Rewritten...

So, I might be putting in a character of my own. This girl is going to be Sirius's daughter and will be a year or two younger than Harry. I personally felt bad for Sirius when Rowling killed him in OOTP. I mean he deserves to have his own family life.

Secondly, the Sirius in my book is not wild and reckless as Rowling portrays him because Azkaban has made him simmer down tremendously. He's going to be the father figure Harry never had. So let me know what you'll think about this. The next chapter will be uploaded soon so hope I can meet your expectations. Oh and I really look forward to constructive criticism.

Last night's event had given Sirius the answer that he needed to give Dumbledore regarding the job offer. Harry was still healing from all those unspeakable things the muggles had done to him and he still needed Sirius to be there for him. He was going to be there for his pup and make sure that Harry completely moved on. With that decision in mind, Sirius sent a letter to Dumbledore, telling the man that he would take up the post for the forthcoming year. Although he knew that he had done the right thing, he couldn't help but feel apprehensive about his new job. He wondered how all the students would react to him. He could only hope that everyone believed that he was innocent.

With nothing to do, the Animagus started getting bored. Harry had gone to Ron's house to spend the day and Sirius would go over and collect him in the evening before dinnertime. There was still a lot of time left for that so he didn't knew how to kill time till then.

He looked at his reflection in the polished cup in which he had been drinking tea and smiled. His appearance had improved a lot ever since his release from Azkaban. He wasn't deathly pale anymore and he had gained back his much needed weight, muscle as well as his former looks that could bring any woman down on her knees. Sure, Azkaban had taken away his freedom for the past decade but it hadn't been able to take away his qualities. He still retained his charisma, his slick tongue and the temper. Of course, he wasn't reckless anymore and gave every matter great thought before acting.

He smirked at the thought of his godson's expression as he flirted with the ladies. James had always tried to imitate his charismatic personality so as to charm Lily but it had never worked. Most of the times, Sirius had nearly bitten off his cheek to keep himself from laughing at his best friend's futile efforts.

At about seven he went to collect Harry from the Weasleys who insisted that the two if them stay back for dinner and on Molly's insistence, Sirius complied.

Harry had been having a great time all day. Sirius had let him go to Ron's house right after breakfast and the two best mates had played Quidditch with the twins and Ginny after which they had come home, feeling absolutely exhausted and ravenous. After lunch, the twins had briefed Harry and Ron on the pranks they were going to play that coming year and how they planned on getting as many detentions as possible.

"Harry dear, have you bought all your requirements for your second year?" Asked Mrs. Weasley as she bustled around the kitchen cooking Beef Wellington for dinner. "No, Mrs. Weasley. Sirius said that we would go sometime this week." Harry replied as Ron defeated beat him at yet another game of chess. "Maybe we could all go together. It would be great." Said Ron to which Harry nodded. It would be brilliant indeed. He would ask Sirius later on if he was okay with it.

Later, Sirius came to pick him up for supper but then Mrs. Weasley insisted that they stay back and they did. "Sirius, can we go along with Ron to buy my new books?" Asked Harry as he ate. There was a shyness and hesitancy in his voice that always appeared when he asked for something or confessed anything. Sirius smiled at Harry fondly and ruffled the black hair, chuckling as he did so. "Of course we can."

All in all, it was a great day.

Sirius was waiting for Harry to come downstairs so that the two of them could have breakfast together. It was 8:30 already and although Harry woke up at around eight everyday, there was no sign of him waking up. Frowning, he went upstairs to see why the boy wasn't up yet.

"Harry, pup, wake up. You need to have breakfast and get ready for the day." He said as he opened the curtains in his godson's room. His voice made it clear that he wasn't requesting. When he received no response from Harry, he pulled the covers off him, only to find that harry was curled up tightly and shivering. Worried, he turned Harry over. As his hands made contact with Harry's bare skin, he realized that Harry was warm.

"Harry, wake up." The worry in his voice led to an unintended sharpness in his words and slowly Harry's eyes opened, his muscles automatically tensing at the sharp tone. Sirius sighed with relief and helped Harry sit up and supported him with his arm. It was quite obvious that Harry had a fever. The poor boy was still shivering and Sirius didn't know what to do. "I'll be right back pup." He said, kissing Harry's forehead and running out of the room. He ran downstairs and fire called his cousin, Andromeda Tonks. The two of them had met up last week and were on good terms now. "Andy, I need you to come over right now. Please. It's Harry."

"I'll be right there." And a second later, Andromeda Tonks stepped out of the fireplace. Sirius nodded his gratitude and the two of them rushed upstairs. Sirius stood to a side and watched as the middle-aged healer asked Harry a few questions and gave him a potion. Harry, who was still wary of strangers, seemed to be terrified of the healer. Other than Madam Pomfrey, he didn't have any experience with healers. He absolutely hated doctors, he was afraid of them. He shot Sirius a few desperate glances to which Sirius gave Harry a reassuring smile. "Pup, it's fine. Just relax. This is my cousin Andromeda and she's just going to check you. She won't hurt you kiddo."

Eventually, Harry relaxed, with the assurance that Sirius was right there. As Andromeda checked Harry, she took in the thin appearance and pale face of the small boy in front of her. He didn't look any older than nine or ten. Harry wouldn't stop flinching away from her. "Just relax sweetie. I'm just going to make sure that you get better real quick." She felt his forehead and instantly felt the heat.

"He's got a temperature. Nothing to worry about Siri. Just make sure he rests thoroughly. He'll be back to normal in no time at all." She said, handing Sirius a bag if potions along with a few instructions. "Thanks a lot, Andy." He said gratefully. "I'd also recommend a full body check up for him. He is worryingly thin. If you're willing to come by, I can give you a slot on Wednesday." she said. "I'll definitely get Harry along. You keep that slot open." said Sirius mentally making a note to take Harry to St. Mungo's. Andromeda nodded and smiled, gave him a quick hug and left.

After she was gone, Sirius went to check on Harry. "How're you feeling?" He asked as he sat down at the foot of the bed. "I'm fine." Harry replied, his voice was pinched and he sounded tired. Sirius gave Harry a look of utter disbelief. "The truth, young man." He said, in a no nonsense voice. "I'm o- feeling tired like I've been... been working all day." He answered truthfully this time.

"As per Andy's instructions, you're supposed to take rest as much as possible and no exerting yourself one bit. She's also given me some potions that I need to give you after lunch and before bed." Said Sirius firmly, knowing fully well that James' son was bound to grumble about medicines.

Harry didn't complain, as he was accustomed to his godfather's stubborn nature by now so he just nodded. "She also said that you need a check up so we'll be going to St. Mungo's on Wednesday." Harry froze at this. He had never been to a Wizard's hospital before and he didn't want to go. He remembered the few times he had been taken to a Muggle doctor. The medicines had not helped him get better in the least. On the contrary, they had made him feel terribly uneasy. "P-Please Sirius, I don't want to g-go. I don't like to." Sirius frowned at his godson's visibly distressed behavior. "Pup, calm down. We're just going to go for a harmless check up. You'll be fine. I'll be staying with you the entire while." He reassured Harry. Normally, such kind of reassurance was given to five-year olds but then after all that Harry had gone through, it was completely understandable. "W-Why do I have to go?" Asked Harry looking a little too worried. "You need to go Harry. It is absolutely necessary. The healer won't do anything much. She'll just look you over. That's it. You're a strong boy Harry. You'll be just fine." He repeated. After what seemed like forever, Harry nodded.

"Thank you. Sleep for a while. I'll wake you up before lunch." Said Sirius as he tucked Harry in snugly. Sirius was glad Harry had agreed to go but the reluctance and apprehension had been clear in those striking green eyes. He felt convinced that the only obvious reason for Harry's unfounded fear of Healers or Doctors had something to do with his filthy relatives. Harry fell asleep almost immediately so he was too late to notice Sirius's worried gaze on him. Merlin, I hope he recovers soon.

Harry awoke at about eleven thirty, feeling very nauseous. He wanted to get up and run to the bathroom but he was feeling very weak. The bile rose up in his throat and before he knew what was happening, he turned to his right and threw up all over the floor, over the right side of his bed. He felt disgust well up inside him. He heard footsteps and chilled with fright. Sirius was coming upstairs. By now, thanks to Sirius's repeated reassurances, he knew that Sirius wouldn't hit him but he was bound to be disgusted by Harry. Of course he would. Harry could only hope and pray that his godfather wouldn't hate him. That hate would be worse than any severe beating.

"Harry what-" he paused abruptly when he was the panic stricken expression on Harry's face and the mess on the floor that was the source of a fetid room. He pieced it all together immediately. He cleared the mess with a wave of his hand and tended to Harry. He scooped the boy up into his arms and went to the bathroom. He sat Harry on the closed toilet seat and knelt down in front of his distressed godson. "Pup, it's alright. Everyone makes a mess when they are sick. Nothing to worry about."

As he reached behind and rubbed Harry's back, he felt Harry's tense stance and frowned inwardly. Not for the first time, he mentally cursed the Dursleys for the fear that they had instilled in his godson. "I'm not your uncle, pup. Remember that."

Harry nodded. His eyes conveying a silent apology for dirtying the room. But Sirius simply ruffled Harry's hair and smiled at him letting Harry know that it was perfectly fine. "Why don't we get you out of these clothes?" He asked, raising his eyebrow at Harry's stained nightshirt.

The boy nodded, although his face was beet red and he refused to look at Sirius.

Sirius, noticed the boy's embarrassment but remained silent about it. He had only expected such a reaction from him. It was completely normal for a twelve year old to feel embarrassed in such situations. "Why don't you go and wash your face?" He said, tactfully giving Harry some time to get over his embarrassment. He went out of the bathroom to fetch a fresh set of clothes for his pup.

"Becky!" He called out, and the house elf appeared immediately. "Master Sirius calls?" Squeaked the creature. "Becky, please make the bed and bring me a bowl of soup as well." He ordered. "Yes Master Sirius." The elf then disappeared.

Sirius went back into the bathroom and helped Harry change into the new set of clothes. He smiled warmly at Harry and led him back to the newly made bed. Once Harry was in bed, Sirius helped him sit up. "I'm disgusting. Weak." Harry mumbled. It was so soft that had Sirius not been an Animagus, he wouldn't have heard it. "No you're not. Everybody has his or her bad days Harry. So don't you ever let me hear you talk like that about yourself again." Said Sirius firmly.

"Yes, sir." Harry whispered. Harry looked so forlorn that Sirius just didn't have it in him to scold him any further. "Let's have lunch now." Said Sirius, softly brushing his knuckles against Harry's cheek. As Harry drank the soup, some of his strength returned to his body. He even drank the potions that he had to take, making a face at their sour taste

After lunch, Sirius told Harry about some of the pranks that the Marauders had played during their time at Hogwarts and Harry cheered up considerably.

Later, by the evening, Harry's fever had subsided a little and he was slowly starting to get better.

Sirius was sitting in the living room, talking to Remus when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He went near the staircase to see Harry plodding downstairs. "I couldn't sleep. May I stay with you for a while?" Asked Harry, his eyes looked tired and small. Sirius bit his lip. Part of him wanted to send Harry straight back to bed. Harry wasn't supposed to be out of bed but one look at Harry's miserable expression made him relent. He jerked his chin towards the living room and Harry wasted absolutely no time in making it to his favorite recliner.

"Sirius told me that you've got a temperature. Shouldn't you be taking rest?" Asked Remus casually as he poured himself another cuppa. "I know but its just so boring. There's absolutely nothing to do. Just lie in bed all day," Harry complained. "That is precisely what you're supposed to do when you're not well young man." Sirius pointed out, sitting down next to Harry and pulling him close.

On Harry's consistent pleading, Sirius allowed Harry to have dinner downstairs with them instead of sending him back to bed. After dinner, Harry and Remus were hunched over the chess table playing the game, which Harry just couldn't seem to win. "This is so not fair. I played with Sirius, I lost, I'm playing with you, and I'm losing. Why is it so difficult for me to win?" asked Harry, looking exasperated. "Well, I can't tell you why you're losing against me but everyone loses against Sirius." Said Remus. "That is true. After all, I am prankster plus genius extraordinaire." Commented Sirius with an over exaggerated bow that had Harry grinning at once.

The clock struck ten. Remus took that as a cue and leaned back. "Off to bed pup." Said Sirius as he watched Harry's eyelids droop. "I'm not sleepy yet." Harry mumbled although his eyes were scrunched up as he yawned loudly. "Of course you're not. You're just yawning like that to prove otherwise." Sirius countered, offering his hand to Harry. "Goodnight Remus." Said Harry sleepily as he trudged upstairs. He received a reply and heard the floo roar meaning Remus had gone back home.

Once they were upstairs, Sirius brought Harry his potions. "Do I have to? They're absolutely disgusting." Harry gave Sirius is best puppy eyes that would have melted anyone else. "I taught you that look pup. It's not going to work on me. Now go on and take these." Sirius replied with a smile in his voice. Harry pouted but took the potions nevertheless, knowing that although he was stubborn, his godfather was way more stubborn than him. "Goodnight kiddo. Get well soon." Said Sirius.

Two days later, Harry was back to normal and Sirius couldn't be any happier. He had been so terribly worried about the child and was relieved to see his godson well again. He knew how to take care of Harry's occasional flashbacks but a sick child was one thing he just couldn't bear.

Harry was also glad that he was ok because over the past two days, he had worried his godfather a lot and even though Sirius had repeatedly told him that it was no trouble at all, he still felt extremely guilty for having been such a pain. At the same time, Sirius had taken care of him in a way no one else had.

Maybe this is what having a father felt like.

Harry was nervous. Sirius could practically feel his godson's nervousness. The two of them were currently at St. Mungo's waiting for Harry's turn. "Harry Potter." The mediwitch at the desk called out his name and Harry nearly jumped.

As they went inside, Andromeda greeted both of them with a smile. "I need you to strip down and put this on love. You can change in that room right there," She said, handing Harry a hospital gown. Harry did as he was told and went and lied down on the hospital bed.

Sirius sat down on one of the chairs and observed Harry carefully. The boy was scared but he refused to show it. Andromeda waved her wand over Harry and after about a minute or so, her face contorted in anger. She went to Sirius immediately. "The innumerous scars on his body, what happened? Who did that to him?" She asked, anger giving way to sadness. "His oh so kind and loving relatives." Sirius spat.

"How could anybody do that to a young boy? The poor dear." She surreptitiously brushed away the tears that had gathered in her eyes before going and tending to the young patient in the room. She took a syringe and Harry jumped let out a worried cry the moment he saw it. He had seen Dudley get an injection many times before and his cousin had always created such a fuss that the doctors had to pin him down to inject it. He had always told Harry that they hurt terribly. "I d-don't want it S-Sirius." He pleaded, inching towards his godfather, his mind instinctively switching to his five-year old self, replaying everything that Dudley had said to him.

Sirius went and sat down next to Harry, on the bed. He threaded his fingers comfortingly in Harry's hair. "I need you to relax little one. Andy only wants to help you. She's going to make sure that you're healthy. Calm down pup." He hoped that his efforts to project confidence would work.

"Sirius is right Harry. This is only a potion which must not be taken orally." She soothed, showing him the syringe. "Come now, there's nothing to be afraid of." She took Harry's arm, and did the needful. Harry winced slightly as the needle pierced his skin but otherwise he remained silent.

"See, that wasn't bad at all." Andromeda later checked Harry's height and clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "You need to put on more weight sweetheart. You're currently 81 pounds, while the ideal weight is about 100 to 105 pounds. You'll need to take certain potions for your height and weight.

Harry grimaced at the mention of nutritional potions but he remained silent about it. "Alright then, I believe that's it. I'll see the two of you sometime later." Said the healer handing Sirius the requisite potions. Sirius nodded his thanks and accepted the potions. "This will take care of the scars. Make sure that he applies it twice a day." She said, handing him a salve. Andromeda gave the two of them a few more tips before saying goodbye to them. They left the hospital after that.

"Sirius, yesterday in the hospital, you called me little one." Said Harry looking rather put out at being addressed like that. "I guess I did," Sirius responded, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I'm not little." The boy protested. He knew that he was small for his age but he most certainly wasn't 'little.'

"Can't help it kiddo because you'll always be that little one who held onto Padfoot when you were learning to walk. You'll always be my Pup."