DISCLAIMER: I don't own!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Great news guys! I finally have a beta!! So, you don't have to worry about the typos and grammar problems anymore! Everyone give a big round of applause to JadeSullivan! She will be beta-ing my chapters now and I have reposted the old chapters with her revisions! YAY!

Thanks to those who reviewed! I love you! Sorry about the slow update with Much Needed Family… I'm having a bit of a writer's block… And, of course I'm sorry about the delay in this update of this story… I've been unexpectedly busy at school and at work… Not to mention the fact that I was sick for a week straight… And then it was like 74 degrees F outside and it seemed like such a shame to waste the day away inside so, that's why it has taken so long! Oh and I'm sorry about the confusion on the last chapter in this story with the whole fear of water thing! I meant to write that Harry would have the nightmare in that chapter and tell Sirius about it in this one! Sorry about the confusion there! Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Five: Let the Healing Begin!

Sirius opened his eyes to find Remus Lupin standing in the doorway looking oddly amused. It took Sirius a minute to understand why his childhood friend was so tickled. Then it hit him. Harry, his three-year-old godson, was snoozing on his chest. His tiny fists were clinging to the front of the man's nightclothes as if he'd never let go. Sirius felt a soft smile spread on his face. The child looked so peaceful.

"He looks comfy," Remus commented with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh hush!" Sirius scoffed quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping child on his chest. "He had a nightmare last night. It's going to be hard enough trying to get him to tell me about it without your input!"

"Whoa! Calm down; I was only kidding!" Remus said almost shocked that the words came out of his mouth and were directed at Sirius instead of the other way around. "I can't believe I'm telling you this, but lighten up!"

"Sorry it's just…after Harry had this nightmare I didn't know what to do," Sirius replied, just as quietly as before but this time less indignantly.

"Yeah, I understand. I'll meet you downstairs." Remus slipped silently out the door.

Just then the little boy in question moaned a bit before opening his eyes. "S-Sir-rus?" Harry croaked, as his voice had become dry in the duration of the night.

"I'm here, Prongslet," Sirius replied gently.

Harry moaned drowsily. "Wha time ith it," he mumbled.

"Almost ten. You were a sleepy boy, weren't you?" Sirius replied chuckling.

"TEN! I sawry sir! I dinnit mean to sweep so wong, sir!" Harry said in distress. The little boy tried to jump out of the bed in a rush, but Sirius grabbed him around the middle, pulled him back onto the bed, preventing the child from getting away.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sirius asked chuckling.

"Downstaiwrs. I dotta do mine chores," Harry said breathlessly, still a bit surprised at his godfather's arms pulling him back onto the bed.

"Oh no you don't!" Sirius chortled. "I want you to stay right here with me. I'll keep you nice and warm. And you can tell me about the dream you had last night."

Harry knew this was a test. He knew he wasn't supposed to talk about anything the Dursleys did. Uncle Vernon told him so. Therefore, just like he was trained, he shook his head at the mention of his dream.

"Harry I need you to tell me what your dream was about," Sirius coaxed.

Harry just shook his head again in earnest.

"Why don't you want to tell me, Harry?"

"Not 'pose to."

"Why not? Is that what your aunt and uncle told you?"

"Uh-huh," Harry replied with a nod.

"Harry, you don't have the same rules here as you did there. I need you to tell me what your dream was about, okay?"

"O-otay?"

"That's a good boy," Sirius said gently. "Now, what happened in your dream that scared you, kiddo?"

"Uh… well… Uncle Vewrnon was diving me a bath… and he was rweally mad. And den he pusheded mine head unner da water… And I was rweally stared! And den all da water was dawn! But den…" Harry hung his head.

"Then what, Prongslet?"

"H-he dot rweally mad… t-tause I made a-all d-da water doe away!" Tears shone in Harry's eyes.

"It's okay, pup. Tell me what he did next."

"He dust whopped me like awways."

"Is that why you didn't want to take a bath, yesterday?"

"Yes, sir," Harry glanced down, guiltily.

"I told you yesterday, you don't have to call me sir, Harry," Sirius told the toddler gently.

"Oh, wight! Sawry, sir – I mean S-Sirius!" Harry cried out. He looked up at Sirius fearfully.

"It's okay. You're not in trouble. I was just reminding you."

"O-otay," Harry muttered, looking down again.

"How about some breakfast?" Sirius said, trying to distract his young charge. "Remus is here again. I'll bet he'd like to eat breakfast with us. How's that sound?"

The distraction worked. "Oh yes, s- I mean Sirius!"

"All right, then. Let's go," Sirius said as he clambered out of the bed and pulled Harry onto his hip. The two of them headed downstairs to the kitchen, where Remus Lupin was waiting for them, reading The Daily Prophet.

"Good morning, Harry!" Remus said with a smile.

"Dood mowrning."

"Did you sleep okay?"

"Um… yes," Harry replied. "I swept dood."

"All right, Harry, what do you want for breakfast today?" Sirius asked, depositing Harry in the chair next to Remus.

"Er… I dunno…"

"Well, we had eggs yesterday. How about we have pancakes today? Does that sound good?"

Harry nodded eagerly. Just the thought of pancakes made his little mouth water. "I never had pantates befowre."

"Oh! Well, you are in for a treat then, little one!" Sirius smiled.

Remus grinned at the two of them over his paper. Harry's innocence truly brought out the best in Sirius. The man was an excellent godfather.

When the pancakes were done, Sirius set them on the plate and placed two of them in front of Harry. He then proceeded to slather them with butter and syrup. However, Sirius handed Harry a fork too late, as the boy had all ready plunged his tiny fingers into the sweet treat of a breakfast.

"Oh, Harry!" Sirius cried, causing the little boy to drop the sticky mess back on the plate and cringe away violently.

"I-I'm s-sawy, s-sir!" Harry stammered. He climbed off the chair and curled up in a ball in the corner and started sobbing.

It took Sirius a moment to understand what had happened, but once he did he enfolded Harry in his arms in a single moment.

"It's okay Prongslet," he muttered soothingly. "I shouldn't have shouted at you. I'm not mad, pup. I just didn't want you to get all sticky."

Harry didn't say anything. He just sniffled pitifully.

"Come on, puppy," Sirius coaxed. "Let's get your hands washed, so we can finish eating breakfast."

"I-I det to f-finish d-da food?" Harry asked shocked, momentarily distracted from his distress.

"What? Oh, Harry. Of course you get to finish."

"Oh."

Sirius lifted the toddler and carried him to the sink, where he washed the sticky syrup from the boy's tiny hands. Then, he set the child down gently. Harry hung his head, still unsure about whether or not he was in trouble.

"Come on, Harry," Remus coaxed from his spot in his chair. "Why don't you come here and sit down right next to me and finish those delicious-looking pancakes?"

Harry nodded and, with one more hesitant glance at Sirius, who nodded reassuringly, he climbed back into his chair shyly.

"Thank you," Sirius mouthed to Remus when Harry's back was to him.

Remus nodded.

"Okay, Har bear, this time we're going to try eating with your fork," Sirius said, careful to keep his voice cheerful and gentle. He watched as Harry lifted the utensil and held it awkwardly before trying desperately to cut into his breakfast. After watching the pitiful scene for a moment Sirius realized that it was going nowhere.

"Harry?"

No answer. The little boy was intensely concentrating on the difficult task in front of him. His face was screwed up in determination.

"Harry… puppy, do you want me to cut your pancakes up for you?" Sirius asked gently.

"N-no t-tank you," Harry mumbled. "I tan do it!"

"Okay…" Sirius said with amusement in his voice. He sat down across from his godson, watching the child out of the corner of his eye as he tucked into his breakfast.

Harry struggled a bit longer before heaving a great big sigh. "… I tink I need help, sir."

"Okay," said Sirius as he pulled Harry's plate toward him. "And remember, Harry, you needn't call me sir."

"Oh yeah!" Harry stated. "Sorry, Siwrius!"

"There's no need to apologize. I was just reminding you."

"Did you enjoy your dragons, cub?" Remus asked after a short silence as Sirius cut up Harry's pancakes and handed them back to the boy.

"Yethur!" Harry exclaimed around his mouthful of pancake.

"Harry," Sirius reprimanded gently. "Swallow first, and then speak, all right?"

Harry nodded, swallowed and said, "Yes sir! I mean Sirius!" Sirius nodded in acceptance with a smile.

"None of those dragons scratched you did they?" Remus asked.

"No… well one did… but it didn't hurt me none!" Harry told the werewolf, before shoveling another bite into his mouth.

"Which one scratched you?"

"Da one wif all da spikies on his back," Harry said after swallowing.

"Oh! The Horntail got you, did he?" Remus chuckled.

"Yeah! Da Hermtail!"

Sirius chuckled at the mistake, but he couldn't bring himself to correct the toddler. It was just too cute when he got the word wrong.

Harry smiled at his godfather and the man smiled back.

"Okay!" Sirius declared when the three of them had finished breakfast. "We are going to go to Diagon Alley today so we can get Harry some clothes."

"What about the overalls he was wearing yesterday?" Remus asked.

"Oh, those weren't his. Those were the overalls Lily gave to me. I just shrank them to fit him."

"Oh."

"I det to have mine own cloves?" Harry asked excited.

"Yup!" Sirius smiled. "You sure do, kiddo!"

"Tank you! Tank you! Tank you!" Harry squealed, running over to hug Sirius tightly around the legs. Sirius was startled, but he bent over to hug the child back.

"Come on! Let's go get dressed and then we can head out," Sirius said. He picked Harry up and carried him upstairs. He set Harry down in the toddler's bedroom. "Wait right here, okay?"

Harry nodded.

Sirius returned with a pair of jeans and a blue tee-shirt, which he shrank to Harry's size and maneuvered the boy's frail little arms and messy head into the holes.

"Oh yeah!" Sirius exclaimed. "Hey, Remus, can you come here a minute?"

Remus came up to the boy's bedroom. "What is it?"

"I forgot that Harry doesn't have any shoes. You don't happen to have a pair he can borrow do you?"

"Actually I have one extra pair. I'll be back in a moment." With that, Remus Lupin apparated with a pop.

"WHOA!" Harry exclaimed. "He dust disappeawred!!"

"We've done that before, Harry, remember? It was when I took you to Hogwarts after I picked you up from the Dursleys," Sirius reminded Harry.

"Oh yeah!" Harry recalled.

Pop! Remus was back. "Here we go." The werewolf shrunk the shoes to fit Harry and slipped them onto the boy's sock-clad feet, tying them tight.

"Okay, ready to go?" Sirius asked, holding out his hand for Harry to take. The boy complied, and the trio headed down the stairs and to the fireplace.

"Yay!" Harry said, knowing what was coming next.

"Harry likes the floo," Sirius told Remus, who nodded in understanding. Sirius lifted Harry up, and they whisked away to Diagon Alley. Remus followed behind them.

Once the three touched down at the Leaky Cauldron, they immediately drew a lot of attention. The trip through the floo had upset Harry's hair even more than usual, and one of the women in the pub noticed his scar. The whole place instantly broke into a frenzy. Echoes of "He's so adorable!" and "I can't believe I just met the boy-who-lived!" and "I always said Sirius would never betray the Potters like that!" followed the three out of the tavern, where Sirius quickly tapped the bricks to get into Diagon Alley.

The second the bricks began to move Harry's eyes grew wide with excitement, but when they stilled revealing the busy street, his eyes looked like they might pop out of their sockets. They headed straight to Madame Malkin's where Harry was fitted for both muggle and wizard clothing. When they left the shop, they carried four bags full of formal, play, school, and night clothes. Next on the list was the shoe shop, where they bought three pairs of shoes, formal, school, and play shoes. Harry was showering his two companions with thanks, which was met with nothing smiles and repetitions of 'No problem, kiddo'.

Was this what it felt like to have a family and be loved?

They stopped off for lunch and ice cream before Sirius decided he would tell Harry about his plan to take the boy to the doctor. He had put it off, assuming he would have to battle Harry all the way there.

"Harry?" Sirius said as he paid for the three ice creams.

"Huh?" Harry replied, cocking his head to the side in curiosity.

"Puppy… I'm going to have to take you to the healer today, too, okay?"

"Otay," Harry replied calmly. He had never been to a healer before.

"Oh… er… okay then," Sirius said, taken off guard.

"Is it bad?" Harry asked, sensing his godfather's apprehension, which in turn caused him to worry.

"No," Sirius replied. "I was just expecting a different reaction." He smiled at Harry. Harry grinned back bemusedly.

Suddenly Remus grabbed Harry from behind and swung him in the air before placing the boy on his hip. At first, Harry was startled, but then he giggled when he realized Remus wasn't intending to hurt him.

Sirius and Harry sat in the waiting room of St. Mungo's. Remus had whispered that this was something Sirius needed to do on his own and bid the two of them 'so long'. Harry swung his feet back and forth anxiously as he waited to be called into the Healer's office. Sirius was pretending to look at a magazine when he was actually watching Harry out of the corner of his eye. The little boy's reaction to having to go in for a check-up was nothing like how Sirius thought it would be. He expected to be holding the sobbing child telling him it was nothing to worry about, much like the witch across the room was doing with her flailing tot. However, Harry was sitting quite composed. The swinging of his legs was the only sign that he might be feeling a bit nervous.

"Harry Potter!" a young witch holding a clipboard called out into the waiting room. Many people turned toward the pair that stood.

Sirius took Harry's hand, ignoring all the whispers, and led him into the office. The young witch, whose nametag read Jenna, looked over Harry quickly while asking Sirius a number of questions over the child's history.

"That will do for now. Healer Cerwyn Irving will be here in a moment to give you the thorough check-up, okay, sweetie?" Jenna told Harry, with a smile. She left, closing the door behind her.

"You doing okay, Har bear?" Sirius asked.

"Uh-huh," Harry replied, nodding. "How tum she puted dat stick on mine tongue?"

"She was pushing your tongue down so that she could look at your throat."

"Oh!"

Just then the door opened and in walked a beautiful witch with dark brown hair and ocean- blue eyes. "Hello, Harry," she said, smiling genuinely. "I'm Healer Cerwyn. How are you feeling today?"

"Um… dood, ma'am… how's you feeling?" Harry asked confused, but still trying to be polite.

"I'm doing quite well, thank you," she chuckled. "And you are?" she asked looking at Sirius.

"I'm Sirius Black, Harry's godfather," Sirius replied smiling back.

"Am I to assume that since you're the one taking him to see me that you're not the one who has done this to him then?" the Healer asked.

"No, that would be his aunt and uncle in Surrey. I picked him up the night before last."

"Oh, good, because I really didn't want to have to get Wizard Children's Needs down here. That's always such a pain!"

"Nope no need," Sirius smiled.

"Okay, Harry, I need you and your godfather to go in the other room there and let him help you take your clothes off and put this hospital gown," Cerwyn said gently.

Harry looked at Sirius, who nodded. "O-otay." He scurried off with Sirius on his tail. When they returned Harry was in the gown, that he practically swam in. Cerwyn lifted Harry up and sat him on the examination table.

"Good," she replied. Then she turned to Harry. "All right, Harry, can you tell me how old you are?"

"Free!" Harry said holding up three tiny fingers. Cerwyn began her inspection.

"Good!" Cerwyn replied. She continued to poke and prod at him "Do you know when your birthday is?"

"Da turty-furst in July."

"Good job! Lie down now on your tummy, sweetheart" Cerwyn said softly. Harry did as he was told and the healer lifted his gown to reveal his rear. "Now Harry can you tell me how you got all the bruises and scars on your bottom?" Harry bit his lip, hesitantly.

"I d-dunno if I tan."

"Why not, love?"

"'Tause I'll det in twouble."

"No you won't, kiddo," Sirius said reassuringly form the corner. "Remember, I told you that we have different rules than your aunt and uncle."

"Oh yeah," Harry said breathily.

"So do you think you can tell me now?" Cerwyn said sweetly.

"Yes, ma'am. It was fwom Uncle Vewrnon," Harry explained. "He used ta det rweally mad and whop me!"

"I see," Cerwyn replied, trying to disguise the anger in her tone. "Here, sit up, honey." She righted Harry's gown and helped him sit upright. "And did your uncle limit your food intake?"

"Uh… huh?" Harry said. "What does wimit food innit mean?"

"Did he ever not let you eat?"

"Oh, yes," Harry replied. "A wot."

"I see that," she said. She was still smiling but her tone was a bit harsher. She waved her wand over Harry for a quick diagnostic charm. She sighed. "Harry, I need you to drink a few things for me. They're going to make you feel better."

"Otay," Harry replied. She summoned three vials and handed the first one to Harry, who drank it down. Then, the second and then the third. Harry's only complaint was the awful face he made afterwards.

"Well done!" the witch said approvingly. She then turned to Sirius and instructed him to give Harry two nutrition potions a day; one in the morning and one at night. Sirius agreed whole heartedly. "Harry will need to come see me again in about a month so I can check on his progress. But, other than that, sweetie, just make sure you eat as much as you can at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, okay?"

"Otay!" Harry nodded.

"Oh! And rub this salve on his bruises and welts tonight. They should clear up by tomorrow afternoon," she added to Sirius. "All right, I think we're done here! Harry, here's a lolly for being such a good boy today."

"Tank you!" Harry exclaimed accepting the candy with a shocked look on his face.

"Okay, kiddo, let's go home," Sirius said gently, lifting Harry off the table. "Thank you, Healer Irving." He shook the woman's hand, and she smiled.

"See you in month!"

A/N: Once again I'm sooo sorry about the wait!! I hoped you liked it! At least it was long right?! R&R! Pwease?