Sirius had gotten a little sleep, but he woke up early. Harry was still
asleep. The pill bottles scattered in front of him. Sirius made his way to
the basement. Lupin should have been back to his normal self. Sirius took a
couple of steps down the stairs and peered into the cement room. The old
couch that had been down there, was now dismantled. Lupin was laying on the
floor. Sirius hurried down the stairs. He shook Lupin awake.
"Wha?" Lupin moaned.
"Come on pal...upstairs." Sirius said, lifting Lupin to his feet. Sirius
dragged Lupin up the stairs. Lupin, froze when he saw Harry. His eyes
darted from the teenager to all the pill bottles.
"I didn't..." He began. Sirius sighed and walked over to Harry. It was time
for him to take his pills anyways.
"Harry, come on..." Sirius said gently. Harry stirred and opened one of his
eyes. Sirius pulled the blanket back. Most of the bandages on Harry were
soaked with blood. Heavy bleeding. Sirius refilled the empty goblet that
was on the table and gave Harry a handful of pills. Lupin watched in horror
as Harry choked down the massive tablets.
"Come on, we'll get those bandages changed." Sirius said quietly. He helped
Harry into the bathroom, up onto the counter and began removing the bloody
bandages. Harry closed his eyes. He was obviously tired. Lupin was standing
in the doorway.
"I...I..." He said nervously.
"You do what werewolves do, Remus." Sirius said quietly. He was throwing
the bloody bandages into the garbage.
"He's not...he can't be..." Lupin said quickly. Sirius glanced at him.
"We've got him on one mixer. Dumbledore is gonna bring another one by." He
said quietly. He re-applied the bandages and then rolled up Harry's pants.
He changed the bandages on his legs and then patted Harry's shoulder.
Harry's eyes opened wearily. Sirius helped him down and back to the couch.
Harry collapsed onto the couch. Sirius ruffled his hair. "You hungry?" He asked gently. Harry nodded weakly. Sirius swept off into the kitchen. Lupin hurried after him. Sirius cracked some eggs into a frying pan. "I d-didn't b-bite him!" Lupin protested hopefully. Sirius sighed and slumped his shoulder. "Yeah Remus, you did." He said quietly. "James is gonna turn over in his grave!" Lupin groaned. Sirius stopped for a minute, then continued making Harry breakfast. He didn't say anything in reply to Lupin's comment. Sirius hated cooking the muggle way. He took Lupin's wand and waved it. The food was instantly cooked. Sirius put everything on a plate and took it into the living room. Harry was laying down. He sat up a little when Sirius returned. "Thanks. This is loads better than a couple of stale crackers." Harry forced a smile as he dug into the bacon and eggs. Sirius smiled and led Lupin out of the room. They were talking in the front hallway when Dumbledore appeared. He was carrying another paper bag and also had Harry's school things with him. "You went back there?" Sirius asked, disbelieving. Dumbledore nodded. They made their way back into the living room.
Harry was finishing up his breakfast. He smiled weakly when they all sat down. Sirius sat next to Harry. Dumbledore removed four pill bottles from his paper bag. He set them on the table. Harry stared at them. He felt a lump develop in his throat. "A-are these g-gonna s-stop me from changing?" He asked shakily. "They are your best hope Harry." Dumbledore said quietly. Harry's eyes started to water. Lupin quickly left the room. "It's not his fault!" Harry said to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded and swept after Lupin. Sirius put his arm around Harry. "You're gonna be fine. Can you trust me when I say that?" He asked quietly. Harry stared into Sirius's eyes. The dead, haunted look they had had only a year ago, was fading. Sirius looked back into Harry's green eyes, glittering with tears. Harry bit his lip and nodded slowly. Sirius forced a smile. "That's a boy!" He said quietly. "Now, let's see if we can choke down a couple more pills." He said, glancing at the bottles. The goblet of pumpkin juice was refilled as Sirius gave Harry four large pills. Harry choked them down. "I don't feel well." Harry said suddenly. Sirius looked at him. Harry looked horrible. "You can stay in my room. Come on." He said as he stood up. Harry shakily got to his feet. Sirius draped his arm over Harry's shoulder and led him down a hall. He pushed open a door. There was a bed in there, a dresser and a fireplace. Sirius led Harry to the bed. Harry climbed underneath the covers. "I'll come and check on you in a bit." Sirius said quietly. Harry nodded and removed his glasses. Sirius left the room.
Sirius closed the bedroom door softly and made his way down the hall. He spotted Dumbledore and Remus out on the deck. He took a deep breath and joined them. Remus had his elbows resting on the railing and his head in his hand. Dumbledore glanced at Sirius. "Where's Harry?" He asked quietly. "I put him to bed in my room. He doesn't feel well." Sirius explained. He went up beside his friend and rested a hand on Lupin's back. "Remus..." Sirius said quietly. "James would hate me Sirius! He would hate me!" Lupin yelled hoarsly. Sirius took a deep breath. "No he wouldn't." He said quietly. Lupin looked at him. "How can you say that? I may have just ruined Harry's life!" Lupin shrieked. "Remus, you did nothing wrong. It was a werewolf that bit Harry, not you." Sirius said calmly. Lupin stared at him and then wandered off into the yard. Sirius closed his eyes. Dumbledore stared at him. "How is Harry?" He asked quietly. "Terrified." Sirius said simply. Dumbledore bowed his head. Those wounds won't be healed by the time he gets back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "I know. Poppy can mend them." Sirius said quietly. "His friend, Ron Weasley, invited Harry to stay there for the last week of the month." Dumbledore said quietly. Sirius let out a long sigh. "I'll think about it." He muttered. Sirius shuffled back inside the house. He went to check on Harry.
Harry was laying on top of the covers. His face was pressed into the pillow. Sirius walked over to him. "Harry?" He asked quietly. Harry let out a low grunt. Sirius sat down on the bed. Harry slowly turned over. He still looked awful. "Harry...do you want to go stay with your friend Ron for a week?" Sirius asked quietly. Harry propped himself up with his elbows and stared at Sirius. It was a little hard since he wasn't wearing his glasses. "What a stupid question!" Harry said wearily. Sirius stared at him. Of course Harry wanted to go to Ron's. "I'm not going anywhere unless you can come." Harry replied. Sirius stared at him. "Really?" He asked. Harry nodded. Sirius smiled. Harry smiled too, but then he clapped a hand to his mouth. Harry reached frantically for his glasses. He shoved them on his nose and hobbled out of the room. Sirius followed him. They pushed past Dumbledore. Sirius closed the bathroom door as Harry crouched over the toilet. Dumbledore looked at Sirius. Sirius held up a hand. Then, the sounds of Harry gagging came. Sirius lowered his hand and Dumbledore nodded. Lupin appeared. "What is that?" He asked, listening. "Er...a side effect of the mixers." Sirius said quietly. Lupin sighed. Sirius ducked into the bathroom to check on Harry. Harry was laying on the cold bathroom floor. Sirius flushed the toilet and bent down to check on Harry. There were beads of sweat on Harry's brow. "You poor kid." Sirius sighed as he looked at all the bandages Harry had. Harry tried to get up, but couldn't. His legs wouldn't hold him. Weakness. Sirius lifted Harry off the floor and put an arm around his middle, to support him. They hobbled out of the bathroom. Lupin and Dumbledore stared as Sirius led Harry back into the bedroom. Sirius emerged a minute later. He glanced at Dumbledore and Lupin and hurried past them. Dumbledore sighed and swept after Sirius. Lupin scuffled into the room where Harry was. The teenager was laying under the covers on the bed. Lupin shuffled forwards. Harry raised his head a little and forced a smile. "Hey..." He said wearily. Lupin sat down on the bed. "H-Harry..." He began. "Forget it." Harry said weakly. Lupin smiled appreciativly and said nothing else.
Sirius was standing in the entrance way. Dumbledore walked up behind him. "Sirius?" He asked quietly. At first, Sirius said nothing. "It's not fair. Too much has happened to him. His parents died, he had to go live with those horrible muggles, he was beaten and now..." Sirius had to stop. "And now, he might be a werewolf. It's just not fair!" He growled. Sirius placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder. "I know." He said quietly.
Dumbledore told Sirius he had to go. Something about a meeting with Fudge. Sirius said goodbye and then headed back to check on Harry. Lupin was just leaving the room. Sirius glanced at him nervously. "I have to go out. I won't be long." Lupin said quietly. Sirius nodded and Lupin disappeared. Sirius waited a minute, then went in Harry's room. He was laying on the bed, fast asleep. Sirius went and sat down on the bed. Blood was starting to show through the bandages again. He placed a hand on Harry's cheek. The boy was so young...so young. Sirius gently ruffled Harry's hair and pulled the covers up over him. He stared at Harry for a few minutes, then left. He busied himself around the house. He was in the kitchen doing dishes when there was a loud pop behind him. Sirius turned around. Molly Weasley was standing there. Sirius jumped back. He began to shake furiously.
Harry collapsed onto the couch. Sirius ruffled his hair. "You hungry?" He asked gently. Harry nodded weakly. Sirius swept off into the kitchen. Lupin hurried after him. Sirius cracked some eggs into a frying pan. "I d-didn't b-bite him!" Lupin protested hopefully. Sirius sighed and slumped his shoulder. "Yeah Remus, you did." He said quietly. "James is gonna turn over in his grave!" Lupin groaned. Sirius stopped for a minute, then continued making Harry breakfast. He didn't say anything in reply to Lupin's comment. Sirius hated cooking the muggle way. He took Lupin's wand and waved it. The food was instantly cooked. Sirius put everything on a plate and took it into the living room. Harry was laying down. He sat up a little when Sirius returned. "Thanks. This is loads better than a couple of stale crackers." Harry forced a smile as he dug into the bacon and eggs. Sirius smiled and led Lupin out of the room. They were talking in the front hallway when Dumbledore appeared. He was carrying another paper bag and also had Harry's school things with him. "You went back there?" Sirius asked, disbelieving. Dumbledore nodded. They made their way back into the living room.
Harry was finishing up his breakfast. He smiled weakly when they all sat down. Sirius sat next to Harry. Dumbledore removed four pill bottles from his paper bag. He set them on the table. Harry stared at them. He felt a lump develop in his throat. "A-are these g-gonna s-stop me from changing?" He asked shakily. "They are your best hope Harry." Dumbledore said quietly. Harry's eyes started to water. Lupin quickly left the room. "It's not his fault!" Harry said to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded and swept after Lupin. Sirius put his arm around Harry. "You're gonna be fine. Can you trust me when I say that?" He asked quietly. Harry stared into Sirius's eyes. The dead, haunted look they had had only a year ago, was fading. Sirius looked back into Harry's green eyes, glittering with tears. Harry bit his lip and nodded slowly. Sirius forced a smile. "That's a boy!" He said quietly. "Now, let's see if we can choke down a couple more pills." He said, glancing at the bottles. The goblet of pumpkin juice was refilled as Sirius gave Harry four large pills. Harry choked them down. "I don't feel well." Harry said suddenly. Sirius looked at him. Harry looked horrible. "You can stay in my room. Come on." He said as he stood up. Harry shakily got to his feet. Sirius draped his arm over Harry's shoulder and led him down a hall. He pushed open a door. There was a bed in there, a dresser and a fireplace. Sirius led Harry to the bed. Harry climbed underneath the covers. "I'll come and check on you in a bit." Sirius said quietly. Harry nodded and removed his glasses. Sirius left the room.
Sirius closed the bedroom door softly and made his way down the hall. He spotted Dumbledore and Remus out on the deck. He took a deep breath and joined them. Remus had his elbows resting on the railing and his head in his hand. Dumbledore glanced at Sirius. "Where's Harry?" He asked quietly. "I put him to bed in my room. He doesn't feel well." Sirius explained. He went up beside his friend and rested a hand on Lupin's back. "Remus..." Sirius said quietly. "James would hate me Sirius! He would hate me!" Lupin yelled hoarsly. Sirius took a deep breath. "No he wouldn't." He said quietly. Lupin looked at him. "How can you say that? I may have just ruined Harry's life!" Lupin shrieked. "Remus, you did nothing wrong. It was a werewolf that bit Harry, not you." Sirius said calmly. Lupin stared at him and then wandered off into the yard. Sirius closed his eyes. Dumbledore stared at him. "How is Harry?" He asked quietly. "Terrified." Sirius said simply. Dumbledore bowed his head. Those wounds won't be healed by the time he gets back to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "I know. Poppy can mend them." Sirius said quietly. "His friend, Ron Weasley, invited Harry to stay there for the last week of the month." Dumbledore said quietly. Sirius let out a long sigh. "I'll think about it." He muttered. Sirius shuffled back inside the house. He went to check on Harry.
Harry was laying on top of the covers. His face was pressed into the pillow. Sirius walked over to him. "Harry?" He asked quietly. Harry let out a low grunt. Sirius sat down on the bed. Harry slowly turned over. He still looked awful. "Harry...do you want to go stay with your friend Ron for a week?" Sirius asked quietly. Harry propped himself up with his elbows and stared at Sirius. It was a little hard since he wasn't wearing his glasses. "What a stupid question!" Harry said wearily. Sirius stared at him. Of course Harry wanted to go to Ron's. "I'm not going anywhere unless you can come." Harry replied. Sirius stared at him. "Really?" He asked. Harry nodded. Sirius smiled. Harry smiled too, but then he clapped a hand to his mouth. Harry reached frantically for his glasses. He shoved them on his nose and hobbled out of the room. Sirius followed him. They pushed past Dumbledore. Sirius closed the bathroom door as Harry crouched over the toilet. Dumbledore looked at Sirius. Sirius held up a hand. Then, the sounds of Harry gagging came. Sirius lowered his hand and Dumbledore nodded. Lupin appeared. "What is that?" He asked, listening. "Er...a side effect of the mixers." Sirius said quietly. Lupin sighed. Sirius ducked into the bathroom to check on Harry. Harry was laying on the cold bathroom floor. Sirius flushed the toilet and bent down to check on Harry. There were beads of sweat on Harry's brow. "You poor kid." Sirius sighed as he looked at all the bandages Harry had. Harry tried to get up, but couldn't. His legs wouldn't hold him. Weakness. Sirius lifted Harry off the floor and put an arm around his middle, to support him. They hobbled out of the bathroom. Lupin and Dumbledore stared as Sirius led Harry back into the bedroom. Sirius emerged a minute later. He glanced at Dumbledore and Lupin and hurried past them. Dumbledore sighed and swept after Sirius. Lupin scuffled into the room where Harry was. The teenager was laying under the covers on the bed. Lupin shuffled forwards. Harry raised his head a little and forced a smile. "Hey..." He said wearily. Lupin sat down on the bed. "H-Harry..." He began. "Forget it." Harry said weakly. Lupin smiled appreciativly and said nothing else.
Sirius was standing in the entrance way. Dumbledore walked up behind him. "Sirius?" He asked quietly. At first, Sirius said nothing. "It's not fair. Too much has happened to him. His parents died, he had to go live with those horrible muggles, he was beaten and now..." Sirius had to stop. "And now, he might be a werewolf. It's just not fair!" He growled. Sirius placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder. "I know." He said quietly.
Dumbledore told Sirius he had to go. Something about a meeting with Fudge. Sirius said goodbye and then headed back to check on Harry. Lupin was just leaving the room. Sirius glanced at him nervously. "I have to go out. I won't be long." Lupin said quietly. Sirius nodded and Lupin disappeared. Sirius waited a minute, then went in Harry's room. He was laying on the bed, fast asleep. Sirius went and sat down on the bed. Blood was starting to show through the bandages again. He placed a hand on Harry's cheek. The boy was so young...so young. Sirius gently ruffled Harry's hair and pulled the covers up over him. He stared at Harry for a few minutes, then left. He busied himself around the house. He was in the kitchen doing dishes when there was a loud pop behind him. Sirius turned around. Molly Weasley was standing there. Sirius jumped back. He began to shake furiously.