He pointed to the current floor's waiting room. Without another word he entered the room and shut the doors behind him. There was an elegant fireplace to Sirius's right. He sat down on a chair and buried his face in his hands. Soon there was a burst of green light from the fireplace and Harry and Remus came tumbling out. Remus picked up Harry in his arms and then carried him over to Sirius. He looked up to see them. His face was deathly white and his hands were trembling.

'How is he?'

'I don't know, they haven't been out since he went in'

Remus sat down beside him and cradled Harry in his lap. Harry rested his head against Remus's chest and closed his glistening emerald eyes. Soon his head rolled on his chest and his breathing became a regular pattern. He was in a light stage of sleep. Sirius had replaced his head in his hands and stayed like that, whether his was asleep or not, it was impossible to tell. A few hours later the doors opened and a bloodstained healer came out.

'Sirius?'

When he heard his name being called his head bolted up and he looked around.

'Come, you can see him'

Sirius nervously stood up and then walked into the room. On the farthest bed lay Jack, his eyes were closed and he was lying there motionless. His chest was raising and falling, as he breathed, even and deep. The bed sheets only went up to his waist and there was a huge scar on his stomach. Sirius walked over to him and sat down in a chair close to his bed.

'He'll be fine, once he recovers, he'll have to stay here for a week or two'

'What about that wound?'

'Don't worry, he'll have no physical scar in a few weeks'

Sirius nodded. He reached over and brushed a few black hairs from Jack's face. Remus walked into the room, Harry against his chest, his head over Remus's right shoulder.

'How is he?'

'The Healers say he'll be fine a week or so'

A little bit of the color had returned to his sunken and waxy face.

'You should go and get some sleep'

It wasn't a suggestion so much as an order.

'We have guest rooms, if you'd like me to show you to them?'

'Sure, I guess, hopefully when I wake up this'll have turned out to be all just a nightmare'

'Well, I have no idea what's happened but it feels really real to me'

Sirius gently took Harry into his arms and against his chest. They walked out of the ward and into the waiting room. It was now deserted, and the once flaming brackets were reduced to a dull blue ember, sending a soft blue-white light around the dark room. The healer, who had removed the bloodstain with a wave of his wand, led them to a little room close to Jack's ward. They entered the little room and walked over to two beds. Sirius pulled the sheets back on one and climbed in, robes and all. He took of Harry's glasses as he lay on his chest, sleeping peacefully. Or was it peacefully?

A high pitched scream rang throughout the house. Then a flash of green filled Harry's head.

Around midnight a healer walked into Jack's ward and checked how he was doing. The next morning, Sirius woke up, with Harry still sleeping on his chest. He closed his eyes and then felt arms around his neck. He opened his eyes again to see bright emerald ones, only inches away from his. A bright smile broke out on his face as Harry knelt back. Sirius sat up with Harry and pulled him into his chest. Remus walked into the room, and sat down beside them both.

'Jack is fine, the healer checked him in the middle of the night, he had a little laps there, but he's fine now'

'What's a laps?'

'Well, the healer told me that its when the heart stops and the lungs detach themselves from each other'

'Meaning?'

'Meaning-that one lung breaths and then the other, instead of them taking in breath at the same time'

Sirius leapt up and ran to Jack's ward. He was barely aware that Harry was still against his chest, although he didn't drop him. He pushed past the doors and bolted up to Jack's side.

'Is he alright?'

'He's just fine, the little problem during the night was nothing to worry about, it was just a spasm of the muscles, and brain'

Sirius looked at her, his expression was dead.

'Meaning, he'll be fine, it was just a little seizer'

He still looked at her blankly.

'With the right potions, a little bit of luck and good charms we should be ably to heal him back to normal in a few weeks'

Jack remained unconscious for a few more days. And when he did wake up the healer walked over to him and forced an ash-like tasting potion down his throat. He coughed and sputtered it.

'What are you trying to do? Kill me?'

She glared at him as if she didn't really want to be there. She stalked out of the ward and another walked in.

'Jeez, what's her problem?'

'Oh, don't mind her, she's just a little you know'

Jack nodded and the healer strode over to him. He sat up again and she inspected the shot wound. She got him to lie back down again and pointed her wand at it. A purple light trailed out of her wand and into the cut. It stung and a little stream of smoke rose off his stomach. Although the size of the wound has shrunk. She walked away and then came back with a bright blue potion and poured a little bit onto the red mark. It froze the wound and then made Jack shiver violently.

'Don't worry, it shouldn't last to long'

She said gently. Jack opened his eyes and sat back up.

'Hey, you know you should lie down, it would probably be better'

Sirius said gently. Jack nodded slightly. He winced as he lent back down.

'How's Harry?'

'He's fine'

Harry who had just started to stir against Sirius's chest opened his big glistening emerald eyes.

'Hey, kiddo'

'Hi, Padfoot'

Jack was out of St. Mungo's in a few more weeks, fully healed and no physical scar. Sirius and Remus were suing Vernon for attempted man slaughter and child abuse by the Wizengamot. And they took those kinds of matters a lot more seriously than muggles. He was still sore but he was taking a lot of potions and improving greatly. One fine morning Jack and Remus were sitting at the little island in the kitchen when Harry came into the room, fully dressed and bright-eyed.

'Good morning, Harry'

'Morning, Remus, morning Jack'

'Harry, could you go and see if Sirius is awake yet?'

Harry nodded nervously. He'd never gone into Sirius's room when he was sleeping, what if he got mad?

'If the door is closed, just knock a few times and if no answer, just open it and see if he is or not, okay?'

Harry nodded a little more confidently than last time. He turned around and walked back out of the room and towards the stairs. Once he was in front of the door that had a glittering gold plaque on it that had cart-wheeling dogs around the edges and said Sirius. Harry gently knocked on the door and waited for an answer. When no reply came he gently turned the dog-paw knob and pushed the door open. The room was empty, but the curtains had been pulled back to let the sunshine in and the bed was still unmade and looked like someone had just got out of it. Just then Harry heard the sound of running water, and lots of it. He looked to his right and saw the little bathroom attached to Sirius bedroom. The shower door was closed and it was fogged with steam, but he could see a thin dark outline of his godfather. And he could hear a slight high-pitched sound coming from it too. He wondered if Sirius was singing. Harry tore his eyes away from the bathroom to look around the room a little more. The bed frame was made of an elaborate Holly wood and cut into beautiful four posts and a headboard. White silk and almost see through canopy drapes were hanging around Sirius's bed. Harry walked over to them and brushed aside the curtain to reveal and empty bed, with pure white sheets and pillowcases. Above the headboard was a cross with intricate carvings on it and wooden roses cut from different kinds of wood and put on their with what was probably magic. Harry left the bed and walked over to the Cherry wood desk that had a beautiful quill in a crystal bottle of black ink and a plain blank piece of parchment, which was resting next to an old and ancient piece of parchment. Harry didn't know why Sirius would want to keep such a useless piece of junk. But then again it was Sirius and he was a pretty bad packrat. He left the desk alone and walked over to a majestic fireplace with a dark redwood cedar wood mantel with a picture of Remus, Sirius, Jack and himself all waving and smiling at him. Two more pictures were resting beside the big one. The one to the left was of Harry's parents, holding him between the two, smiling proudly, waving and winking. The one to the right was of James, Lily, Sirius and Remus at graduation. Beside each of the pictures was a little stag, wolf an big black dog that were all running around and barking or exhaled loudly. The window was open and the curtains were blowing out of it in wavy sheets. Harry walked up to the window and gazed out of it. They had a plain backyard, nothing to interesting, a few weeds in the unkempt flower beds, a green pond full of frogs and other creatures, couple of gnarled and old trees but nothing extravagant. He walked away from the window and towards the door. He thought there was a slight hoot coming from the window. He turned fully around and stared at the window frame. The curtains were still blowing gracefully in the wind.

'Harry?'

Harry turned to look at Sirius, standing there, one leg still partly in the shower stall, his hair was still soaking with the towel wrapped around his waist. Because Harry was so frail when he first came to live with them Sirius was giving Harry a little more fattening foods, like enough to put a healthy weight on him, not to make him fat. So to make it seem like he wasn't eating anything special Sirius ate it with him. The effects were slowly working on Sirius. His stomach was becoming a little more rounded every day. Harry backed away slowly.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, Remus asked me to come up see-'

'Shh, its okay, come here'

Sirius knelt down on both of his knees and Harry slowly walked towards him. Sirius outstretched his arms and Harry walked into them. He wrapped his arms around Sirius damp back and his tension slipped away.

'Its okay, don't be afraid'

He gently pulled away and looked at Harry, he kissed his forehead before he told him to go and eat some breakfast and then he'd probably be down by that point. So Harry walked back outside and down the stairs. The rest of the day was boring. When it was Harry's bedtime came Sirius led him to his room by the hand and passed him a pair of pajamas. Harry walked into his little bathroom and gently shut the door. He came out in a few minutes later, wearing his red and gold lion pajamas with his day clothes rolled up in a ball and in his arms. Sirius took them and dropped them in the laundry hamper that Remus would deal with later. He picked Harry up and took him over to his bed. Holding Harry in one arm he pulled the sheets back and gently placed him down. He pulled the covers up to his chin and kissed his forehead. Sirius removed Harry's glasses and placed them on the night table beside the bed. Sirius lent down so Harry could kiss his cheek. Sirius stood up and walked backwards towards the door. He flicked the lights off and whispered.

'Good night, Harry'

Harry softly replied and Sirius left the door ajar. A thin ray of light was coming into his room. Sirius walked over to his room and shut the door, but he left it unlocked, just incase Harry needed something. He pulled his robes over his head and took off his socks and boxers and brushed back the silk curtains on his bed and let it drift shut behind him. Now his figure was dark and blurry. He pulled back the covers and climbed into it. At first it was freezing cold against his skin, but then his body heat warmed it up pretty quickly. He pulled the covers up to his neck and closed his eyes. Pretty soon he was in a light stage of sleep. In the Living room downstairs, Jack and Remus were still awake, talking in hushed whispers. Because they both had the instinct, senses and temperament of dogs/wolves they could smell/sense Harry's fear.

'He seems to loosen every day'

'Yes, I think that Sirius is really having an impact on Harry, which is a good thing, because he was dangerously thin, when we first brought him here'

Jack's ears twitched. He could hear Harry's breathing, it was a little uneven and jagged. Then they could both hear him yell. They leapt out of their chairs and ran up the staircase as fast as they could. Jack didn't necessarily bang into his room although he did leap into it and catch the door before it hit the wall. Harry was shivering like mad and cold sweat was covering his body. Jack ran over to him and sat down on the bed.

'Are you okay?'

What ever he said to reply it didn't make any sense. He kept babbling about something until Jack caught these two words. Uncle Vernon.

'Harry, calm down, its okay'

He took Harry into his arms and rocked him back and forth. Finally Harry could talk properly.

'Uncle Vernon was hitting me and throwing me around, and people were watching but no one was doing anything, and then I saw Sirius but he just turned around and walked away'

Harry had flung his arms around Jack's neck and was crying. Jack calmed him down a little more and brushed away his tears.

'Sirius would never turn his back on you, Harry'

Harry shivered a little more. Remus waved his wand and the sheets and his pajamas dried. Jack gently laid him back down on the bed and pulled the covers up to his neck.

'Shh, don't cry, close your eyes'

Harry did and Jack sung a song to lull him to sleep.

'Hush now my baby

Hush now my love

The angels are watching

From heaven above

They know that I love you

They know that its true

I´ll stay here beside you

Whatever you do

When I wake beside you

I feel like I shine

I wish you forever

And ever be mine

A new day tomorrow

When you open your eyes

You let in the sunshine

And all darkness dies'

Harry was soon asleep again and Jack and Remus left the room, leaving the door open a crack, and Harry was soon in Dreamland filled with birds, candy, Sirius, Remus and Jack. He slept soundly for the rest of the night. Not long after did Jack and Remus go to bed. When morning did come, Jack and Remus were very tired. They came out of their rooms with dark circles under their eyes and Jack's hair was frizzy, so it looked like he'd jammed his finger into an electric socket. They stepped into the kitchen to find Sirius and Harry already sitting there, eating pancakes. They both smiled happily and sat down on the either side of Harry. The Daily Prophet came in through the window and Sirius picked it up.

'Any thing good today?'

'Nope'

Since he was so tired, Jack decided to go upstairs for a little bit longer sleep. Harry felt a pang of guilt spread through his body, it crept into his bones and chilled them like no other winter could. It must have shown on his face because Remus simply picked him up and said.

'Don't worry, it's not your fault you were scared, besides, you wouldn't really want to be with a growly, grumpy old Jack would you?'

Remus said in a funny sort of voice. They let him sleep and decided to go to the park a few blocks down. So they put on sweaters and jeans and headed out the door, leaving a note for Jack, incase he woke up and they weren't there and a key to the front door incase he wanted to join them. Once they reached the park Sirius and Remus sat down on the bench while Harry went over to the swings and sat down on one. They were there for a little while before Jack came up beside them. It was about 15 minutes from their house to the park, it looked as though he'd run the whole thing, but he wasn't out of breath or anything. He was wearing dark blue jeans that made his behind look really hot, and would definitely attract the female population, and his gray-blue T-shirt was rather tight across his chest and arms, his hair was tied into a tight ponytail. Harry had slowly moved from the swing set to the sandboxes. A young woman, around Sirius's and Remus's age came and sat down next to them and sent a little girl who looked the same age as Harry to go and play, she had bushy brown hair and two slightly buck-teeth at the front. She slowly walked over to the swing that Harry was on and sat down. Harry moved from the sandbox to under a sorrowful looking yew tree and sat underneath in its shade against the summer heat. The girl got off the swing and went to her mother, got a book and went to the same tree that Harry was under.

'Um, you're in my spot'

'Huh?'

'I always read under this tree when I come to the park'

'Oh sorry, I-I-I didn't k-k-know'

'That's okay, if you want we can share it, I'm sure there is enough room for both of us'

She smiled politely and Harry moved over to let her into the little curve in the tree's trunk that was a really nice seat to lean against. Jack kept a close eye on Harry the whole time, but the girl smelt nice, not like smell scent but her aura smelt like she'd be nice, he could tell that she would be a good friend for Harry to have. He went back to the conversation with Sirius, Remus and the young girl's mother, Jane Granger. At the tree Harry and the girl were talking.

'My name's Hermione Granger, what's yours?'