical creatures, mainly banshees and vampires.

We have not achieved any progress, his condition is deteriorating rapidly. I am afraid that there is nothing more that we can do for him." Madam Pomfrey looked sadly at Sirius.

Sir McDowell pushed his thick glasses up his nose again and cleared his throat before addressing Harry.

"Right now, it is difficult to say whether he will get through this or not. The grief in him that made him vulnerable to banshee magic is related to you. I have seen some cases where the victims have pulled through. Right now, I would say that you are his only hope. And his chances of survival are diminishing by the minute." he explained in a grave voice.

Having nothing else to say, the other two wizards thought it best to leave Harry alone with his godfather. They left the hospital wing still deep in discussion. Madam Pomfrey checked on Sirius and adjusted his pillow.

"He is very close to death and the only one who might be able to pull him away from death's door is you. You might not forgive him for betraying you and you might resent him for once again putting you in this position but it will not change the situation. The only way he might pull through this is if you forgive him and genuinely ask him to come back. Speak to him, ask him to wake up, tell him you want him to live, tell him all the things he has to live for.........Tell him you forgive him and you care for him. Tell him, and maybe he'll survive. If you can find it in your heart to forgive your godfather, then tell him. But that is your decision. Beyond that, I have nothing to say." Madam Pomfrey told Harry before returning to her office and closing the door.

Harry sighed and sat down. He observed the pale face and thin form of his godfather. Forgive Sirius? Forgive him for turning his back on his godson when he was his last hope? Forgive him for abandoning Harry when he was all alone and facing the most difficult time of his life? Forgive him for believing that Harry was a murderer and supporter of his own parents' killer? Harry sighed again. Somehow, this time these thoughts didn't evoke the pain and bitterness like before. He could feel a little irritated and depressed and maybe a little hurt, but that gut-wrenching anger and despair he felt before just didn't come as he sat down on the chair beside his dying godfather.

Harry was lost in thought and didn't realize Professor McGonagall's presence until she was right behind him. He stood up, more in a defensive reflex rather than in respect of the teacher. She was carrying an armful of heavy and extremely dusty tomes. She deposited those on the empty bed behind Harry before straightening up and facing him. She looked as if she was barely holding back tears.

"Professor Dumbledore sent these books for you. They are the ones with the most information on banshees found in the library. There are a few more which you might want to look through once you're finished with this lot." her voice was hoarse due to the held back tears. Harry didn't know if the tears were for him or Sirius.

"I hope you find what you're looking for" she offered before giving his shoulder a squeeze and turning away emotionally.

The sound of her blowing her nose on her handkerchief as she left the Hospital Wing reminded Harry of the time he and Ron had been caught out of class and pretended they were off to see Hermione who was lying petrified in the Hospital Wing in their Second Year. For a moment he almost smiled at the memory, the Chamber of Secrets was not that scary now that it was in the past. But the unformed smile disappeared when he was reminded of his friends.

Harry focused his gaze on the still form on the bed in front of him. He didn't know why he felt so numb when he looked at Sirius. The others still caused that familiar tightening in his chest but he felt nothing when he looked at his near-death godfather. Was it banshee magic? Knowing that Sirius could die because of the grief in his heart? Was it because this proved how truly sorry his godfather was for not being there for him? Was it caused by his being a banshai and thus immune to pain related to banshee magic victims? Why didn't he feel anything? Anger, pain, remorse, sadness, disappointment, anything?

Not finding the answer to his questions, Harry decided to do what he came to do originally. Picking up one of the large books from the heap on the other bed, he flicked it open to the contents and scanned the list of 'dark' creatures until he came to banshees. Opening the book to the appropriate page, he began to read the loopy, cursive writing on the yellowed pages. It smelled musty, a mixture of old age and wisdom. A gentle breeze blowing through the open window brought the rustle of autumn leaves and the promise of rain. Since becoming a banshai, Harry had found a whole new world in the sense of hearing.

Remembering what Madam Pomfrey had said about trying to talk to Sirius, Harry sighed. He could think of nothing friendly to say to the man's unconscious form. Maybe he should read the book aloud instead. It would probably help with his speech too. He was still wondering why he could speak. Kaela had said banshees couldn't speak. Well she hadn't exactly 'said' it. The book lay forgotten in his lap as his surroundings faded and he recalled the past few weeks he had spent with the banshees. Never before had he felt so much like he belonged.

It seemed so long ago now, the day he had been turned. He had suffered unimaginable pain every time a banshee screamed as he kneeled in their midst. Each banshee scream had torn painful memories from his mind, displaying them before him one after another and the agony in his heart increased with each. Each time the memory was focused on one person and it would begin with how he had met that person, the good times they had and then all the things that person had said and done that hurt him. He had seen Ron, all the times they had been friends then the pain of his rejection at the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament and later during Harry's trial. He had remembered Hermione and Dumbledore and the Weasleys with each banshee scream. The last scream had pulled out all memories concerning Sirius and then there was the rage and pain caused by him when Harry had thought he murdered his parents, when Sirius had turned away from him believing he was the murderer everyone called him.

And that final memory of Sirius's rejection caused such a searing pain within him that he felt as if his pain-twisted heart was bursting and bleeding. He had to release this pain somehow before it broke his body into little pieces. He did the only thing he could, he screamed. And in that scream he heard all his grief and sorrow. And as he screamed and screamed the pain began to lessen, seeping away with his scream. And as he screamed he felt a strange magic replacing the pain in his heart. As his scream ended that alien magic stirred in his heart, sinking within his being. With that magic came knowledge, the natural instincts of a banshai. He could hear voices in the wind. It was as if the wind was speaking to him, telling him about the trees at the edge the Forbidden Forest, the animals on the ground, the birds flying in the sky, the beasts that were prowling deeper in the Forest and those that were resting and where each being was.

As he was absorbing what the wind was saying, he heard a wail from one of the banshees around him.

The Banshai awakens was what the banshee had said yet it wasn't said in words. It had been a sound much like a whimper yet his mind translated it into words.

And then there was an echo of 'the banshai awakens' around him and to his surprise he realized that his mind was somehow linked to the other banshees and he could hear those words as if the banshees had said it out loud though they hadn't made even a murmur this time. The banshees moved closer to him, as if wanting to get to know him and though none of them smiled, Harry felt as if they were welcoming him. And then he heard a different voice.

"Harry, Harry...no..." it was Sirius who had broken through Dumbledore's protection shield and was running towards him.

"Protect the banshai" was the outraged cry of the first banshee and in a flash the other banshees built a tight circle around him all facing outwards and ready to face any attack.

One of the banshees blocked Sirius' path and screamed directly at him. This time when he heard the scream, he did not feel any pain. In fact he felt nothing except a tingling of his new instincts made him feel the banshee magic being performed through the scream.

His new senses overwhelmed him. There was so much to take in that he was barely aware of what was happening to Sirius. He felt disoriented, as if suddenly being woken from sleep and not knowing where he was or what he had been doing. He heard another banshee joining the first and both of them screaming with Sirius now on his knees before them but he couldn't bring himself to care. He felt oddly detached and that scared him. He was still reeling from the whole shock to his system, when the banshee that he would come to know as Kaela approached him.

We are not welcome here among these humans. Come, Banshai. Come with us to your new home. the soft female voice he heard in his head appeared to belong to her.

And with that she rose in the air in front of him followed one by one by the other banshees. All of them rose gracefully in the air, going higher and higher. Harry would have gaped, only somehow this magical power that the banshees had didn't surprise him. It was as if he had known all along that they could fly just like he knew without a doubt that he too had this ability, only this knowledge had been hidden before.

As the last two banshees glided up in the air, Harry saw Sirius lying unconscious on the ground. His first instinct was to go see if he was alright, but he remembered that Sirius had let him down. Odd, how he didn't feel the intolerable disappointment of before at that thought.

Come, Banshai. Come to your family. Come with us to The Sanctuary Kaela's voice echoed in his head and he looked up to see all the banshees gliding there as if waiting for him. He looked back at Sirius, and suddenly he found that he didn't care. He didn't care what happened. He didn't care what the others were saying or thinking or feeling. He didn't care about staying with them. He felt deeply tempted to follow the banshees. And so he gave in to temptation.

He looked up at the sky and thought about rising in the air and he wasn't as surprised as he should have been when his body began to glide up in the air without any broomstick or spell. He rose in the air and the higher he went the more of his worries and doubts faded. He began to feel the joy of flight again, reminding him of his passion for flying.

On and on he flew with the banshees, beyond the Forbidden Forest, past many small towns and villages, over vast lands and forests until he reached The Sanctuary. It was a place with a forlorn beauty, set at the edge of an untamed jungle which separated it from the rest of the world. A white beach stretched as far as the eye could see. The ocean was a clear blue-green with huge waves crashing at the rocks and the steep cliff further up north. This was Sanctuary, home of the Almaaws. That was the name of this colony.

As the days flew by, Harry grew to love Sanctuary. He would take long walks on the beach or sit in the shade of the Melan trees with his fellow Almaaws. The oddly fascinating magical trees looked like willows but with the blackest bark he had seen on any tree. Sometimes he would glide over the ocean in the sunset or fly among the clouds at night. The tigercats were almost always by his side. He had been surprised to see them land at the Sanctuary not long after himself. The banshees had considered them a threat at first and crept closer with the intention to capture them. Harry tried to speak, tell them the cats were harmless but he seemed to have lost his voice in that moment. Siyaa and Tawreek weren't helping the matter by baring their sharp fangs in guttural growls. Finally Harry had shouted 'NO' when the banshee directly behind them had tried to capture Siyaa. Only he hadn't shouted it, it was more of a mental shout. But apparently the banshees had heard him for they turned to him. He had explained about Siyaa and Tawreek in that loud mental voice again and to his surprise, the banshees had heard and understood him.

Since that day, the tigercats stayed with him and the banshees grew to like them, indulging them with their favourite foods and playing 'chase' with them in the air. Harry was glad they had grown their wings so fast, he hadn't expected it but it was a pleasant surprise especially since they wouldn't have been able to follow him so easily otherwise.

Siyaa and Tawreek had also caused a sensation when they visited the other two banshee colonies for the Melan celebration. The Almaaws had acted all proud and pompous when they introduced him to the other colonies. The banshees from the other colonies were in awe of him just as much as the Almaaws had been during his first days at the Sanctuary. He was glad that it didn't last long at the Sanctuary but the banshees at the festival had treated him with reverence the whole time. Each of them had come up to him at some point and trailed her fingers gently from his shoulder to his elbow, bowing her head slightly in what was the customary salute to a banshai. Even the few who had taken a clear dislike to him showed that initial sign of respect before retreating and shooting resentful looks at him when they thought no one was watching. And the festival itself...it had been amazing....

Harry was startled back to the present when a breeze blew in through the open Hospital Wing doors bringing with it the news of two humans arguing in hushed voices right outside the doors. He had barely turned to face the doors when Hermione Granger walked in resolutely followed by a clearly reluctant Ron Weasley.

Hermione walked over to the bed that contained the books about banshees and kicking off her shoes, climbed on the bed and sat cross-legged in front of the books.

"Hello Harry." She only looked briefly at him before dragging one of the books onto her lap and opening it.

Ron met Harry's eyes and tried to smile but it came out as a grimace before he shrugged and sat down on a chair on the other side of the bed from Harry.

"Go 'way" Harry growled at them.

He still wasn't used to talking again even if only a month had passed since he became a banshai.

"No, Harry. We're not going to go away. We are here to help you find a cure for the banshees like we always helped you in the past. We understand that you haven't forgiven us and we accept that. We are just here to help and you need all the help you can get. You can't solve this alone. So why don't you go back to reading that book of yours" she suggested in an unruffled voice.

Harry growled but Hermione had already turned her attention to the book in front of her and ignored him. Ron was holding a book too and looking warily at him. For a moment Harry wanted to give them a taste of the pain of a banshee scream but suddenly he felt too tired to fight with them. What did it matter? They weren't his friends anymore. All the pain and hurt he had felt in Azkaban had disappeared since he became a banshai. The bitter anger that welled up inside him at a moment's notice every time he saw or heard of his friends was no longer there. Instead there was a serene peace and the beckoning memory of the banshees and Sanctuary. That feeling washed over him now, taking away whatever ill feelings he had felt since stepping back into Hogwarts.

Harry turned back to the book he was holding, the others' presence forgotten for the time being. Pretty soon, he was deeply absorbed in the book he was reading. It told the history of the banshees, their home and very few but accurate customs of the banshees.

Madam Pomfrey came some time later to bring them food on a tray. Hermione and Ron accepted theirs but Harry refused. It continued for the rest of the day, three people sitting in the Hospital Wing beside two unconscious man, reading thick books in silence as the afternoon sun cast rays of light through the long, open windows. As the sun began to set, a gust of wind blew in through the windows and ruffled Harry's hair. He looked up as if in response to someone calling his name and turned his face towards the wind. The wind settled down, Harry closed the book he was reading and standing, dropped it on the pile at Hermione's feet. Both Hermione and Ron were speechless getting their first good look at his banshai robes. The cloth looked rough with tattered tail-like edges hanging all over the robe that upon closer inspection weren't really shreds, only part of the ensemble. As he turned towards the window, the stones of the banshai necklace glittered in the afternoon light.

Harry walked slowly towards the window, his feet rising above the floor as he neared the window and finally glided out. The other two got up and rushed to the window to see him flying faster and faster, over the Forbidden Forest, farther and farther until he disappeared from sight. They were still standing there when Ernie McMillan ran into the Hospital Wing.

"Where is he? Where'd he go?" he asked breathlessly.

"Mr. McMillan, stop right this instant. I thought I told you to stop. This is an outrage. Professor McGonagall already said you weren't to see...."

Whatever else Madam Pomfrey was going to say was forgotten as she looked around to see that Harry was gone.

"Where is he?" Ernie asked again.

"He left. Just like that...flew out the window." Ron replied in a dazed voice.

"And you didn't stop him?" he asked in an accusing tone.

"Mr. McMillan, I doubt that he would listen to anyone right now. The headmaster has said that he may come and go as he pleases. He is only here because he needs information about the banshees. He was very reluctant to be here and I'm sure he would leave and never come back at the least provocation. He is the only one who can save Professor Black's life and right now I don't think he will appreciate all the people who feel guilty coming up to apologize to him...." Madam Pomfrey was leading Ernie out still speaking in a soothing tone.

Meanwhile, Harry was flying over a village on the way back to the Sanctuary as the sky darkened and night fell. Flying was a thrilling sensation and the thought of returning home warmed his heart. Yes, Sanctuary was home. And the banshees were family, he thought as he glided down slowly. All the banshees left what they were doing to gather where he would land in a moment. Harry couldn't help the serene smile on his face as he saw the anxious looks on the banshees' faces.

I told you I would be fine. He reassured the girls. They were gathered around him, each one coming forward to touch him, shoulder to elbow. This was no salute however. Harry would have none of that hero-worship since he became familiar with them. Instead it was a loving gesture of the closeness they shared. And a sign of how truly worried the banshees had been because their banshai had left on his own to spend the day among humans. It was as if they were trying to reassure themselves through the touch that he was really there. Harry was touched by their concern. These strong and proud women who were fierce and fearless to the rest of the world showed their gentleness and vulnerability to him. It was a sign of their deep trust and faith in him. And he wouldn't let them down, he thought to himself.

A deep-throated growl was all the warning before the tigercats launched themselves at him. Harry almost lost his balance as the twins tried to show him how pleased they were that he had returned. Although Siyaa almost bit him which was of course his way of showing that he was still upset at Harry for ordering the two of them to stay behind while he went to Hogwarts.

Toufaan, why do you return so late? Kaela asked him as she glided down towards him. The other banshees cleared a path for their leader showing their respect.

Harry tried to look apologetic but he couldn't stop the serene smile forming on his lips. He was home. No longer the famous Harry Potter but the banshai of Almaaws. Okay, so he was still famous, being the only banshai in this part of the world, maybe the only banshai in existence. But he was not alone. Here, he was surrounded by his fellow Almaaws. Here, he was Toufaan.

He had gotten his banshai name three days after arriving at the Sanctuary. The ritual had been fairly simple, every banshee would be given a new name when entering a colony. It signaled the end of the old life and the beginning of a new one. Each colony had a Sejaa book, the book of tales. It contained the colony's history, magical secrets, fighting and defense tactics as well as a Poem. This poem summarized the whole history and all the famous banshees who had lived in the colony. It was very long and full of the famous names as well as descriptions of nature and the wind. The name of the new banshee would be picked from the Poem.

I am sorry. I forgot how long the journey back was going to be. I will leave earlier tomorrow. Harry replied in a soothing voice, touching her from shoulder to elbow, a gesture of reassurance.

No, you will not for you are not returning to the place of humans. Banshai, we cannot risk it. It is too dangerous. The humans feel nothing but hate and distrust for our kind. You will not be welcome among them.

Kaela, I must. It is the only way. I must find out all about this curse. They must have the answers somewhere in the books.

No, Toufaan. It is not worth the risk. You are dear to us, we could not bear to loose you. Come! Come see what a day of your absence does to the Almaaws Kaela dragged him towards two young banshees at the fringe of the gathering.

These two were to skin the bark off the Uli stems. Look, they were so distracted that they both hurt themselves with the long blades. Their arms will not heal for a week at least. Come! See how little fish the divers have caught today. Two of them flew north to fish near the island and almost lost their way. They arrived only moments before you. Everyone was subdued and distracted the whole day at the Sanctuary.

Harry was astounded. He knew he was important to the colony but he had never imagined they would worry so much about him. The distance between Sanctuary and Hogwarts cut off the mind link between him and the banshees.

You cannot return to the humans. Surely there is another way to find out more about the curse. Who knows more about the curse than the banshees? We will send messengers to the other colonies. We will request them to lend us their Sejaa so you may study them. If they are unwilling we can visit their colony everyday so that you can read their Sejaa. Surely you will find the clue to the curse in one of the Sejaa Kaela tried to persuade him.

Harry shook his head regretfully.

Kaela, don't you see? That is what every banshai before me did. They tried to find clues in the Sejaa. And they failed. I believe the answer to the curse is somewhere else. And I will find the answer in the books at Hogwarts. Or at the very least I will know where to look for the answer. I must return there, Kaela Harry said gently.

Kaela stared hard at him. He stared back letting her know he would not give in just like he hadn't given in all of last week until Kaela had finally relented and let him return to Hogwarts. She sighed.

Alright, if you feel you must return I will not forbid it. But tomorrow you will take Geya and Donaaz with you. Or you will not go. she added when she saw he was about to protest.

Harry sighed and nodded in defeat.

Now, come. It is time for our meal.

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A/N: Almaaws is both singular and plural. Dialogues in italics were mind speech between the banshees.

I'M BAAAACK. Extremely sorry for the looong wait. Semester is over and with almost a month of holidays ahead, my fanfics will be my main focus. So if you don't see an update every three days, be sure to scold me in an e-mail.

Once again, this isn't a slash fic. Malfoy being a veela plays a very small part in Seventh Year and the rest of Malfoy's story would most probably lead to a separate fic once this one is over. The plot for that is not at all developed yet.

To answer some questions, this fic's original title was 'The Reluctant Playboy' (which is now a separate fic), pairing will remain a mystery until the end while there will be some characters of romantic interest appearing as early as next chapter (of course all that'll happen in the Reluctant Playboy, not in this fic).