Chapter 17
“We can help, you just have to let us, Harry, start one story at a time and go from there we can always make a game of it. After all you want to know more about them too right?” Ron said.
Harry knew that Ron had a good point because what else was a person supposed to do when given a second chance with their family that they thought was gone forever, while it pained him to think about how they would react after seeing their reactions to the few things that he had told them before. Harry knew that the only way to continue was to be completely honest with his parents. Not to mention how much easier it would be now knowing that he had Ron, Hermione, and Sirius here to support him if it went badly.
Seeing Harry’s nod of agreement Hermione took that opportunity to turn to the adults that were in the room she said, “Hermione Granger, nice to meet you. This is Ron Weasley and of course I’m sure you already know Sirius.” With a nod towards the man sleeping in the hospital bed.
Recognizing this as the acceptance that it was of them Lily completely bypassed the handshake that was being offered and instead wrapped both of the kids up in a hug quietly whispering, “thank you for taking care of my son” she felt the tears beginning to sting her eyes meeting the family that her son had created in their absence.
Seeing this interaction James and Harry made eye contact across the room and James shook his head with a small smile as though saying it is how she is. Harry just felt the warmth of his happiness of having all of the people he could want, with the exception of Mark, in one room at the same time. He could truly feel the 11 year-old that looked into the mirror of erased all over again and he couldn’t be happier.
During this interaction, Remus was slowly making his way over to the bed with his shock gradually waning but the anger at the injustice was still very strong. As he got closer he could see many of the signs of constant exposure to dementors that had affected Sirius, the sunken eyes, the greying hair, as well as the malnourished body. He could feel the wolf rising in him at how his friend had been treated.
A few moments later Sirius began to stir and upon seeing Remus by his side said with a croaking voice while trying to rise to a sitting position, “Moony, where is Harry? We have to find Harry!”
Upon hearing Sirius’s voice Harry with a speed that surprised everyone in the room except Ron and Hermione made a dash to the bedside and said reassuringly while slowly pushing Sirius back down on the bed, “Hey, hey! Sirius I’m right here I’m okay relax I promise I will explain everything in a minute I promise its okay.” All while frantically waving at Ron to stop James and Lily who had begun to step towards them when Sirius awoke.
Realizing the siriusness of the situation Ron using the skills engrained in him from avoiding the twins sidestepped in front of the two adults and pointed at the door signaling that they needed to go outside. Sensing that he probably had a good reason Lily complied and pulled James along as well. Hermione and Remus followed in order to give Harry a bit of privacy with his godfather.
Almost as soon as the door was shut James was trying to walk back in, “what are you doing?! We need to be in there!”
With a shake of his head Ron began to explain, “No you don’t. Sirius knows you both to be dead if he sees either one of you before Harry has a chance to explain what all is going on there is going to be one of two reactions. One he believes all of us here to be dead as well and that he failed Harry which honestly is the better of the two options. Or the other is that he thinks that you are all deatheaters that are sent to try to make his mind break in which his reaction would not be pleasant and to be completely honest I don’t think he would be the only one in a hospital bed afterward.”
James gave a nod and silently conjured chairs for each of them and said, “Well, I suppose while we wait we should get to know a bit more about each other.”