A/N: Responses:
Jessica01: Lol, yeah, I suppose you do.
vegetarians will rule the Earth: Thank you! Really glad you like it.
WolfbainKohaku: You're welcome. I'm glad your glad that Sirius and Harry are home. And thank you.
Chapter Eighteen
Harry woke up, feeling for the first time really at home. Maybe that was because he was home, and not someplace in Wisconsin, Massachusetts or Paris.
He searched for the crutches, finally finding them sprawled out on the floor. They must've fallen over in his sleep.
"Hi," Harry greeted Remus, who was sitting at the table staring into space. He came back to reality as he saw Harry sit across from him.
"Hi."
"Is Sirius still sleeping?" Harry asked casually.
"Yeah," Remus replied stiffly.
Harry sighed. "Moony—"
"Harry," Remus interrupted. "What happened the last time we thought that Sirius was…well…Sirius?"
"I know," Harry said. "But it was Lucius Malfoy impersonating Sirius."
"Lucius Malfoy?" Remus repeated.
Harry nodded in response. "Lucius Malfoy. He was using the Polyjuice Potion to change his appearance or something. I-I don't know." Harry let his eyes wander the house until they stopped at Sirius's door. "He was there in the cell with me. I got him to answer, uh, questions. That only Sirius would know, and he answered both of them." He was talking about Sirius.
"I'm not letting my guard down so easily, Harry," Remus said softly. "Last time I did it got you kidnapped."
"It's not your fault," Harry said. "It's mine, I should've been more careful. But I'm here, and I know that that's Sirius."
"That's what you said the last time, Harry," Remus pointed out.
"I'm three hundred percent positive that it's really him," Harry said with a grin.
"I'm still not letting my guard down," Remus replied. "No matter what you think, Harry." The phone started to ring before Remus could add anything on to his sentence, and Harry was only to eager to get it.
"I've got it," he told Remus. He got up from the chair and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Harry," came Isabella's cheerful voice. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"Nope."
"Good," Isabella said. "Because if you feel up to it, I can come by around lunch and take you to the hospital to get your foot looked at. That is, if Sirius doesn't want to."
"Er—sure," Harry replied. "Yeah, you can come over around lunch."
"Great," Isabella said. Harry heard her sigh as a wail in the background started ringing through the phone. "I better go, Harry. Nevaeda's getting fussy. I'll see you."
"Bye." Harry hung up the phone. He turned to Remus."I'm going to the hospital in a couple hours."
-
"Willow," Isabella said with a sigh. "Stay by me. Don't start running around, honey. This is a hospital."
"Sowwy," Willow apologized with a blush of embarrassment. Isabella squeezed Willow's hand lightly and grinned at Harry.
"She wanted to come, and I could hardly say no," she told him. "She's been pretty eager to meet you after I told her you, uh, were Matt's friend when he—" She coughed, and Harry knew that was as far as she was going to get.
"Waler, Issy?" Willow asked, looking up at her step mom. Isabella smiled at the name Willow used to address her.
"After we get the doctor to check Harry's leg out, okay? Then I'll get you some water."
"Oast, too?" asked Willow.
"You had toast for breakfast, hun."
"More oast," Willow said. "An' waler." Isabella looked relieved as the doctor called out their name.
"Come on, hun. And remember: stay by me."
"Mr. Potter," the doctor said as he came into the room. "Let's take a look at foot of yours, shall we?"
-
"Where's Harry?" Sirius asked Remus when he woke up. Remus looked up, his face stiff.
"Out with Isabella," he replied simply.
"Where to?"
"The hospital," Remus replied.
Sirius looked at Remus in alarm. "Why? Is Harry all right?"
"Don't try to act so concerned," Remus said, clenching his teeth. "Don't even try it."
"I'm not trying anything," Sirius said. "I care about Harry a lot; he's my godson. Whether you believe me or not, Moony." Remus never took his cold eyes off Sirius until he heard the sound of a door opening.
"Well, we have news," Isabella announced. "Harry has fractured his ankle. The doctor took an x-ray." She glanced down at Harry's foot, which was covered with a plaster cast. "That's why we're a little late." Willow looked up at the two older men shyly.
"So the doctor said to come by in a week or two," Isabella said to Harry.
"Thanks," Harry said. Isabella grinned.
"No problem, Harry. Come on, hun," she said to the little girl that was by her side.
"We go home for oast and waler now?" Willow asked.
"Yup."
-
"What took so long?" Julian said desperately as Willow and Isabella arrived home. "I'm going crazy. She won't stop crying, and I've tried everything!"
"Sorry," Isabella apologized. "I didn't think that it'd take that long." She took the baby from Julian's arms, rocking her back and forth in her own arms and making soothing noises. Slowly, Nevaeda's tears subsided until her eyes started to droop shut. "Poor little baby was just tired," Isabella said softly, still rocking her baby in her arms. She carefully walked to Nevaed's crib and gently set her in, being sure to turn on the two baby monitors.
"I know you're still upset about Matthew," Julian said when Isabella came out. "But don't you think you should back off a bit from Harry? You act almost as if you're his mother." Isabella scowled, hurt.
"I am not. I've known Harry for a long time, Julian. Longer than you have. It's not a bad thing to be protective of him. Or feel a bit motherly towards him."
"I'm just saying," Julian said softly. "Try backing off a bit, Izzy. He does have guardians that love him." Isabella pressed her lips together, scowling. She stalked into her room, slamming the door shut. Julian groaned as Nevaeda started to wail.
-
"You mad at daddy?" Willow asked Isabella cautiously as she entered Isabella's bedroom.
"A bit," Isabella admitted. She patted her lap, signaling for Willow to climb up onto it. Willow grinned and did as she was told.
"You sad?" Willow asked. "'Bout Matt?"
"Always," Isabella replied with a sad smile. "And I don't mean to be overprotective of Harry or act too motherly. He almost reminds me of my Matt in a way; he always did." She shook her head and sighed. "I don't know how to explain, Willow."
"Don' be mad," Willow said, giving Isabella's cheek a quick kiss. "Or sad."
-
"I don't want to have this argument again," Harry complained that night.
"I just don't believe it," Remus said.
"Déjà vu," Harry moaned. "Please, let's not get into this again."
"I've had a talk with Dumbledore while you were out," Remus said, changing the subject. In a way. "About Sirius, the kidnapping, and Lucius Malfoy."
"Did he find him?" Harry asked. "Did Dumbledore find Lucius Malfoy?"
"Unfortunately, no," Remus replied. "He looked at the place you were talking about in Wisconsin. Anyway, along the way they came across a house by where you were describing. Does Charlie ring a bell?"
"Yeah," Harry replied carefully. "What's wrong with Charlie?"
"Nothing," Remus responded. "But Dumbledore spoke with Charlie, and he says that Charlie said that there was no house down by him. Other than his house, that is."
"That's impossible!" Harry exclaimed.
"What's impossible?" Sirius asked, his hair wet from the shower.
"Dumbledore had a visit with Charlie," Harry said. "And Charlie said that there was no house by his house. Or anywhere near his house."
"You mean that there was no house with a dungeon or a maze?" Sirius said, looking confused. "That's impossible!"
"That's what I said," Harry said. He turned to Remus. "So did Dumbledore at least search for the house?"
"Yeah," Remus responded. "He did. And this Charlie of yours was right, there wasn't a house."
"And Lucius Malfoy disappeared along with it," Harry said.
"Yeah," Remus said. Harry exchanged looks with Sirius, who was looking as confused and bewildered as he was.
-
A/N: Well, here's the chapter. I'm just so nice, I decided that since I had the chapter all typed up and junk and I had eighty reviews, that I'd post this chappie on for you. Yay me, lol. Anyway…I dunno why I put in a little thing about Isabella and her family. It just sorta fit. So, hope you enjoyed…and I'll post the epilogue (?) soon.