The cool nighttime breeze blew into Harry Potter's bedroom window, as he stared wishfully up at the glowing stars. Not even their silvery beauty could brighten his spirits that night. Too much had happened, there was to much pain, to much suffering in the world and in Harry's life, he felt he could never be happy again. It took all his strength not to retreat into his own head and hide from the world for the rest of his life.
For one so young, Harry knew too much about the harsh realities of the world. His parents had died when he was just a baby, fighting the evil dark lord Voldemort, who made his life miserable to this very day. After the attack that killed his parents, Albus Dumbledore (headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry would be starting his fifth year in September) had sent Harry to live with his uncaring and magic intolerant relatives, the Dursley's.
Then, during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, he was entered in the triwizard tournament- all part of a plan to bring Voldemort back to full power. Unfortunately, the plan worked, and Voldemort was brought back to his body, but not before Harry's fellow contestant in the tournament, Cedric Diggory was murdered- an image Harry would take to the grave with him. Then, while dueling for his life with Voldemort, the ghosts like forms of Harry's parents, and other murder victims of Voldemort's were forced out of Voldemort's wand, through the priori incantatem spell- another image Harry would never forget.
The events of Harry's school year had shaken him up badly- he and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger hoped he would have an easy, peaceful summer. However, the Dursley's felt vastly different.
The second Harry and Uncle Vernon arrived on 4 Privet Drive, Vernon turned to Harry, looking furious, and his beefy face a dangerous shade of red.
"Boy, there will be none of that funny business this summer! Vernon snarled, his jowls quivering. After that stunt you pulled last summer to our poor Dudley, you need to be disciplined. Everyday you will complete out list of chores before I get home from work, you there will be consequences. He laughed bitterly. Maybe that will get some of that evil out of you."
Harry nodded meekly. His confidence nearly diminished after his traumatic year- not that he had ever been particularly good at standing up to his uncle…
***
Harry shifted his position by his window slightly, so the Dog Star was in sight. He missed Sirius so much. He wished more than anything, that his godfather would suddenly appear in his bedroom and whisk him away to a world where there was no Voldemort, and Sirius was a free man.
Still staring at the bright stars, Harry's thoughts turned back to earlier that summer- the first time Harry felt the consequences.
It was about a week into the summer holidays, around 6:00pm. Harry was in the middle of cooking dinner, when his uncle came stomping into the house and grabbed him by the shirt collar.
"Boy! He roared. What did I tell you about the garden? You're supposed to be WEEDING, not trampling your aunt's flowers!"
"What do you mean? Harry asked cautiously, I weeded the garden this morning, and I don't remember trampling on any flowers?"
Uncle Vernon dragged Harry over to the front window and pointed with a shaking finger to the row of daises on the east end of the garden, where two of the daises lay flattened.
With a pang of guilt, Harry remembered how tired he had been after not being able to sleep last night, so he'd dragged the shovel along after him, instead of carrying it, not realizing that he's accidentally trampled some flowers in the process.
"I'm sorry Uncle Vernon, he apologized, it was an accident, I didn't see them-"
"Accident my ass! You did it on purpose, and you know it" Uncle Vernon roared angrily, shoving him into a wall.
Harry's head thumped against the wall, and he felt a jolt of pain shoot from his head to his stomach. He also felt slightly surprised. Sure, his uncle never minded hurting him before, but this time, there seemed to be a more intense anger vibrating from his body, and a cold glint shone in his eyes as he advanced toward him.
"Let this be a lesson to you boy, Uncle Vernon shouted, as Harry cringed from the putrid breath, which was assaulting his nostrils. Your abnormality will not ruin my family's life!" He finished, and then proceeded to punch Harry in the stomach several times, before walking away to read the evening paper.
Trembling, Harry got up and went back into the kitchen to finish cooking dinner. He knew it was going to be a long summer.
*****
Harry slowly got up from window, careful not to jar is broken ribs- and injury he's received several days ago, for not washing the dishes fast enough, and painfully got into bed. He wondered how close it was until school started again. Over the summer, Harry had lost count of the days, as the beatings grew steadily worse, and his hunger pangs her sharper.
After a few weeks of not cooking the Dursley's food to Aunt Petunia's satisfaction, Harry was forced to live on scraps of left overs, and sour milk. Eventually, Harry's stomach could barely hold any food down- he was throwing up the stale food at least once a day. Then, yesterday, a new, sharper pain emerged in the middle of his abdomen. At first Harry paid no attention to it, since it wasn't as bad as his other aches, but as time went on, the pain was becoming sharper, and concentrating in his lower right abdomen.
Harry shifted in his bed and tried to find a more comfortable position. Apparently there weren't any. Sighing, Harry got up and resumed him place at the window. Fingering the bars that had been fitted to the window at the beginning of the summer, Harry wondered if Azkaban was much worse than this.
****
The next night, Harry was back in his old position by the window. Sleep was out of the question. Last night, after he's finally fallen asleep, he dreamt about Cedric and Voldemort. Always Voldemort…
Harry also knew he's never be able to sleep with the newly formed bruises on his back from his Uncle's belt, and the ever increasing nausea in his stomach. Slowly, Harry turned his dizzy, fatigued head toward the heavens and prayed for a miracle.
****
Miles away, in Manchester Harry's miracle was just getting out of bed. Sleepily, Sirius Black stumbled into the kitchen, where his friend Remus Lupin sat waiting, munching a tuna sandwich.
"Sorry Moony, guess I dozed off there." He said, gabbing a bite of Remus's sandwich.
"That's ok Padfoot, just as long as we get to Harry's house before dawn. Remus said, making no comment about the stolen sandwich. Are you sure about this?" He asked Sirius, a beat later.
Sirius shot up from his chair, and began pacing.
"Of course I'm sure about it! I haven't gotten a letter from Harry all summer, and then Ron wrote to me to tell me that Harry's owl Hedwig showed up, with a note from Harry asking Ron to keep her for the rest of the summer. Something's wrong with Harry, Moony, I just know it." Sirius finished his passionate speech, and sat back down at the table.
Remus knew when to trust his friend, and this was one of those times he decided. Besides, he was getting a bit worried about Harry too. Remus turned to face Sirius, with his old glint back in his eyes.
"Well, let's go then."
Together the two friends apparated to the edge of Little Whinging and prayed that Harry would be ok.
Back in his room, Harry wished desperately for a glass of water. After a few agonizing minutes of intense nausea, Harry had finally vomited into the trash basket by his closet. As much as he wanted the glass of water, he knew it was impossible. A few weeks ago, Uncle Vernon had begun locking Harry in his room at night, for "the family's protection."
Suddenly, Harry heard muffled noises outside his room.
"So the death eaters have finally come for me." His fevered mind murmured.
Harry knew he was too weak to defend himself against a death eater- but he wasn't going out without a fight.
Battling the ever-increasing dizziness, Harry picked up Hedwig's cage, determined to knock out at least one of the death eaters. Harry tensed up, waiting, then-
"Alorhamora!"
"Harry?" a familiar voice asked.
Crash.
"Ouch! Bloody Hell! What was that?"
"Sirius?" Harry whispered incredulously.
"And me." Remus said strolling into the room.
"Professor Lupin? Harry whispered, sitting down, very fast on his bed. I thought you were death eaters."
"Harry, what's been going on? Sirius asked, sitting down beside Harry. Why haven't you written, why did you send Hedwig to Ron's?"
"Wait! Harry cried, avoiding the question. The Dursley's are going to wake up! They'll see you, and-"
Remus smiled, and held up his hand.
"Calm down Harry. We put sleeping charms on all of them. They won't wake up for another six hours."
Harry let out his breath.
"I'm sorry. I'm glad you two are here- I just didn't want you to get caught." His voice trailed off, as he felt another sharp pain in his stomach. During the "death eater attack," he had forgotten all about his pain. Now it was coming back full force.
"Harry? Harry are you ok?" Sirius asked putting a comforting hand on his shoulder."
"Lumos" Harry heard Remus mutter, and a bright light filled the room.
Sirius and Remus gaped at Harry for a few moments, before springing into action. Remus jumped up and went over to where Sirius and Harry sat.
"What happened to you?" He asked softly.
"It was those miserable muggles, wasn't it? Sirius growled, beginning to check Harry over. Ron told me, when he wrote to me that he was worried that they might have done something to you."
Harry shrugged off their questions, not yet ready to answer.
"Blimey Harry, you're burning up!" Sirius exclaimed, feeling his forehead. Remus jumped up,
"Where are your things Harry? We're getting you out of here. Remus said, his face a hard mask, not betrying to emotion he felt underneath.
"My trunk is locked in the cupboard under the stairs." Harry said looking down, not wanting his godfather and former teacher to have to see his face anymore.
"Harry, look at me." Sirius said, putting a hand on the boy's bony shoulders after Remus left the room.
Harry look up at Sirius, startled.
"We're going to get you out of here, where you can live with people who love you, and care about you, and I promise you, we'll never lose contact again. I'll be a better godfather to you Harry."
"Stop. Harry interrupted. You don't have to prove anything, or make up for anything."
"No, Harry, I'm saying these things because I care about you." Sirius said emotionally, enveloping Harry into a tight hug.
Harry wearily laid his head against his godfather's chest. He wondered how much Sirius really meant what he had just said. He wanted to believe him- but there was something holding him back. A part of Harry just wasn't ready to fully trust anyone yet. He had been hurt for too long, and the events of his fourth year, and the summer had wounded him deeper than anyone knew.
*****
A few minutes later, Remus called up the stairs that it was time to go. Harry gathered his belongings that were under the loose floorboard, with some difficulty. Sirius's hug had been murder on his ribs and abdomen. Trying to get his mind off the pain, Harry asked,
"Where exactly are we going?"
"To Remus's house in Manchester. Sirius replied. You do want to leave don't you?"
Harry nodded vigorously.
"Good, because I would have taken you with us even if you refused to leave." Sirius said, glancing toward Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's room with suppressed fury.
After Harry's belongings were bewitched to levitate, the trio set off to the apparation point.
"How are we going to get there? Harry asked. I can't apparate. Are we going somewhere to use floo powder?"
"Nope, we're apparating." Remus answered. When we go, you'll just have to grab onto Sirius or myself. It's a lot like riding in a muggle car. Just because you can't drive it doesn't mean you can't ride in it."
"Oh. Harry said, surprised. So, if we can apparate, why didn't we do it back at the house?"
"Don't you know about the barriers?" Sirius asked him, looking surprised.
Harry shook his head, wondering again why no one ever tells him anything.
"Well, Remus began, there are anti-apparation barriers around your neighborhood, like at Hogwarts, and so we have to walk to the edge of Little Whinging. There are tons of protection wards around your house too." He added as an after thought.
"How were you able to get in then?"
Sirius snickered. "Moony and I conned Dumbledore into taking them down, so we could get in."
Remus rolled his eyes. "We did not, he knew what we were doing the whole time, but you were to exited to play con artist to notice."
Harry started laughing, but quickly stopped. Laughing made him feel like his ribs were being stomped on, and the pain in his abdomen doubled. Harry gasped softly and bent over, hoping the pain would go away.
"Harry, what is it?" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing Harry's arm, as his knees buckled.
"My stomach. Harry gasped. It's been hurting bad for a couple days now… it's getting sharper." His voice grew weaker.
"Here, Sirius, lay him here." Remus commanded.
Sirius laid Harry on a spot in the grass, and tried to cushion Harry's head, then felt his forehead.
"I think his fever's getting higher, Remus." Sirius said, with a not of panic in his voice.
Remus lifted Harry's shirt up, and put his hand on Harry's lower right abdomen.
"Is there were it hurts?" He asked.
Harry stiffened, trying not to cry out, only managing a weak nod. Sirius met Remus's eyes.
"Don't worry Harry, you'll be alright. The same thing happened to your mother, if it's what we think it is." Sirius said trying to reassure Harry.
"We need to get him to a doctor, right now." Remus muttered to Sirius. Sirius nodded and gently picked up the nearly unconscious Harry, and began to hurry toward to apparation point. If Harry's illness was what they thought it was, things needed to happen quickly.
***
By the time Sirius, Remus, and Harry reached the apparation point, Harry was shivering with fever, and Sirius and Remus were getting more and more worried. Especially when the air, about fifteen feet in front of them began to shimmer, like it does when a person is about to apparate into their destination.
"Look." Remus said, pointing to the shimmering spot.
Sirius nodded. Together, guided by an unspoken cue, they crept into the shadows, near a row of trees.
With a pop, two figures appeared, wearing dark hoods. One was tall and skinny. The other, short and plump. The pair stood for a moment, whispering to each other, while Sirius and Remus watched nervously. Suddenly, Sirius was struck by and idea.
"Moony, he whispered. Open Harry's trunk and see if you can find his invisibility cloak. Then, you can take Harry and apparate back to your house."
Remus nodded, considering the idea.
"What about you?"
"I'll just hide here until they leave, then apparate back. Two death eaters don't scare me." He grinned.
Remus glared at Sirius. "You don't even have your wand with you."
"I'll borrow yours! Come on Moony, Harry needs help. The longer we wait, the worse his situation could get." There was a note of pleading in Sirius's voice, which Remus clearly heard.
"Fine, he said, his demeanor softening. Just don't get hurt, or Harry will never forgive us."
Of course fate, as it does with all brilliant plans, interfered.
When Remus opened Harry's trunk, it's rusty hinges let out a terrible squeak, which was easily heard in the still, silent night. For a moment, the world held its breath, then,
"Stupefy!" The curse flew through the trees, narrowly missing Sirius and Harry.
"Go! Remus hissed. Take Harry and apparate back, there's no time, just go!"
Sirius nodded. Holding on tightly to Harry, Sirius and Remus ran for the barrier, praying the death eaters were slow and stupid.
"Impedimenta." The curse hit Remus and he began moving in slow motion. Sirius's mouth went dry. They were dead for sure. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang into the night.
"Remus? Sirius?" The voice asked?
"Who are you?" Sirius asked, trying to shield his godson.
The two figures took off their hood, and familiar red hair gleamed against the night.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?"
For one so young, Harry knew too much about the harsh realities of the world. His parents had died when he was just a baby, fighting the evil dark lord Voldemort, who made his life miserable to this very day. After the attack that killed his parents, Albus Dumbledore (headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry would be starting his fifth year in September) had sent Harry to live with his uncaring and magic intolerant relatives, the Dursley's.
Then, during Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts, he was entered in the triwizard tournament- all part of a plan to bring Voldemort back to full power. Unfortunately, the plan worked, and Voldemort was brought back to his body, but not before Harry's fellow contestant in the tournament, Cedric Diggory was murdered- an image Harry would take to the grave with him. Then, while dueling for his life with Voldemort, the ghosts like forms of Harry's parents, and other murder victims of Voldemort's were forced out of Voldemort's wand, through the priori incantatem spell- another image Harry would never forget.
The events of Harry's school year had shaken him up badly- he and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger hoped he would have an easy, peaceful summer. However, the Dursley's felt vastly different.
The second Harry and Uncle Vernon arrived on 4 Privet Drive, Vernon turned to Harry, looking furious, and his beefy face a dangerous shade of red.
"Boy, there will be none of that funny business this summer! Vernon snarled, his jowls quivering. After that stunt you pulled last summer to our poor Dudley, you need to be disciplined. Everyday you will complete out list of chores before I get home from work, you there will be consequences. He laughed bitterly. Maybe that will get some of that evil out of you."
Harry nodded meekly. His confidence nearly diminished after his traumatic year- not that he had ever been particularly good at standing up to his uncle…
***
Harry shifted his position by his window slightly, so the Dog Star was in sight. He missed Sirius so much. He wished more than anything, that his godfather would suddenly appear in his bedroom and whisk him away to a world where there was no Voldemort, and Sirius was a free man.
Still staring at the bright stars, Harry's thoughts turned back to earlier that summer- the first time Harry felt the consequences.
It was about a week into the summer holidays, around 6:00pm. Harry was in the middle of cooking dinner, when his uncle came stomping into the house and grabbed him by the shirt collar.
"Boy! He roared. What did I tell you about the garden? You're supposed to be WEEDING, not trampling your aunt's flowers!"
"What do you mean? Harry asked cautiously, I weeded the garden this morning, and I don't remember trampling on any flowers?"
Uncle Vernon dragged Harry over to the front window and pointed with a shaking finger to the row of daises on the east end of the garden, where two of the daises lay flattened.
With a pang of guilt, Harry remembered how tired he had been after not being able to sleep last night, so he'd dragged the shovel along after him, instead of carrying it, not realizing that he's accidentally trampled some flowers in the process.
"I'm sorry Uncle Vernon, he apologized, it was an accident, I didn't see them-"
"Accident my ass! You did it on purpose, and you know it" Uncle Vernon roared angrily, shoving him into a wall.
Harry's head thumped against the wall, and he felt a jolt of pain shoot from his head to his stomach. He also felt slightly surprised. Sure, his uncle never minded hurting him before, but this time, there seemed to be a more intense anger vibrating from his body, and a cold glint shone in his eyes as he advanced toward him.
"Let this be a lesson to you boy, Uncle Vernon shouted, as Harry cringed from the putrid breath, which was assaulting his nostrils. Your abnormality will not ruin my family's life!" He finished, and then proceeded to punch Harry in the stomach several times, before walking away to read the evening paper.
Trembling, Harry got up and went back into the kitchen to finish cooking dinner. He knew it was going to be a long summer.
*****
Harry slowly got up from window, careful not to jar is broken ribs- and injury he's received several days ago, for not washing the dishes fast enough, and painfully got into bed. He wondered how close it was until school started again. Over the summer, Harry had lost count of the days, as the beatings grew steadily worse, and his hunger pangs her sharper.
After a few weeks of not cooking the Dursley's food to Aunt Petunia's satisfaction, Harry was forced to live on scraps of left overs, and sour milk. Eventually, Harry's stomach could barely hold any food down- he was throwing up the stale food at least once a day. Then, yesterday, a new, sharper pain emerged in the middle of his abdomen. At first Harry paid no attention to it, since it wasn't as bad as his other aches, but as time went on, the pain was becoming sharper, and concentrating in his lower right abdomen.
Harry shifted in his bed and tried to find a more comfortable position. Apparently there weren't any. Sighing, Harry got up and resumed him place at the window. Fingering the bars that had been fitted to the window at the beginning of the summer, Harry wondered if Azkaban was much worse than this.
****
The next night, Harry was back in his old position by the window. Sleep was out of the question. Last night, after he's finally fallen asleep, he dreamt about Cedric and Voldemort. Always Voldemort…
Harry also knew he's never be able to sleep with the newly formed bruises on his back from his Uncle's belt, and the ever increasing nausea in his stomach. Slowly, Harry turned his dizzy, fatigued head toward the heavens and prayed for a miracle.
****
Miles away, in Manchester Harry's miracle was just getting out of bed. Sleepily, Sirius Black stumbled into the kitchen, where his friend Remus Lupin sat waiting, munching a tuna sandwich.
"Sorry Moony, guess I dozed off there." He said, gabbing a bite of Remus's sandwich.
"That's ok Padfoot, just as long as we get to Harry's house before dawn. Remus said, making no comment about the stolen sandwich. Are you sure about this?" He asked Sirius, a beat later.
Sirius shot up from his chair, and began pacing.
"Of course I'm sure about it! I haven't gotten a letter from Harry all summer, and then Ron wrote to me to tell me that Harry's owl Hedwig showed up, with a note from Harry asking Ron to keep her for the rest of the summer. Something's wrong with Harry, Moony, I just know it." Sirius finished his passionate speech, and sat back down at the table.
Remus knew when to trust his friend, and this was one of those times he decided. Besides, he was getting a bit worried about Harry too. Remus turned to face Sirius, with his old glint back in his eyes.
"Well, let's go then."
Together the two friends apparated to the edge of Little Whinging and prayed that Harry would be ok.
Back in his room, Harry wished desperately for a glass of water. After a few agonizing minutes of intense nausea, Harry had finally vomited into the trash basket by his closet. As much as he wanted the glass of water, he knew it was impossible. A few weeks ago, Uncle Vernon had begun locking Harry in his room at night, for "the family's protection."
Suddenly, Harry heard muffled noises outside his room.
"So the death eaters have finally come for me." His fevered mind murmured.
Harry knew he was too weak to defend himself against a death eater- but he wasn't going out without a fight.
Battling the ever-increasing dizziness, Harry picked up Hedwig's cage, determined to knock out at least one of the death eaters. Harry tensed up, waiting, then-
"Alorhamora!"
"Harry?" a familiar voice asked.
Crash.
"Ouch! Bloody Hell! What was that?"
"Sirius?" Harry whispered incredulously.
"And me." Remus said strolling into the room.
"Professor Lupin? Harry whispered, sitting down, very fast on his bed. I thought you were death eaters."
"Harry, what's been going on? Sirius asked, sitting down beside Harry. Why haven't you written, why did you send Hedwig to Ron's?"
"Wait! Harry cried, avoiding the question. The Dursley's are going to wake up! They'll see you, and-"
Remus smiled, and held up his hand.
"Calm down Harry. We put sleeping charms on all of them. They won't wake up for another six hours."
Harry let out his breath.
"I'm sorry. I'm glad you two are here- I just didn't want you to get caught." His voice trailed off, as he felt another sharp pain in his stomach. During the "death eater attack," he had forgotten all about his pain. Now it was coming back full force.
"Harry? Harry are you ok?" Sirius asked putting a comforting hand on his shoulder."
"Lumos" Harry heard Remus mutter, and a bright light filled the room.
Sirius and Remus gaped at Harry for a few moments, before springing into action. Remus jumped up and went over to where Sirius and Harry sat.
"What happened to you?" He asked softly.
"It was those miserable muggles, wasn't it? Sirius growled, beginning to check Harry over. Ron told me, when he wrote to me that he was worried that they might have done something to you."
Harry shrugged off their questions, not yet ready to answer.
"Blimey Harry, you're burning up!" Sirius exclaimed, feeling his forehead. Remus jumped up,
"Where are your things Harry? We're getting you out of here. Remus said, his face a hard mask, not betrying to emotion he felt underneath.
"My trunk is locked in the cupboard under the stairs." Harry said looking down, not wanting his godfather and former teacher to have to see his face anymore.
"Harry, look at me." Sirius said, putting a hand on the boy's bony shoulders after Remus left the room.
Harry look up at Sirius, startled.
"We're going to get you out of here, where you can live with people who love you, and care about you, and I promise you, we'll never lose contact again. I'll be a better godfather to you Harry."
"Stop. Harry interrupted. You don't have to prove anything, or make up for anything."
"No, Harry, I'm saying these things because I care about you." Sirius said emotionally, enveloping Harry into a tight hug.
Harry wearily laid his head against his godfather's chest. He wondered how much Sirius really meant what he had just said. He wanted to believe him- but there was something holding him back. A part of Harry just wasn't ready to fully trust anyone yet. He had been hurt for too long, and the events of his fourth year, and the summer had wounded him deeper than anyone knew.
*****
A few minutes later, Remus called up the stairs that it was time to go. Harry gathered his belongings that were under the loose floorboard, with some difficulty. Sirius's hug had been murder on his ribs and abdomen. Trying to get his mind off the pain, Harry asked,
"Where exactly are we going?"
"To Remus's house in Manchester. Sirius replied. You do want to leave don't you?"
Harry nodded vigorously.
"Good, because I would have taken you with us even if you refused to leave." Sirius said, glancing toward Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's room with suppressed fury.
After Harry's belongings were bewitched to levitate, the trio set off to the apparation point.
"How are we going to get there? Harry asked. I can't apparate. Are we going somewhere to use floo powder?"
"Nope, we're apparating." Remus answered. When we go, you'll just have to grab onto Sirius or myself. It's a lot like riding in a muggle car. Just because you can't drive it doesn't mean you can't ride in it."
"Oh. Harry said, surprised. So, if we can apparate, why didn't we do it back at the house?"
"Don't you know about the barriers?" Sirius asked him, looking surprised.
Harry shook his head, wondering again why no one ever tells him anything.
"Well, Remus began, there are anti-apparation barriers around your neighborhood, like at Hogwarts, and so we have to walk to the edge of Little Whinging. There are tons of protection wards around your house too." He added as an after thought.
"How were you able to get in then?"
Sirius snickered. "Moony and I conned Dumbledore into taking them down, so we could get in."
Remus rolled his eyes. "We did not, he knew what we were doing the whole time, but you were to exited to play con artist to notice."
Harry started laughing, but quickly stopped. Laughing made him feel like his ribs were being stomped on, and the pain in his abdomen doubled. Harry gasped softly and bent over, hoping the pain would go away.
"Harry, what is it?" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing Harry's arm, as his knees buckled.
"My stomach. Harry gasped. It's been hurting bad for a couple days now… it's getting sharper." His voice grew weaker.
"Here, Sirius, lay him here." Remus commanded.
Sirius laid Harry on a spot in the grass, and tried to cushion Harry's head, then felt his forehead.
"I think his fever's getting higher, Remus." Sirius said, with a not of panic in his voice.
Remus lifted Harry's shirt up, and put his hand on Harry's lower right abdomen.
"Is there were it hurts?" He asked.
Harry stiffened, trying not to cry out, only managing a weak nod. Sirius met Remus's eyes.
"Don't worry Harry, you'll be alright. The same thing happened to your mother, if it's what we think it is." Sirius said trying to reassure Harry.
"We need to get him to a doctor, right now." Remus muttered to Sirius. Sirius nodded and gently picked up the nearly unconscious Harry, and began to hurry toward to apparation point. If Harry's illness was what they thought it was, things needed to happen quickly.
***
By the time Sirius, Remus, and Harry reached the apparation point, Harry was shivering with fever, and Sirius and Remus were getting more and more worried. Especially when the air, about fifteen feet in front of them began to shimmer, like it does when a person is about to apparate into their destination.
"Look." Remus said, pointing to the shimmering spot.
Sirius nodded. Together, guided by an unspoken cue, they crept into the shadows, near a row of trees.
With a pop, two figures appeared, wearing dark hoods. One was tall and skinny. The other, short and plump. The pair stood for a moment, whispering to each other, while Sirius and Remus watched nervously. Suddenly, Sirius was struck by and idea.
"Moony, he whispered. Open Harry's trunk and see if you can find his invisibility cloak. Then, you can take Harry and apparate back to your house."
Remus nodded, considering the idea.
"What about you?"
"I'll just hide here until they leave, then apparate back. Two death eaters don't scare me." He grinned.
Remus glared at Sirius. "You don't even have your wand with you."
"I'll borrow yours! Come on Moony, Harry needs help. The longer we wait, the worse his situation could get." There was a note of pleading in Sirius's voice, which Remus clearly heard.
"Fine, he said, his demeanor softening. Just don't get hurt, or Harry will never forgive us."
Of course fate, as it does with all brilliant plans, interfered.
When Remus opened Harry's trunk, it's rusty hinges let out a terrible squeak, which was easily heard in the still, silent night. For a moment, the world held its breath, then,
"Stupefy!" The curse flew through the trees, narrowly missing Sirius and Harry.
"Go! Remus hissed. Take Harry and apparate back, there's no time, just go!"
Sirius nodded. Holding on tightly to Harry, Sirius and Remus ran for the barrier, praying the death eaters were slow and stupid.
"Impedimenta." The curse hit Remus and he began moving in slow motion. Sirius's mouth went dry. They were dead for sure. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang into the night.
"Remus? Sirius?" The voice asked?
"Who are you?" Sirius asked, trying to shield his godson.
The two figures took off their hood, and familiar red hair gleamed against the night.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?"