Chapter Ten
Harry opened his eyes, yawning. He expected to see the sunshine pouring in from his window, temporarily blinding him. He surprised to not see sunshine. Reaching out for his glasses, he grasped them in his hand and adjusted them onto his face. It looked like it was going to be a dull day out. Grey and raining. Harry shuddered; it reminded him of the car accident not too long ago.
"Sir—Padfoot?" Harry asked. He had a habit of doing that, calling his godfather Sirius and then catching himself. "You're up early," he greeted as he found Sirius seated at the breakfast table.
"Well, you made me breakfast yesterday, so I thought now it's my turn to make you yours," Sirius explained. Harry looked at the table of food. He had overdone himself a bit hadn't he? Harry thought, and then remembered Remus Lupin. He was moving in with them today, so of course he would need something to it.
"So when's Remus coming today?" Harry asked, plopping himself in a chair in front of Sirius. He eyed the food hungrily.
"Soon," Sirius replied. Harry picked up a piece of toast and put it in his mouth.
Harry's heart pounded excitedly as he felt himself being lifted off of the ground. He clutched onto the broom, and grinned down at Sirius.
"Can you let go?" He asked. "I'm seven, Sirius. I can fly a broom on my own."
"You might fall. This is your first time on a broom," Sirius pointed out.
"I won't fall," Harry replied, rolling his eyes, but let Sirius stand by him anyways.
"Sirius!" A third voice startled Harry, who turned around, and in the process lost his balance. Before turning around himself, Sirius steadied Harry.
"I told you you might fall," Sirius said, receiving a scowl from Harry. He chuckled. "Hello, Moony," He greeted as Harry got off his broom.
"Sirius," Remus replied. He gave Harry a smile, who smiled back warily.
"Oh, Harry, this is Remus Lupin," Sirius introduced, "I told you about him last night, 'Member?"
Harry nodded brightly.
"Sorry if I startled you, Harry," Remus said apologetically.
Harry shrugged, following Sirius and Remus back inside, the broom tucked safely under his arm. "It's alright, Remus," he replied. "You didn't startle me." Harry leaned the broom against the wall, sitting down beside on a couch beside Sirius; Remus sitting across from them.
"Please, call me, Moony," Remus said to Harry.
"You all right, there, kiddo?" Sirius asked, looking concerned. Harry gave his head a shake.
"Fine, I think, Padfoot. Can I lay down? I'm not feeling good," Harry replied, getting up from the table and pushing his chair in. He felt sick. Did his 'vision' do that to him?
"Of course!" Sirius replied, getting up from his chair. He put an arm around Harry.
"What's wrong, Harry? Do you feel sick?" He asked.
"My head hurts," Harry complained. "That's just what I mean by not feeling good." Sirius led Harry back to his bedroom.
"Call me if you need anything, all right?" said Sirius. Harry nodded, watching as Sirius left. He rubbed his head—not his scar, his head.—and gave an inaudible moan. His head was pounding. He had never had a headache like this before.
"Is Remus going to be alright?" Harry asked to anyone who would answer him.
"'Course, kiddo," came a familiar, light voice. Harry knew that voice anywhere, and it helped when the voice added 'kiddo.'
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed happily, running into Sirius's outstretched arms.
"Miss me?" Sirius asked with a grin.
"Of course," Harry replied with a happy grin.
Harry gave another moan, this time not so soft. When would these visions stop? They were so intense today, he'd give anything for the images to stop coming.
"Harry?" Sirius came into his bedroom again. He must've heard the moan, Harry figured. "What's wrong?"
"My head," He muttered. "They won't stop coming."
"What won't stop coming?" Sirius asked, laying a hand on Harry's forehead to see if he was coming down with a fever. Harry was as cool as a cucumber.
"The visions," Harry explained. "Or flashbacks. Or whatever you want to call them!"
"Is everything alright?" Remus's voice asked from the doorway. He had a concerned look plastered on his face, too.
"Harry's not alright," Sirius explained. "He's having flashbacks, and they're hurting his head."
"But I've head these flashbacks or visions before, and they've never hurt when I've had them then. Why now?" Harry asked, overcome by another vision.
"In two days they said. I don't want you to die, Padfoot. That's why I want to leave," Harry explained.
"And I told you we would," Sirius replied. He got up from his chair and pulled Harry into a loving hug. "I promised."
"I know," Harry replied, wrapping his arms around his godfathers neck and hugging him back.
"Am I interrupting something?" A cheery voice asked from behind the two. They both looked up with sober faces. It was only Remus.
"You're back!" Harry said, forcing a smile onto his face. He got up and wrapped his arms around Remus's waist, giving the older man a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"A little tired," Remus replied honestly.
"Agh," Harry shook his head, as if trying to shake his headache away. It did nothing but give him more of a headache.
"Just go to sleep," Sirius said in a soothing voice. He stroked Harry's forehead. "Go to sleep and the headache will be gone," he promised. Harry closed his eyes, finding it hard to sleep when his head pounded. Somehow, though, he fell into an extremely uncomfortable sleep.
"I like it," Harry said, looking at the pictures of the house. "It looks comfy. Very welcoming."
"A big fireplace, too," Sirius pointed out. "Good for floo'ing." Harry groaned. Just the name made his stomach feel queasy all over again.
"And a big backyard!" Harry said enthusiastically. "Good for Quidditch."
Sirius chuckled. "So I take it this is the place we're looking for?" Harry nodded.
"I think so."
… … …
Sirius rolled his eyes. "How could I forget, kiddo? You've only reminded me all day." He shook his head. "Come on, let's go to bed, alright? You look tired."
"I'm not, though," Harry replied.
Sirius grinned. "I am, though. Come on." Sirius lifted Harry up and walked to his room. "You're light," Sirius said. "And I thought I had fattened you up some," he continued with a grin. Harry didn't smile at all.
"Can you stay with me, Sirius?" He asked. "Please?" Sirius nodded.
"If it's the only way to get you to go to sleep, of course I will." Harry scooted over in the bed a bit, giving Sirius some room to lay down. Harry let his head rest on Sirius's chest, his eyes slowly starting to droop, slumber welcoming him with open arms.
… … …
"I love you," Sirius whispered in Harry's ear, hugging him tightly.
… … …
Harry peered out his window, his brow furrowing. "Mrs. O'Brien, did you see the light?"
"What light, Harry?" Mrs. O'Brien asked, looking concerned.
"The light," Harry repeated. "Did you see it, Matt?" Matt looked confused, but then nodded excitedly.
"It looked so cool, mum! It lit up the whole sky - like fireworks! Except bigger."
"There it is again!" Harry said suddenly. "The light, I saw it again."
"Me too. It lit up the whole sky again," Matt added. Mrs. O'Brien was about to start up a conversation with her son and and his friend, but let out an ear-piercing scream as lightning hit the car. She swerved the car, trying to get to safety, but ended up making the car flip over instead.
… … …
"Oh, no," Harry closed his eyes and went into the kitchen as the Dursley's entered their home.
"None of the chores on your list are done," Vernon growled, completely oblivious to the fact that Sirius was sitting on the couch, watching the scenario.
"I…I…" Harry was at a loss for words.
"I expected the grass to be mowed. What do I find when I return home? You lounging on the sofa as if you don't have a care in the world!" He bellowed.
"I…I wasn't lounging on the sofa. And…I wasn't thinking that I don't have a care in this world," Harry said, trembling.
"Oh yeah? What were you doing then?" Vernon asked sarcastically. For the first time ever, Vernon's hand made contact with Harry's cheek. "I've had it about up to here with you, boy!"
"Hey!" Sirius suddenly jumped up from the couch. "Don't you dare touch Harry again! Do you hear me?" He demanded, cradling the whimpering boy in his arms.
"Who in the name of hell are you and why did that brat let you in?" Vernon growled.
"Sirius Black - the one and only." Sirius smirked as he watched Petunia's face pale.
"You're his…" She trailed off, grasping the edge of the counter for support.
"If you mean Harry, yes, I'm his godfather. If you mean James, yes, I was his best friend."
"Harry?" Sirius's voice came closer. "Harry, are you alright? What's wrong, Harry?"
"I don't want you to die," Harry moaned, his head buried in Sirius's chest, making his voice muffled. Sirius's brow furrowed.
"Die? I'm not going to die, Harry."
"I'm going to invent a new food when I get older," Matt said. Mrs. O'Brien raised her eyebrows as she hurried the two to the car.
"Oh, Matt? And what would your food invention be?"
"Vanilla Mustard Ripple," he announced proudly.
"Vanilla Mustard Ripple?" Harry echoed, scrunching his nose up. "What kind of ice cream flavor is that? It is ice cream, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Matt replied, "and it's going to be a new flavor no one would invent! It'll have vanilla ice cream with mustard through it."
"Ew," Harry and Mrs. O'Brien said at the same time.
"No wonder nobody would invent it. That sounds disgusting," Mrs. O'Brien remarked, starting up the engine. Rain pounded down on the glass, and it slapped down so hard Harry was afraid it might shatter the glass.
"Okay, how about Vanilla and Relish Ripple?" Matt asked innocently. His face brightened. "That does sound cool, doesn't it? Vanilla and Relish Ripple," he repeated, a grin on his face. "Mom, when we get home, I'm going to start working on it right away."
"Vanilla Mustard Ripple," Harry said out loud. Matt looked taken aback.
"What?"
"Vanilla Mustard Ripple," Harry repeated. "You wanted to invent that ice cream." Matt grinned.
"Yeah, why?" His grin grew wider. "Oh, yeah! I gotta start working on my Vanilla Relish Ripple when I get home, don't I?"
Harry nodded uncertainly. Matt turned to his mother.
"When are we going home, mum? I don't like the Hospital…you make better food than they do."
Isabella laughed. "Soon, hon. We'll be gone soon," she promised.
Harry's heart pounded excitedly as he felt himself being lifted off of the ground. He clutched onto the broom, and grinned down at Sirius.
"Can you let go?" He asked. "I'm seven, Sirius. I can fly a broom on my own."
"You might fall. This is your first time on a broom," Sirius pointed out.
"I won't fall," Harry replied, rolling his eyes, but let Sirius stand by him anyways.
"Sirius!" A third voice startled Harry, who turned around, and in the process lost his balance. Before turning around himself, Sirius steadied Harry.
"I told you you might fall," Sirius said, receiving a scowl from Harry. He chuckled. "Hello, Moony," He greeted as Harry got off his broom.
"Sirius," Remus replied. He gave Harry a smile, who smiled back warily.
"Oh, Harry, this is Remus Lupin," Sirius introduced, "I told you about him last night, 'Member?"
Harry nodded brightly.
"Sorry if I startled you, Harry," Remus said apologetically.
Harry shrugged, following Sirius and Remus back inside, the broom tucked safely under his arm. "It's alright, Remus," he replied. "You didn't startle me." Harry leaned the broom against the wall, sitting down beside on a couch beside Sirius; Remus sitting across from them.
"Please, call me, Moony," Remus said to Harry.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "How could I forget, kiddo? You've only reminded me all day." He shook his head. "Come on, let's go to bed, alright? You look tired."
"I'm not, though," Harry replied.
Sirius grinned. "I am, though. Come on." Sirius lifted Harry up and walked to his room. "You're light," Sirius said. "And I thought I had fattened you up some," he continued with a grin. Harry didn't smile at all.
"Can you stay with me, Sirius?" He asked. "Please?" Sirius nodded.
"If it's the only way to get you to go to sleep, of course I will." Harry scooted over in the bed a bit, giving Sirius some room to lay down. Harry let his head rest on Sirius's chest, his eyes slowly starting to droop, slumber welcoming him with open arms.
"In two days they said. I don't want you to die, Padfoot. That's why I want to leave," Harry explained.
"And I told you we would," Sirius replied. He got up from his chair and pulled Harry into a loving hug. "I promised."
"I know," Harry replied, wrapping his arms around his godfathers neck and hugging him back.
"Am I interrupting something?" A cheery voice asked from behind the two. They both looked up with sober faces. It was only Remus.
"You're back!" Harry said, forcing a smile onto his face. He got up and wrapped his arms around Remus's waist, giving the older man a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"A little tired," Remus replied honestly.
"I love you," Sirius whispered in Harry's ear, hugging him tightly.
"I like it," Harry said, looking at the pictures of the house. "It looks comfy. Very welcoming."
"A big fireplace, too," Sirius pointed out. "Good for floo'ing." Harry groaned. Just the name made his stomach feel queasy all over again.
"And a big backyard!" Harry said enthusiastically. "Good for Quidditch."
Sirius chuckled. "So I take it this is the place we're looking for?" Harry nodded.
"I think so."
Harry peered out his window, his brow furrowing. "Mrs. O'Brien, did you see the light?"
"What light, Harry?" Mrs. O'Brien asked, looking concerned.
"The light," Harry repeated. "Did you see it, Matt?" Matt looked confused, but then nodded excitedly.
"It looked so cool, mum! It lit up the whole sky - like fireworks! Except bigger."
"There it is again!" Harry said suddenly. "The light, I saw it again."
"Me too. It lit up the whole sky again," Matt added. Mrs. O'Brien was about to start up a conversation with her son and his friend, but let out an ear-piercing scream as lightning hit the car. She swerved the car, trying to get to safety, but ended up making the car flip over instead.
… … …
At first, the visions just kept coming like they normally did. One by one. The second time, though, all of Harry's visions that he had so far started to blend together until they were one. Sweat poured down Harry's face, his brain felt as if it were about to explode.
"PADFOOT! MOONY!" Harry cried, sitting up in bed. Remus and Sirius were looking at him, both looking pale and concerned.
"Harry? Harry, you don't look good. Not good at all—" Sirius was cut off by Harry.
"Padfoot!" Tears streamed down his face. "Don't leave me again, Padfoot! I was so scared. There was light, Padfoot. Then it hit the car, and Mrs. O'Brien tried to move out of the way but…but…" Harry couldn't choke out the rest of his sentence. He was saying Padfoot as if he'd been saying it for awhile now, Sirius realized.
"Harry?" He asked tentatively. The boy flung his arms around Sirius's neck.
"Aren't you going to tell me Happy Birthday?" Harry asked with a small grin, wiping away his tears. Sirius looked at him oddly.
"Harry—"
"Did Mrs. O'Brien take me and Matt back to her home?" Harry asked, interrupting Sirius. "Did she call you? Is it still July 31st or is it August 1st, Sirius?" Harry asked in a conversational voice. "The lightning scared me, Padfoot. I don't remember much, but aren't you going to tell me Happy Birthday?" Harry grinned enthusiastically. "I think I know what I want to do for my birthday, Padfoot. Just stay here—with you." Harry shrugged. "That's all I want. To spend my birthday with you."
Sirius felt his heart melt. "Harry, what's the date?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. July 31st I'm pretty sure," he replied.
"Harry, it's not July 31st. It's August 3rd."
Harry looked confused. "How's that possible, Padfoot?" He just noticed Remus in the room.
"Hello, Moony!" He greeted. He felt confused as Remus looked at him oddly. Moony was his nickname, Harry thought, why is looking at me like that?
"Harry, what's the last thing you remember?" Sirius asked.
"Uh…" He looked thoughtful. "July 31st, the day of the storm. I just remember seeing light that lit up the sky. Lightning. Like the scar on my forehead," he said with a grin. "Then…that's it."
Sirius felt as if his heart would burst with joy. Harry had his memory back.
… … …
A/N: I hope you like this chapter (:->) Tell me what you think! Oh…and some sad news…I think Chapter Eleven will be the last chapter of this story. More info. Will be posted along with the next chapter, so I think it'll explain more there.
Hmm…I'm not sure that if I decide to make chapter eleven be the last chapter or not, that I might make a sequel…during Harry's Hogwart years or something…well, R and R, and I'll keep you posted on those thoughts.