Chapter Fifteen

"Potter," Snape addressed Harry that afternoon as Harry woke up from his slumber. Harry looked up at the Potions Master suspiciously, but made no move to answer. No way was he going to talk to this man. He broke their promise.

Aren't you going to answer the greasy human? Slyther asked.

No way, Harry responded with his mind, not caring whether or not Snape could understand him. He broke his promise to me!

"Look," Snape said irritably, "I'm—"

-

Are you okay? Slyther asked as Harry stirred. You looked…weird.

"I don't know," Harry said, stunned. What had just happened? "I was dreaming…I think."

You think, Slyther repeated.

"Yeah," Harry replied. "It was weird. If I hadn't of woken up, I think Snape was about to apologize."

You wish! Slyther snorted. That's only what you want him to do.

"No way," Harry said with a frown. He lay in the Hospital bed, and couldn't help but find that the sheets were different to him. They weren't like Snape's silk sheets. "Why would I want Snape to apologize to me? From now on, I'm ignoring him."

How childish, Slyther said. But, do what you want.

"Yeah," Harry snorted. "Snape apologizing to me is the last thing in the world he'd do."

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Madame Pomfrey said, the bruise-healing paste in her hands. "You're awake. Excellent."

Harry groaned. "You're not going to put that on me again, are you?"

"Afraid so," Madame Pomfrey replied. "Mind taking your shirt off so I can apply this to the bruises on your stomach?"

Harry groaned again, unbuttoning his flannel shirt. It was, previously, Remus's shirt, but he had used his wand to shrink it to Harry's size.

Ooh, those are some nasty bruises, Slyther observed.

I can't even look at them, Harry thought. Are they that bad?

Worse, Slyther responded. You took quite a blow, you know.

I'm aware of that. Harry cringed as Madame Pomfrey applied the paste to his stomach. It was so cold, and the pain was unbearable.

"Harry, you're awake," Remus said, coming into the Hospital Wing and approaching Harry's bed. "How're you feeling?"

"All right," Harry admitted. "My stomach hurts, though." He started to button the shirt back up. "What time is it?"

"Lunch," Remus replied. "Can I get you anything?" He offered.

"How about—" Harry paused in thought. "How about some soup?"

"Of course," Remus said, "I'll be right back with your soup."

Harry waited until Remus left. When he made sure that Remus was gone, he threw the blankets off of him and stood up on his feet.

What are you doing? Slyther demanded as Harry picked him up.

"We're going," Harry responded quietly, so Madame Pomfrey couldn't hear. He glanced at her before he slipped out the door.

Where are you going? You should be back in there getting healed!

"I know," Harry said, "but I have to warn Sirius about Remus." He stopped in his tracks, leaning up against the corridor wall. The pain from where the Whomping Willow hit him was getting too sharp.

See? said Slyther. You're not well. Go back.

"I have to warn Sirius," Harry argued. He took a breath and started to walk again towards the school grounds.

-

"Siri?" Harry called out softly. He used his left hand to clutch his aching stomach.

No reply.

He's gone, Slyther said, sounding shocked.

"He can't be," Harry said. He looked around the shack and found that Slyther was right, Sirius was gone. "Remus couldn't of—" But Harry knew he was telling a lie. Remus could, and Remus would.

-

"Harry, what are you doing?" Remus exclaimed as he found Harry sitting on the floor in the corridor near the Hospital Wing, his back leaned up against the wall.

"How could you?" Harry said, on the verge of tears. As Remus tried to help him stand on his feet, Harry swatted the man away angrily. "You told Dumbledore, didn't you?"

Remus sighed. "Harry, Sirius Black is a dangerous man that escaped from Azkaban. I didn't want him to hurt you."

Harry closed his eyes. He was gone. Sirius was gone. Either back in Azkaban or—"What are they going to do with him?" Harry finally asked. Remus just looked at Harry before saying,

"I think they're just going to put him back in Azkaban, and…give him the Dementor's Kiss."

Harry paled. "What's that?"

"Why don't we go back to the Hospital Wing, and then I'll tell you?" Remus said, trying to lighten the situation up. It wasn't working too good.

Harry scowled. "No. I want you to tell me now. Right here."

"A Dementor's Kiss is where a Dementor sucks the soul out of their victim. Then, they're just an empty shell. Unable of thinking, and it's irretrievable," Remus explained. "It's worse than death."

"What? You can't do that to him!" Harry exclaimed, ignoring the jolt of pain in his abdomen, where the tree had hit him. "No! Do something, Remus! You can't let them do that."

"I'm sorry," Remus said softly.

"How can you be so mean?" Harry cried, tears spilling down his cheeks. "Remus, you have to do something, please—" Remus shook his head, building more anger up inside of Harry. "Take me to Dumbledore."

"Harry—"

"Remus," Harry said pleadingly. "Dumbledore." Remus sighed. He bent down and helped Harry up to his feet.

-

Harry was surprised to find Sirius, Dumbledore, along with the Ministery of Magic and two Aurors, in Dumbledore's office.

"Harry," Albus said, frowning in concern. "I'm aware of your accident. Shouldn't you be in the Hospital Wing?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said, "but I don't want Sirius to get the Dementor's Kiss. Isn't there something else—?"

"I'm afraid not, Harry," Albus said, folding in hands on top of his desk.

"Please," Harry pleaded, glancing at his godfather. "Isn't there something else? C—can't he just go back to Azkaban, without getting the Dementor's Kiss?" Albus said nothing, but looked at the Minister of Magic.

"No, Mr. Potter," Cornelius Fudge said without any sympathy, "we have everything all settled. There's no turning back now."

"Please," Harry exclaimed, looking at the Minister, his expression matching his pleading voice. He was glad to have Remus supporting him, because he knew if he didn't, he'd most likely collapse on the floor from the soreness of his stomach.

"Come on," Remus said with a gentle tug on Harry's arm. "We should go put some more bruise-healing paste on you."

"No," Harry said with a frown, glaring at Remus. "Sirius isn't a murderer." He turned to the Minister. "I know you won't listen to a ten year old, but I'm begging you."

This time, Remus pulled on Harry's arm lightly. "Let's go. You're getting weak." Harry made no fuss as Remus led Harry out of Albus's office. And all the whilst he led Harry back to the Hospital Wing, Harry couldn't help but hope and wish that they would at least consider what he was saying.

-

Very convincing in that office, Slyther said later that night. Harry just stayed quiet. He had talked to Remus seldom after what happened, and didn't think it would change as Remus came into the Hospital Wing.

"Harry," he said quietly. Harry frowned and turned his head away. "I just came to tell you goodbye." Harry's head shot up in alarm, and his eyes widened.

"Goodbye?" He repeated. "Why?"

"Well," Remus said slowly, "since they've captured Sirius Black, there's no need for me to stay here anymore, really." Harry turned his head away again, and Remus continued. "I'm so sorry, Harry. You know it's for your own good."

Harry looked up at Remus in surprise. "My own good? Remus... every word I'm telling you is completely true. Sirius Black is innocent. He was framed by Peter Pettigrew, if you'd just listen to me—" Harry closed his eyes, taking a few breaths before shaking his head. "No, I'm just wasting my time with you, aren't I? You don't believe me, even though I'm being honest."

Harry looked away. "I think it's best if you do go."

"Harry—"

"Remus," Harry said dully, looking back up at the older man. "Can you just go?"

Harry felt a pain in his chest as he watched Remus's expression deflate. Though, it wasn't from the Whomping Willow. No, just seeing the hurt, pained look on Remus's face as he slowly exited the Hospital wing had brought Harry his own pain.

So the new human left, Slyther pointed out. Do you feel lonely again, Harry?

"I never really felt lonely in the first place," Harry said softly. "I've always had you."

Well, you know what I mean, said Slyther. How are you feeling? Do you miss him? He actually kind of grew on me, you know.

Harry gave Slyther a surprised look. "Did he really? Well, anyway, at the moment I don't care too much. Slyther... he... he killed Sirius. He didn't believe me when I told him that Sirius was innocent... and... they just killed an innocent man. I really—"

No, no no no! Slyther interrupted. I wasn't talking

Okay, Slyther agreed. Well, how're you going to be with the greasy human?

Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

I mean, it's just going to be you and the greasy human. And me, Slyther added.

"Yeah," Harry said. "I forgot." He shrugged. "At least it's only until the Dursley's come back."

"Potter," Snape cold, hard voice addressed Harry by his surname. Harry looked up at Snape, who was standing at the foot of his bed. Harry narrowed his eyes into a glare. "I assume Lupin informed you of his leaving?" Harry nodded curtly.

"Yes."

So it's just gong to be you and Harry. Oh, don't forget about me, Slyther said. I keep on forgetting about me.

Snape glared at the snake who was on the white sheets and drawled, "Indeed."

"So what do you want?" Harry didn't care whether or not be was being rude. He folded his arms across his chest and looked at Snape.

Snape scowled. "I thought perhaps we should stop this…foolishness."

"What 'foolishness'?" Harry repeated. Snape sighed in irritation.

"The one where I told Lupin of your certain rendezvous with Black? Then you start to whine about 'it all being my fault.'"

Harry looked Snape over. "It is your fault," he said. "Why are you saying this now?"

"We are going to have to put up with each other for a while, are we not?"

"True," Harry considered. "So…are you apologizing to me?"

Snape scowled again. "Don't get a big head, brat."

Then he left.

"I'm going to learn how to do that someday," Harry said to himself as he watched Snape's cape billow out behind him.

-

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate it! Next chapter will be up soon.