Chapter 9: The Unexpected

Bracing himself for another round of tears, Harry smiled cautiously at the Weasley matriarch as she bustled through the doorway, her husband struggling to keep up with her fast pace.

"Oh Harry!" She exclaimed, bursting into tears and engulfing Harry in a tight and rather soggy hug. Over her shoulder he sent Sirius a silent plea to be rescued.

Chuckling in amusement, Sirius placed a hand on Molly's shoulder. "Take it easy Molly, he's still pretty tired and sore."

Mrs. Weasley instantly released Harry. "Oh, I'm sorry dear. Did I hurt you? You should be resting." She sent Sirius a disapproving glare as if it were his fault that Harry was not sleeping at that precise moment.

"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley. I've just had a nap and Madam Pomfrey has just filled me full of disgusting potions for the pain."

It was partially true; he had slept for an hour while waiting for the Weasley's to come. The potions hadn't helped much, but he didn't feel the need to inform Mrs. Weasley of this.

At the mention of the word 'pain' Mrs. Weasley began smoothing his sheets unnecessarily. "You poor boy, you've been through so much." She half-sobbed. "Especially last year with that awful tournament…"

Harry fidgeted with his pajama sleeves uncomfortably. Arthur took this opportunity to take over. "Hello Harry, how are you feeling?" He asked clapping him on the shoulder.

"Much better thanks, " Harry replied, smiling at him gratefully.

"Do you know when you're getting out of here?" Arthur asked, sending a furtive glance toward Sirius.

Harry's face fell and he visibly tensed. Once he was well enough, he would have to return to Privet Drive. He tried not to imagine his uncle's reaction to his survival. A hand gripped his shoulder; Harry flinched instinctively as he saw the sudden movement in his peripheral vision.

"Harry?"

Reluctantly looking up, Harry was surprised to see a hint of excitement mixed with the compassion in Sirius' eyes.

"We'd best be going now." Mrs. Weasley proposed as she looked between Harry and Sirius. "Come on, Ron, Hermione. You can come back to visit tomorrow."

After hasty goodbyes and more crushing hugs from Mrs. Weasley and Hermione, the four left the hospital wing, leaving Harry and Sirius alone.

"Harry? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Harry answered mechanically.

Sirius frowned slightly at the obvious lie. "No, you're not. Something is bothering you, something to do with the Dursleys."

Shifting uncomfortably, Harry opened his mouth to give the usual, automatic response. "I'm f –"

"Harry, please don't lie to me. I want to help you; I know something is wrong. I'd like to think you trust me, at least a little."

"I do trust you." Harry said with conviction. "But…" He trailed off uncertainly, biting his lip nervously, looking as if he wished his invisibility cloak were within reach. "I haven't every really talked about it."

"They're horrible to you." Sirius stated; it wasn't a question. Harry looked up quizzically. "Hermione and Ron told me they used to lock you in a cupboard… Don't be mad at them, I forced them to tell me." Taking a deep breath, he soldiered on. "I also have reason to believe… they may have physically harmed you on more than one occasion…" Sirius' heart dropped as Harry looked up quickly – too quickly – with shock and fear evident in his eyes. "They did, didn't they?" He asked softly, barely constraining his outrage at the Dursley's.

"Yes." Harry whispered, his eyes downcast.

"You've nothing to be ashamed of," Sirius told him emphatically. "If they treat you like that, they never deserved you in the first place." Harry still wasn't looking at him. "Harry, please look at me." When he slowly obeyed, Sirius continued. "You won't be going back there, Harry."

The boy looked disbelieving. "I have to, where else would I go?" He sounded thoroughly dejected.

Reaching into his robes, Sirius pulled out a rolled piece of parchment that had an official-looking seal on it. He unrolled it carefully, almost reverently, before handing it to Harry, who glanced at it less than enthusiastically but did a double take as he read the first sentence.

I, Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister for Magic, hereby declare Sirius Orion Black innocent of all charges for which he was convicted on the 1st day of November during the year of 1981.

He collapsed back against his considerable pile of pillows, feeling lightheaded. Finally finding his voice, he looked at his godfather. "You're free? How? When –"

"Whoa, slow down." Sirius ordered as he gave his bark-like laugh. "Yes, I'm free. As for the how and when, Dumbledore managed to get Fudge to look at Moody's, Tonks' and Kingley's memories that showed me fighting against the Death Eaters at the Ministry. Since all three of them are well-respected Aurors, he couldn't dispute the truth when it was staring him plainly in the face… Well actually, he did at first, but Moody threatened him – don't ask me how he got away with it – Tonks swears he confunded him… but I'm free, have been for more than a week!"

Sirius was almost bouncing around at this point. Harry continued to stare at him. "So…" He stopped suddenly. What if Sirius had changed his mind about having Harry live with him?

Correctly guessing Harry's thoughts, Sirius ruffled his hair. "Hey, no more thoughts like that. I'm in the process of gaining custody over a certain scruffy-haired teen. I want you to live with me. What do you say?"

Harry's huge grin was answer enough. "Do you have a house?"

"Er… not yet… unless you count Grimmauld Place, which I don't." Sirius grimaced at the thought of the dark, unwelcoming house. "Do you have any thoughts?"

"I don't really mind, but I've always thought it would be nice to live in the country; someplace that has large open spaces; where you can see the sky."

Sirius pondered this idea. "That does sound rather tempting…" A mischievous gleam appeared in his eyes. "We'll have to get a place near Hogwarts; I'll need to be close to keep you out of trouble during school term. Merlin, you're worse than me and your father combined!"