Previously:
Everyone nodded their heads immediately, wanting to know who Harry's true father is.
Chapter 6 – Padfoot Returns
Albus takes a deep breath and then relates the story that was told to him the day before. To put it mildly, everyone was shocked, they all sat in stunned silence for over ten minutes, trying to comprehend what Albus had just told everyone.
Finally, Minerva spoke up in a small voice, "What's going to happen Albus, you realize this complicates everything, not to mention putting a lot of people in danger."
Albus nods gravely, "I'm well aware of the difficult conclusions that are inevitable, yet, they cannot be changed. I know this comes to a chock to you all, but consider this, Severus himself just found this out yesterday as well. I ask just one thing from all of you, please give him some aid with Harry, also please give him patience. I know he's not the most favorable teacher among the students, and so does he, but he's going to need all of the help he can get in the months to come, especially when he tells Harry and when school starts."
Minerva, among others nodded their head in acceptance while all of the others voiced out there agreements. Albus then smiles, "well I'm certainly glad that's over. If anyone would like to visit Harry, please feel free, although I ask you do not tell him anything about what was spoken about in here tonight, Severus is going to tell him when Harry feels better. Also, do not force Harry to speak about anything that happened over the summer, he will speak on his own when he's ready, I'm sure of that.
"On a happier note, whoever wants to see Sirius again and who would also like to speak with him, remain here as he should be arriving soon. Those who wish to leave, they may also do that, but I must insist on not telling anyone about what we spoke of in here, especially to Sirius as he wont be to happy, not happy at all with any of the news."
Only a few of the teachers got up and left, the rest were either there to see or talk with Sirius. The ones that had left either went to their private quarters or down to the infirmary to get the full diagnosis on either Harry or Draco.
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An hour or so passed within the Headmaster's office, many of the teachers ended up leaving because they had things to plan for the upcoming school year and didn't have time to wait for Sirius to arrive. The only teachers that were really left were Minerva, Remus, Madame Hooch and also Professor Vector. (AN: I think this is the Arithmacy teacher…am I right?? If not can you please tell me who it is, and whether it's a male or female??? Thanx)
As Professor Vector was about to leave, a big black dog came bounding into the room, but immediately froze when he saw the other professors. If the circumstances were different it would have been comical to see the dog at the way it did, but Albus immediately calmed the…err…dog down by explaining all the teachers knew the truth to make it easier for Sirius to stay in the vicinity of the school easier.
After being reassured, the dog 'popped' and where the dog once was, was now a man who seemed in the dire need of a shower and new clothes. The teachers who hadn't seen Sirius at any time before gasped in the difference between the young man they once knew and they older man that stood in front of them.
Feeling self conscious of himself, Sirius collapsed in a chair next to Remus, giving him a friendly smile as he went, which was returned immediately, although Sirius could see it didn't reach his eyes.
Looking back over to the Headmaster, Sirius got straight to the point, "What's happened? Is Harry alright?"
Albus looked into Sirius's eyes for a moment before answering him, "I'm afraid to tell you Sirius, but earlier Harry wasn't in very good shape." He held up a hand silencing Sirius before he could interrupt, "he's fine now, he's down in the infirmary sleeping peacefully."
Sirius just sits there, not even seeing the sympathetic looks he was receiving from the other occupants from the room. "How?"
Albus starts with the explanation once again on how the got Harry, however, he left out all the information with Severus. At the end, Sirius had his head in his hands, Remus had his hand on his shoulder giving him silent support.
"I should have been there for him, he told me about how he used to live in a cupboard, I should have realized it then."
"It's not your fault Sirius, no one could possibly know that the situation had become this serious, if we had then we would have taken him out of there right away."
"I know Albus, but I just can't help it, I wish I was there for him, I'm so ashamed of myself. I'm supposed to be his godfather, yet, I'm never there when he needs me, and I either come to early and leave or come to late and still leave."
"Sirius Black!"
Sirius looks up in surprise at his old Transfiguration Professor.
"You cannot possibly blame yourself for things your obviously had no control over. What Harry needs now is a lot of care and love from the people he cares about, now I don't know personally but I have the distinct feeling you two mean a lot to each other. Harry needs your support right now so don't you dare start wallowing in self-pity when your godson needs you the most. Be glad that you can be here for him now, be grateful that you have each other at all, this whole scenario could have come out much worse than it already has, be grateful for that!"
Sirius sits there mulling over everything that had been said, he gives a small smile to Minerva which was returned just as small, before anything could be said, Sirius heads out the door, yelling as he went that he would be down in the infirmary with Harry.
As the door slid closed behind him, Albus looked back to Minerva, the twinkle back in his eyes. "I couldn't have put it better myself Minerva, thank you."
Minerva nodded once before heading towards the door, "I'll be in my office if anyone needs me, good day Albus, everyone else." She says as she heads out the door, nodding her head to everyone that was present.
After she left, everyone else was quick to follow, all giving different reasons for leaving, until only Albus remained. He looked over to Fawkes perch only to find Fawkes heading toward him. He quickly held out his hand for the Phoenix to land on, which he did.
"I hope I did the right thing tonight Fawkes." He whispers half to himself, half to the bird.
In return, Fawkes let out a quivering note which soothed Albus's troubled thoughts, smiling down gently at his companion, Albus stroked the Phoenix absentmindedly while thinking of the many different, difficult phases that would be approaching in the near future.
As Sirius reached the infirmary, he was surprised to see Harry. He was staring out the window while Poppy was checking him over. Cautiously, Sirius headed over to Harry's bed, being careful to avoid the bed surrounded by a curtain.
As he reached the bed, Poppy turned towards him. "You can stay for a little while Sirius, but no more than two hours, Harry needs his rest and I have another patient that needs to be taken into consideration."
At the mention of Sirius' name, Harry turns towards the two adults. Sirius nods his head absentmindedly while sitting down next to Harry. Poppy just shakes her head, putting up curtains for their privacy and heading over to Draco's bed to check on him.
Sirius and Harry just sit there in silence for several minutes, neither having any idea what to say. Finally, getting sick of the silence, Sirius asks the one question Harry would be hearing quite a bit in the near future.
"How are you doing Harry?"
"Fine," Harry looks down as he answers, hiding tears that he knew would come.
"Hey, I got your birthday present, well I can't actually give it to you, but I can tell you what it consists of." Sirius says softly, trying to cheer Harry up.
Harry looks up, his eyes gaining some of the life they were missing.
Grinning, Sirius explains, "well, since with everything that went on last year, Albus decided that I should be around more often, and with, well, this," he says making hand motions, spreading out in front of him showing he meant what happened with the Dursley's. "I've decided I'm going to be staying in Hogwarts this year," he says happily.
Harry, with his eyes the most liveliest they have been in a long time, smiles over to his Godfather. "Really? That's great, but what about the teachers and where are you staying?"
"Well, I've just got here but apparently, Albus has told all of the staff about me being innocents. As for where I'm staying, well, I'm going to be staying with you up in the boys dormitory. I'm going to be your loveable, big black dog Snuffles!" Sirius exclaims happily while watching Harry for his reaction.
Harry just sits there in surprise for a moment before a big, true smile spread across his face. "Really? That's so cool, but there's one thing," he says troubled, "what about the rules, it doesn't say anywhere that dogs are allowed."
Sirius looks crestfallen for a minute before standing up. "Well, I don't exactly know what's going to happen, I'll go ask Albus. Anyways, since I've been here for a long time, and Poppy will most likely be kicking me out any minute, I better go. I hope you feel better soon Harry, and if you ever need anything, I'll be there for you." Sirius says seriously before quickly hugging Harry.
Harry stiffens considerable as Sirius' arms go around him and Sirius backs off extremely quick, a hurt expression clouding his features. Before Harry could say anything Sirius leaves through the door, almost running into Albus and Severus who were entering.
Harry looks down at his hands, his bangs hiding his face from view as the two Professor's go over to Harry's bed, taking seats on either side.
"I didn't mean it, I couldn't help myself, he probably hates me now." Harry says softly, almost to himself, yet unconsciously towards the two professors for some help.
"What didn't you mean child?" Albus asks softly, lifting up Harry's chin with two fingers.
"I-he tried to hug me…I couldn't help myself. It just brought back memories…I didn't mean to stiffen up." Harry says softly, not looking at either of the professors.
"Harry," Severus says softly, surprising the boy, who in his surprise looked over at the Potion Master, and was even more surprised to find compassion and care in his eyes, no amount of pity or sorrow written anywhere, which Harry was actually thankful for.
"Harry," Severus says again, "Black will understand the reasons why you did what you did. In fact, who ever you speak or interact with will have to learn how to understand your reasons for doing what you do. It might take time for some of the people, but they will come around eventually, and eventually, you shall return to your normal self."
Harry just sits there, mulling over all the words his Potions Professor just said to him while Severus kept a watchful eye on Harry. Neither of them noticed Albus leave quietly, nor the fact that he shut the curtains behind him. Both were lost in there own deep thoughts that neither noticed as the minutes passed.
Harry knew that the person next to him had to be the hated Potions Master, and yet, he acted completely opposite of what he usually acted. When Harry noticed the Headmaster and Snape come in, he was mentally preparing himself for some biting or witting remark from Snape, not helpful, and somewhat caring words.
Severus also knew that what he had just done was no where near what he was expecting to say, he wasn't expecting himself to say a single word, he thought that was Albus' job, not his. He knew that Harry must be somewhat confused, and yet, he got a weird, warm feeling in his chest when he realized he might have just helped his son out. It wasn't exactly a bad feeling, or unnaturally pleasant, it was actually an in between feeling, which to be true with himself, he wouldn't mind having more often.
As Severus is lost in his own thoughts, Harry takes the moment to think over all of the things he knew about the Potions Master.
First, Professor Snape was, well for as long as Harry has known him, sarcastic and mean to everyone but his own students. Second, Snape never gave Harry and chance and has always been mean to him, inside and out of the classroom.
Yet, at the end of the term last year, Harry remembered the Headmaster asking Snape to do something for him, which seemed to be somewhat frightening to Snape. Harry knew he was missing something, something that put all of these things together, the 'missing link' as some people would put it.
Glancing up, Harry realized that Severus was still standing, lost in his own thoughts, gazing absentmindedly towards the foot of the bed. Snapping out of his musings, Harry, more out of habit than anything spoke up.
"You can take a seat if you would like Professor," he says cautiously, watching for any thing that would give away any of the Professor's thoughts.
Severus looks towards Harry in surprise, almost forgetting where he was, before slowly moving towards a chair near the head of the bed. He looked over to the teen to see him with a somewhat of a confused look in his eyes.
"Sir?" It came out from Harry's mouth full of confusion and worry.
"Yes, Po– Harry?"
Harry gives a soft smile at the Potions Master obvious attempt at being civil. "Can, can you tell me what's going to happen?"