Thank you to the betas of this chapter, icedawn12193, and Willofhounds.
Chapter Ten - Waking up
Severus spent all of last night holding a crying Harry in his arms, it was around midnight when the boy woke up and the moment his eyes landed on Severus the boy burst into tears. The only sign that showed Severus that Harry knew where he was, was the small hands that were tightly wrapped around his robes, refusing to let go.
Around the half-hour mark, Severus tried to get Harry to drink some hot cocoa with some calming potion mixed into it but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get the boy to drink. He finally gave up and allowed Harry to cry, figuring that Harry needed to get it out of his system. He whispered soothing words in Harry's ears the whole time until Harry's cry turned into small whimpers.
"There's my boy," Severus spoke before taking a wet cloth and cleaning the boy's face from the tears.
"I'm here and I'm not going anyway, I will never leave you again. I'm not going to let anyone take you again." Severus spoke softly, rubbing Harry's back.
"How is he?" Sirius asked, coming out of his room after all the screaming was done.
He was woken up by Harry's screams and for a moment he feared he was back in Azkaban. Prisoners will often scream in their cells either because of the dementors or the guards or just out of sanity. It took a few moments to come back to reality and realize that the screams were coming from Harry and not an insane prisoner.
He allowed Severus to calm down the child, figuring he wouldn't be much help in this situation. He hasn't even had a chance to get to know the child yet.
Once the child stopped screaming he stepped out of his room, his heartbreaking at the sight, Harry on Severus lap. Sirius couldn't help but feel a little jealous, it should be him that Harry cuddled up to, Harry should be seeking comfort from him, and yet he was forced to watch from the sidelines.
"He's alright," Severus spoke as he continued to rub the child's back.
"He just needed to get everything out," Severus said, offering Harry the hot coco once more.
Harry let out a few sniffles, laying his head down on Severus' shoulder before he took the drink, taking small sips as he closed his eyes.
Sirius gave a small smile before taking a step forward and sitting down on the couch beside the two of them. He couldn't help but reach out a hand towards Harry, wanting to be a form of comfort for the child.
Harry let out a loud moan, pulling away from the man and closer into Severus, hiding his face in Severus' chest as he tried to make himself as small as he could.
"Perhaps now is not the best time to introduce yourself," Severus spoke as he watched Sirius pull his hand away. He knew Sirius was hurting, that he wanted to be a part of the child's life but now wasn't the time.
"Is there anything I can do?" Sirius asks.
Severus only shook his head. "Harry will be off to sleep once he is done his drink," Severus said but as time ticked by it appeared he was wrong about Harry with Harry not even looking like he was about to go to sleep anytime soon.
"Come on Harry you must be tired?" Severus spoke to the child, shifting Harry on his lap a little. The only reply he got as a small moan from Harry who brought his hand up to his hair and started to pick at the skin.
"None of that" Severus told, pulling Harry's hand down.
"We not going to do that…do you need to keep your hands busy?" Severus questioned feeling Harry fighting him a little.
"…Could you go to Harry's room and get something called play-doh?" Severus asked Sirius not liking the fact that he had to ask for help. He has been looking after Harry on his own and he refused to admit that he may need help with the child.
Sirius nodded, getting off the couch and going into the room that was Harry's, finding a yellow container with the words Play-doh written across it. He brought it back to Severus, opening the container, bringing it up to his nose and sniffing the contents, it was faintly musky with a hint of vanilla.
"What is this?" Sirius asks as he handed it to the man.
"It's a muggle toy that Minerva got," Severus explained, taking the play-doh out and placing it into the child's hands.
Harry gave a big smile for the first time since he was taking away, squeezing the play-doh in his hands as he usually did.
"Doesn't seem like much of a toy," Sirius commented as he watched the child.
"You're supposed to be able to build things with it but Harry just likes to play with it in his hands," Severus explained with Sirius giving a small nod in understanding.
Severus and Sirius sat in silence as Harry played with the play-doh, the only sound was small humming that the child was making.
"How can you be so calm?" Sirius spat out after a few minutes of sitting in silence.
"Minerva told me that you entered Harry's mind to see what happened, how can you sit there so calm?" Sirius spoke, anger rising up within.
"I'm not," Severus answered, offered by the statement.
" I have an upset child in my arms and being angry isn't going to do Harry any good. I'm livid but my concern at the moment is Harry." Severus explained.
"What are your plans for the Healers? They hurt Harry." Sirius yelled causing Harry to let out a small whine.
"Keep your voice down," Severus said harshly, squeezing the child in an effort to comfort him.
"I'm planning on going to the Ministry of Magic along with Poppy who documented Harry's injuries. I'm also planning on taking Harry with me so they can see with their own eyes what happened to the child." Severus explained.
Sirius frowned but still gave a nod, as long as the Healers will pay for what they did to his godson, that is all he cared about.
Severus held Harry for the next few hours as the child played with his play-doh until he finally fell asleep around five in the morning.