Chapter 29
Harry clung to Tom’s robes, shaking his head. ‘No bed bad no no no.’
Tom tried not to sigh. ‘Harry, you have to sleep. I’m not going to spell you asleep, but you must sleep. Our bodies need sleep to be healthy. I can stay with you all night if you like, but you must sleep.’
Harry’s chest heaved with silent sobs. The boy hadn’t slept since he’d returned, almost drifting off then jolting awake in panic each time. Tom was at his wit’s end, but he couldn’t bear the thought of spelling the distressed child to sleep and shattering the trust he had worked so hard to build.
Tom had been pacing slowly up and down the hallway, but with a heavy sigh, he turned for his study. Perhaps the boy might doze off there, in Tom’s lap while he looked over paperwork. Anything was worth a shot.
He found Lucius and Severus in his office already, looking over a plan they had been drawing up for a new bill to be presented to the Wizengamot. They both gave him sympathetic glances when he walked in with Harry stuck to him like an over-tired limpet, fighting sleep with a near-feral desperation.
A Howler gliding through the window was utterly unexpected.
‘Black Lord calling for Dark Lord!’ came Sirius Black’s sing-song voice. ‘Seriously, Severus, I know you’re probably at his camp or whatever. Come and get me and bring me there. I want to talk to him. I heard what Harry said. I want to have a chat to your Lord. The wards are open to you. Hurry up.’
Severus turned his shocked gaze to Tom, who gave a tired nod. ‘Be careful of an ambush. Bring him here if you trust him not to cause trouble.’
Severus nodded, heading out the door.
‘Well. That was unexpected.’ Lucius said mildly.
Tom leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. So tired…
Severus returned barely a few minutes later, Sirius Black in tow.
‘Nice place you’ve got here, Tom!’ Sirius said brightly.
‘That’s Dark Lord to you, Black.’ Lucius said warningly.
‘Nope. Harry is my godson, and he considers ol’ Tom his dad, so that makes us family!’ Sirius beamed.
‘Is he mad?’ Lucius asked Severus quietly.
‘Maybe. He’s not deaf though.’ Sirius said, clicking his tongue. ‘Hi Harry. You alright?’
Harry had lifted his head from Tom’s chest to look at the newcomer. The man from that house! He was nice. His glow was looking a bit better today. Harry gave him a small smile.
‘You look worn out, pup. Can’t sleep?’
Harry shook his head, rubbing his face against Tom’s chest.
‘Well, no wonder – it’s morning! Mornings are for watching walls. Come on, let’s go find a good wall to look at.’ Sirius stepped up close and plucked Harry from Tom’s surprised grasp, and to everyone’s shock, Harry just let him.
Nobody else had been able to do anything to help the boy – he had clung stubbornly to Tom as if his very existence depended on it.
Sirius wandered out of the room, asking Harry where the good walls were, before following Harry’s pointing to the right.
‘What on earth… Did he say they’re going to look at a wall?’
‘Morning are for watching walls.’ Severus said knowingly.
‘Am I hallucinating?’ Tom asked quietly. ‘I must be hallucinating.’
Sirius followed Harry’s pointing until they reached a narrow set of stairs leading up. ‘The owlery? Did you remember I said I liked looking at stone walls?’ Sirius asked with a smile, climbing up the stone steps until they reached the top, then settling them both down against one edge, staring across the round room at the opposite wall. ‘Great spot, Harry.’
Harry nodded, eyes fixed on the opposite wall. Sirius waited until Harry was asleep before he let his own mind drift. It only took a couple of minutes.
Severus had followed at a distance, staying out of Harry’s sight. He climbed partway up the owlery steps, peeking over the top step and seeing Harry slumped fast asleep in Sirius’ lap. He smiled to himself, heading back to the study.
‘Harry’s asleep, my Lord. Go and get some rest too.’
Tom gaped. ‘How?!’ he demanded. ‘They’ve not been gone five minutes!’
‘We’ll ask Sirius later. Go and rest, my Lord.’
Tom grumbled a little more but stood and headed for his bed. He really was exhausted. An hour’s nap… maybe two. Then he’d be right as rain. Hopefully.
Lucius was giving Severus a sly look. “Sirius’, is it? First name basis?’
Severus blushed, making Lucius gape openly. ‘Merlin’s beard, stone-faced Sev has a crush!’
Lucius yelped as the stinging hex landed on his shoulder, but it didn’t diminish his grin.