DISCLAIMER: In case you guys didn't figure it out in the past nine chapters… I do not own Harry Potter… sorry…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay I'm sure you guys are getting tired of hearing me say sorry for taking so long to update… But I'm going to say it again… I'm sorry for taking so long to update. I just a writer's block all of a sudden so… I think I've got it back so here it goes and enjoy the 10th (YAY DOUBLE DIGITS) chapter!

Chapter Ten: Cleaning up and Meeting Friends

The next hour in the Potter's residence consisted of Harry lying on his bed, while the members of his family ran around collecting potions and creams to help his wounds heal faster.

"All right, Harry," James finally said. "We've got your back and stomach cleaned up. We just have to clean… er… that area…"

Harry didn't need to be told more to understand what "that area" meant. He blushed and mumbled something incoherently under his breath.

"Here… I'll make this easier on you, son…" James said gently. "How about I ask your mother, Sirius, and Remus to give us a little privacy… so this doesn't have to be a public moment?"

Harry knew his father was talking to him like a three year old, but for some reason he didn't care at the moment. He nodded, quite childishly, he noted unabashedly.

"Okay, sweetheart we'll leave you two alone, all right?" Lily stated. "But we'll be right downstairs if you need us… okay?"

Harry nodded and they left the room silently.

"Okay, son," James said once they were alone. "Just hold still, I'll be as gentle as possible, I promise.

Harry closed his eyes and stuffed his beat-red face in the pillows. James noticed his son's embarrassment and smiled sadly. He swiped his finger into some cool cream and tenderly dabbed it on his son's injury site. Harry gasped at the sudden coolness of the cream on his skin.

"Easy, Harry," James murmured softly. "It's okay… It'll be over in a minute." Then he went silent.

"Monff poff mophen," Harry said, his head still in the pillows.

"What was that?" James asked, pausing in his task to listen carefully.

Harry turned his head out from the pillows and said, "Don't stop talking… I don't know why, but it helps a little…" He blushed again.

"Okay then," James replied soothingly. He smiled warmly. "Lie back down and stay still."

Harry complied silently.

James once again swiped a small amount of cream on his finger and started toward his son's backside. "Ready? All right now… It's okay… I'm right here…"

Harry flinched slightly at the touch.

"Shh… It's fine Harry… I'm almost done… There… See, all done…" he said softly. He reached up and rubbed his son's back, between the shoulder blades calming him.

Harry lay on the bed and allowed his father to soothe him. The soft contact was strangely satisfying. He felt his eyes begin to close. He was drifting. He knew it, but he didn't care. He was asleep in mere seconds.

James looked down at his son and with a smile; he noticed that his son was in a peaceful slumber. He let out a content sigh, and pulled the pair of boxers and the t-shirt Harry had been wearing back over the boy's body. He then, tucked his son under the warm blankets, removed his glasses, set them on the table, and left the room silently, closing the door behind him.

He walked down stairs and was immediately bombarded with questions as he walked into the sitting room. He held up his hands and told the three of them to calm down, and that Harry was merely napping and would wake up soon. That calmed them and they sat and chatted quietly, until Lily decided it was time to make dinner.

"So tell me about Harry's friends," James said after his wife had disappeared into the kitchen. "What are they like?"

"Well… Ron… is… well… he's just like Harry actually," said Remus thoughtfully.

"I don't about that, Moony. I think Harry's a bit more brave at times," Sirius stated, fondly.

"That's true," Remus replied. "But Hermione…"

"Yeah, she's way different from Ron and Harry," Sirius said.

"Is she a rule follower like Harry said, then?" James inquired.

"I wouldn't say that necessarily…" Remus said.

"Yeah, I mean she breaks rules, she just likes… to learn… and likes things to be… er… well thought out, I suppose," Sirius said thinking back to the bright young witch that was constantly trying to help those she cared about.

"Like Lily?" James asked.

"EXACTLY!" Sirius nearly shouted.

"Shh! Harry's still sleeping," James hushed him.

"Oh right… sorry," Sirius said.

"Maybe you should invite Harry's friends over for dinner one night soon, so that you can meet them. I'm sure Harry would be thrilled. He hasn't seen them all summer after all," Remus suggested.

"That's a great idea. I'll talk it over with Lily and see what she thinks about it," James said happily.

"Hey, guys?" Lily said peaking her head in. "Dinner's ready. I'm going to wake Harry."

"Okay, flower," James replied. "We'll be there in a second."

"All right," she chirped.

She climbed up the stairs to her son's room and opened the door to hear the sweet sound of her "little boy" taking deep breaths, in and out, slowly. He was definitely in a deep slumber. She smiled to herself and walked over and sat on the edge of Harry's bed. She reached up and stroked back Harry's dark fringe that lingered across his face. The boy furrowed his brow and stirred, but didn't wake up.

"Harry," Lily called, softly. "It's time to wake up, sweetie."

"Mmnh," Harry moaned. His lids fluttered and opened to reveal the bright emerald irises within. He looked up at his mother, blearily.

"There we go," Lily said warmly. "Wake up. It's time for dinner, sleepy head.

Harry took a deep breath and stretched. He put his fists to his eyes and rubbed the sleep from them, yawning.

"Here are your glasses, sweetheart," Lily said handing them to him. He took them and smiled groggily. "And here are your jeans," stated after he had stuffed the glasses on his face. He took them too. "All right, get dressed and come down stairs, love."

"Okay," Harry croaked. Lily left him in peace to change. He pulled on the jeans she had offered him and shuffled out the door and down the stairs.

James, Sirius, Lily, and Remus looked up as the boy scuffled in and sat at the table. James noted that Harry's face was slightly flushed from sleep.

"Did you have a nice sleep, Prongslet?" Sirius asked, smiling softly at the unintentional innocence of his godson.

"Yeah," said Harry, his voice was deep and thick with sleep. "What's for dinner, mum?"

"Spaghetti," Lily replied happily.

"Y-y-yum," Harry said stifling a yawn.

"Oh! Lily flower!" James suddenly sounded as Lily placed spaghetti onto plates for them and handed them out to everyone.

"Yes?" she asked curious.

"Remus suggested that we should have Harry's two best friends over for dinner soon, so that we can get to know them better!" James stated.

"Oh! Well, I think it's a wonderful idea," Lily said, smiling. "What about you, Harry? Would you like that?"

Harry, who had perked up considerably at the mention of his friends, nodded eagerly. "That would be great!" he said, eyes shining.

"Well then, we'll send a letter tonight to each of them and ask them to come tomorrow night then!" Lily said joyfully.

"Great thanks!" Harry exclaimed nearly glowing with excitement.

The rest of the night passed without event. Harry sent out an owl to Ron and Hermione asking if they would be interested in coming to dinner the following night and went to bed with no doubt that they would come. The next day Harry awoke, took a long, hot shower and, after receiving word back for Ron and Hermione saying that they both could make it, Harry noticed the day seemed to pass extremely slowly. But, finally the clock drew closer to six o'clock; the time Ron and Hermione would be arriving and Harry heard two roars of flame indicating that his friends had arrived.

Harry walked into the sitting room to greet them. His parents close on his heels.

"Harry!" a girl's voice sounded as they walked through the door. A head of bushy brown hair flashed before them as Hermione enveloped Harry in a tight hug.

"Hermione!" Harry muffled, a bit surprised.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. Let him breath, will you?" said a tall red headed boy, smiling. "Hey, mate. How goes it?"

"Not bad, you?" said Harry, finally free of Hermione's grasp.

"Same, same," he replied. Then, he noticed the other two people in the room.

"Hello, I'm Lily Potter and this is my husband James," Harry's mother said happily, holding out her hand.

Ron's jaw dropped and Hermione fell with a thump in a dead faint.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dun dun dun! Tee Hee! R&R please!