Disclaimer: I own nothing you may recognise in any of my fics. I simply borrow the odd character and play with them a little.
Not Alone Anymore – Resolving Issues: The Morning After.
When Harry woke up, he was surprised to find himself wound very tightly around his Godfather. They were both lying on what looked to be Harry's bed at Hogwarts, underneath the blanket. He sighed a touch too loud in relief that he wasn't devoid of clothing. Even at his age, that would be far too odd.
Realising he would not be able to get free of his Godfather, he manoeuvred himself into a more comfortable position. It was only when he had stopped moving however, that he realised Sirius was actually awake. He figured that his sigh has awoken the man. He looked into blue eyes and grinned cheekily.
"Sirius, you really are a very attractive man but this is taking it a little too far, don't you think?" His Godfather chuckled lightly before his face lost all mirth and his eyes took on a saddened, haunted air. It was at that moment that Harry's memories form the previous night flooded back into the forefront of his mind.
Numbly, he disentangled himself from his Godfather, swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat there with his elbows resting on his knees and his head in his hands. After a few moments of silence, he ran both hands over his face and rose to his feet.
"I keep screwing things up with James don't I?" He asked the man on the bed as he looked out of a near by window. He heard the bed covers shuffle slightly before he received his answer.
"How do you mean?" Sirius asked as he leaned back against the headboard.
"I mean he's my father. Anyone in the situation I was in last night wouldn't have run into their Godfather's arms and cried themselves to sleep. They would have gone to their father." His Godfather sighed.
"I'm sure James understands why you did what you did. You were upset, and you know me a little better than you do him. I know that's an awful thing to say but it's true. There's no use denying it." He got up from the bed and walked over to his Godson. He then pulled the werewolf into a loose embrace. "He understands." He kissed Harry's temple and released him.
The younger man turned around and looked at his companion.
"I know, I just... I know what I'd feel like if I'd have been in his position with Lily in mine. That's all." With a sigh, Harry walked towards the bathroom door, stopping as his hand rested on the door-knob and turning to face his Godfather once again. "Tell Remus, mom and dad I'll be down soon." At Sirius' nod, Harry continued into the bathroom, closing and locking the door firmly behind him.
Once alone, the young father walked over to the shower area and turned the faucet so the water released was at the perfect temperature for him. He stepped away from the spray for a moment and removed the clothing he was still wearing from the previous night. When he was devoid of all clothing he stepped in front of the mirror above the sink and stared at his reflection with a blank expression.
She'd been tortured.
All this time; in a St.Mungo's bed beside Frank Longbottom.
She'd been tortured and it had been occurring while he was but a few meters from her.
He had wanted to have her as Lily's Godmother. Snape was Godfather and he'd planned on asking Ron to be one also but he wanted more than anything for Hermione to be Godmother.
Tears welled up in his eyes, but none did he shed. The wizarding mirror wisely refrained from commenting on Harry's attire, or lack there of.
Turning away from his reflection, a look of self-loathing and utter disgust on his face, he walked over to the shower and stepped inside. Only then did he allow the tears to fall, mingling with the hot, harsh spray of water cascading down his body.
When Harry stepped into the Great Hall a full hour after he had awoken his features were carefully schooled so none of the students and most of the staff would sense anything was amiss. However, the front in place did not escape certain people's notice.
A few students smiled brightly at him, wishing him a good morning as he walked slowly down the centre isle. He returned the gesture with a small, forced, but believable smile and a slight nod before continuing to walk. He had gotten about half way across the hall when he locked his eyes with those of his young daughter. He could immediately see the difference wash completely over them.
At seeing her Daddy, Lily beamed with barely suppressed glee. She had missed him the night before and had refused to go to sleep without him being in the castle. She had however, much to her chagrin, fallen asleep in her other Daddy's arms whilst waiting. So when her Daddy entered the hall this morning it took all she was not to go bounding down the centre isle and jumping into those comforting arms.
The smile on her face had quickly faded though, when she had looked into his eyes.
She could tell her Daddy was sad and it made her confused and sad to think it. Ignoring the calls for her to return to her seat, Lily stood up, pushing her chair away, got on her knees and proceeded to crawl underneath the head table. She appeared at the other side of said table, got to her feet and ran down to her father.
Harry smiled sadly the sight of his concerned child as she ran down towards him. He knelt down on one knee and as soon as said knee touched the floor his arms were filled with a whole lot of Lily. He grinned despite himself and hugged her just as tightly as she was hugging him.
"Where did you go Daddy?" the girl asked as Harry rose from his position, Lily still locked in his arms, and began his journey to the head table again. He positioned her so she was resting on his right hip with his right arm holding her upright in it position around her back while his left hand kept her leg in place while he walked.
"I went to the hospital, sweety." He said in a low voice he knew only Lily could hear. He didn't want his affairs to be any more public than he did when he was a student at the school. The child looked at his face and frowned.
"Why?" she asked and his sad smiled returned.
"I went to see Aunty Hermione." He answered.
By now He was settling in his seat beside Remus and the empty seat that was obviously Lily's. He deposited the child on the chair she had just vacated and turned to face the breakfast that he knew he wouldn't be able to eat.
"How was she?" Remus asked, having heard the last sentence his partner spoke. Harry turned a pained look to him.
"She has a bed next to Frank Longbottom, you do the math." He spat out bitterly, apologising to Remus with his eyes.
The older wizard lowered his eyes to the table, a sadness that hadn't been in them since Sirius' death burning at full force. He felt a hand on his shoulder and jerked slightly before facing Sirius himself.
"Remus..." He began but found he didn't have any words to say that would be of comfort. The werewolf appreciated the sentiment all the same and nodded his head thankfully. He then rose from his seat and proceeded to exit the hall.
Harry was about to follow him when the Headmistress' hand fell on his arm. He looked at the hand and then at the woman curiously.
"Let him be for the time." Was all she said before turning back to a Professor on her other side.
Harry stared longingly at the door his husband had just passed through and sighed. He knew he shouldn't have been short with Remus and there was little, logical reason for him to have been, but the emotions that were raging through his system had given him no choice. His eyes fell to the table once again.
"Sirius, will you take Lily out this morning around the grounds?" He waited for his Godfather's acceptance, kissed his daughter's forehead and exited the hall via the door behind the end seat of the Head table.
Sirius shook his head, his heart going out desperately to both his friend and his Godson. He turned to his God-granddaughter... of sorts and plastered a genuine smile on his face.
"You done Princess?" He asked her. She looked from him to her half empty plate of pancakes and back to him again. She then grinned and nodded her head vigorously. Laughing, he picked her up and proceeded to carry her from the hall, exiting via the large entrance doors.
"We going out Paddy?" Lily asked the man, an excited smile on her face. He laughed at her enthusiasm as they stepped into the Entrance Hall.
"Sure we are, Sweety. Can't be going against your Daddy's orders now can we?" He joked and the child in his arms pretended to think for a moment before making a face and shaking her head, all the while, her laughter ringing throughout the hall.
All of a sudden though, her laughing ceased. Curious, Sirius glanced down at her to make sure she was alright only to find her staring directly ahead. He followed her gaze and stopped dead. There on the first landing at the top of the three steps that lead up to the main castle door, stood a dishelved looking Ron Weasley. Blue eyes narrowed as the older wizard prepared for the verbal attack he assumed was coming.
But instead of words being crossed, the child in his arms wriggled from the grasp he had on her and landed on the floor. She then proceeded to run to the other man.
"Uncle Ron!" She shouted out, remembering the face of the man her father had shown her in photos many-a-time.
Momentarily stunned at the new development, Ron didn't react to the child that was closing in on his location but soon enough, he shook his head free of the mist that had formed and bent down on one knee to meet her. He didn't open his arms to her, but kept them limp at his sides, not sure how to deal at that moment.
Lily practically flew across the distance between them and threw her arms around the red haired wizard's neck. "Uncle Ron." She repeated, tightening her grasp.
Tears welled up in his eyes; tears that started to fall when eyelids dropped and his arms finally wound their way around the child before him. "Lily." He whispered into her dark locks.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Review what you've read and I will be most appreciative.
Written by Messrmarauder.