Harry manages to fall asleep about half an hour after Ron. The dorm is filled with soft, even breathing.
Harry wakes up to a wet nose nudging his shoulder. He groans and tries to roll over, the nose is persistent and starts nudging even harder. Harry groans again nevertheless he opens his eyes and looks at his tormentor, as Harry is thinking of them right now.
Harry looks over and sees a black dog at the side of his bed. Despite his annoyance he can't help the smile that forms on his lips. The dog starts licking Harry's face when it sees that Harry is smiling at him.
"Hi Padfoot." Harry says scratching the head of the dog.
Padfoot starts wagging his tail. Harry pats the bed beside him and Padfoot jumps up beside the teen. It is just then Harry realizes that they are alone in the dorm. He checks his watch and is shocked to see that it is 10 o'clock.
"I actually slept in. Today of all days!" Harry exclaims.
Padfoot transforms into his human form. "It seems so. Ron seemed confused when he saw you were still sleeping when he woke up but decided that it was better to let you sleep."
"I just don't understand why I could sleep in today when I haven't in the past 5 years."
"I don't know." Sirius says, not telling the complete truth. He has his suspicions as to why. "You won't be taking the train back to Kings Cross. Madame Pomfrey wants to give you a check-up. She says that she hasn't checked in on you since everything has come to light."
Harry sighs deeply. He doesn't care that he isn't riding the train back but he isn't happy about the check-up. Sirius smiles at the teen's obvious reluctance, he knows that he doesn't want to do the check-up. He also knows that Harry has been severely affected from his time at the Dursley's. Harry has been eating decent portions at every meal with the encouragement from Sirius but that still can't make up for the 15 years that he suffered at the hands of his relatives.
"Do I have to?" Harry says, annoyed at the hint of a whine that made it through his guards.
Sirius chuckles. "Yes Pronglet. You do."
Harry groans. "Why do I have to go now?"
"You need to because she wants to make sure that you are gaining weight. You are still suffering from what they did, we need to make sure that you are still fine and making up for what they deprived you from."
Harry just falls back on his bed, covering his face with his hands. Sirius smiles at Harry's antics, he is happy that the boy is acting his age.
"Harry. I think it is time for you to get dressed so we can go down to the Great Hall and get some Breakfast."
"I'm not hungry."
"Well, that isn't an option. You need to eat."
"I will, just not right now."
"Harry. That's not an option."
"Please?"
"No Harry. You need to eat three meals a day."
"Why? I'm not hungry in the least."
"I already told you Harry, you cannot miss any more meals. Your body is lacking key nutrients that you cannot afford to lack."
Harry just crosses his arms and looks away defiantly.
Sirius sighs. "Get up."
"What?"
"I said. Get up. I was trying to be patient but you clearly aren't going to go willingly so I will force you."
Neither of them realized how long they had been talking because at that time Ron walks into the dorm. "Mate. What are you still doing in bed? Normally I am the one that you have to fight to get out of bed."
Sirius responds for Harry. "He's trying to avoid going down to breakfast."
"I'm not surprised. He normally misses… What?" Ron asks, interrupting himself when he sees Harry's motioning for him to stop.
Sirius's eyes narrow. "What were you saying Ronald?"
Ron's eyes widen when he realizes what has happened in front of him. "Ummm."
"Tell me. What does Harry normally miss?"
"Um." Ron says looking between the two people sitting in front of him. On one hand he knows that he should tell Sirius because he knows that Sirius has Harry's best interest at heart. On the other hand Harry is his best mate and he knows that Harry wouldn't want his secrets to be told. "He often misses meals. It isn't surprising if he misses 2 or more a week." Ron says, ignoring Harry's murderous glare he is sending to him.
Harry stands up and heads to the bathroom so that he can get dressed and leave the room.
Once he is dressed he leaves without saying a word. He knows that he is going to get a talking to but doesn't care at the moment.
Making his way down the corridor he literally runs into Professor Snape.
"Mister Potter. Why didn't I see you at breakfast?"
"Because I wasn't hungry." Harry replies honestly.
"Has the mu… has Sirius not talked to you about the importance of your eating at every meal?"
"He has."
"Yet you still decided to ignore his words."
"Yes sir."
"Come. You will eat something. Seeing as breakfast is over I will call a house-elf to bring you something in my office. I wanted to talk to you anyway."
Harry doesn't respond. He knows that even though he doesn't want to he will end up eating something whether or not he liked it, so he ends up following him.
They reach Severus's office quickly. Severus summons a house-elf and has it bring food for Harry. Severus motions for Harry to eat.
Once Harry is half-way done with his plate, he pushes it away. Severus gives him a disapproving look but says nothing. He was happy that he ate, even though it wasn't a healthy amount. He makes a quick decision and summons a nutrient potion, handing it to Harry.
Harry scowls at the potion, he looks at Severus with an almost pleading look. Severus looks back with almost bored facial features. Harry sighs and gives a small nod in a way of defeat. He takes the vial from Severus and downs the potion with a slight grimace.
()
Harry walks to the Great Hall alone. He had spent all morning talking with Severus in his office. They had started talking about the importance of eating three meals a day, much to Harry's annoyance, then the discussion travelled to summer plans, after that the discussion was comfortable, not about anything particular but comfortable. It was only when Severus looked at the clock they noticed that they had spent the entire morning talking. Harry tried to apologize but Severus waved it off saying that it takes two to have a conversation.
Harry smiles when he sees the relieved looks that take over Ron, Hermione and Sirius's face. He walks over to the section of the table that they occupy. He ignores the calculating looks that Sirius casts over him.
Harry sits down at the table and smiles softly when Sirius immediately starts filling his plate. He doesn't protest Sirius's smothering, even though it is kind of annoying. Harry starts eating, once again ignoring the looks his friends and Sirius are sending him.
"Harry. Where were you? We looked all over for you."
"I was with Severus." Harry says honestly. Not finding a reason to lie.
Sirius tries and fails to hide his shock. "What were you doing with him?"
"Talking. We ran into each other in the corridor and he asked about me not going to breakfast. He took me to his office and he ordered me some breakfast, afterwards we talked."
"What about?" this time it was Ron that asked the question.
"Nothing of importance."
Sirius just pulls Harry into a side hug. "I'm sorry pronglet. I shouldn't have tried to make you come to the Great Hall. I had forgotten in that moment what you had gone through from your relatives. I promise you it won't happen again. Can you forgive me?"
Without a moment's hesitation Harry says, "Of course."
The rest of the meal goes by in a light hearted manner. Ron and Hermione start bickering about something that Harry can't catch. It is innocent but does take up several minutes.
Far too quickly for any of their liking they are standing at the station in Hogsmeade. Ron and Hermione wave from their compartment to Harry and Sirius who are standing on the platform.
The train whistle lets out a shriek and the train sets off to Kings Cross station. Harry and Sirius smile as the lurch of the train sends Ron flying.
Even though there is still the check-up to be done Harry knows that this summer is going to be the best one yet. Not having to fear when the next beating is coming, if he will have enough food to survive the entire summer on. He walks with Sirius laughing and joking the entire way both truly happy for the first time in a long time.
FIN
An/ Well, that is a wrap folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it. If you haven't yet taken a look you should go check out other stories, Harry's Best Chance and Harry's New Life. I do have plans for a new story but don't have any of it written yet. I want to thank those that have stayed with me through the entire time it has taken me to finish here.