And the latter was just stupid, a small voice inside Harry's head whispered that sounded remarkably like Healer Fay. Why was it so important that the Headmaster cared for him? He had other people in his life, other adults, who really cared about him; Padfoot and Moony – Aunt Minerva. If he was going to forgive the Headmaster then shouldn't it be because it was the right thing to do if it was a genuine apology not just because Harry wanted the man to continue liking him?
Confusing, mused Harry, it was all too confusing. He shifted again under the covers as his body responded to his mind's restless thoughts.
Sirius's thumb rubbed over his knuckles as though to calm him and it did surprisingly enough. He let his eyes drift open and found Sirius looking back at him with a warm smile.
"Hello Sleepyhead." Sirius greeted him. "How are you feeling?"
"Groggy." Harry said.
Remus cleared his throat on the other side of the bed. "I'll leave you to catch Harry up, Sirius. There's a book in the library at the Manor I want to get before dinner." He ruffled Harry's bedhead hair with a smile and walked out.
"Want the bathroom?" Sirius asked bluntly.
Harry nodded. "A shower, I think." He felt grimy.
"Let's see how you do when you get on your feet." Sirius said. He let go of Harry's hand and pulled back the covers.
Harry gingerly swung his legs around and set his feet on the floor. He took Sirius's offered hand and pulled himself up. A slight rush of dizziness pulled at him but he kept his head up and everything steadied. It was much better than the other times he'd tried it that day.
"OK." Harry said.
Sirius walked him over to the en-suite and Harry exchanged Sirius's arm for a wall.
"I'll be fine." Harry said.
"Five minutes." Sirius said. "Don't linger and if you need me, yell, even if you're naked; understand?"
Harry felt his face redden but he managed a brief nod. He used the facilities and had a quick shower mindful of the time limit. He managed to wash his hair, soap and rinse his body haphazardly. He stepped out and wrapped a towel around himself, grateful when he walked out and Sirius was immediately there to help him over to the bed. Sirius had gotten a clean pair of pyjamas ready for him and it looked like the bed had been changed. Sirius ducked momentarily into the bathroom to set it to rights and gave him some privacy to change. Harry pulled on the pyjamas and climbed back under the fresh duvet with a sigh.
Sirius called Dobby and a tray appeared for Harry; chicken broth with dumplings, a glass of milk and a slice of chocolate cake. Another tray appeared for Sirius who glared at the milk.
Harry hid a smile and tucked into his dinner. He had demolished the broth and was just starting the chocolate cake when Sirius cleared his throat.
"So how much did you hear?" Sirius asked.
"All of it pretty much." Harry said, honestly. "Did you really almost incinerate Professor Dumbledore?"
"I got mad and the house magic reacted." Sirius admitted just as honestly. "But we worked it out and as you heard; he's keen to apologise to you." He held Harry's gaze. "I really do believe he didn't know how bad it was for you there. He was quite upset when I explained."
Harry nodded slowly and took advantage of eating his cake to avoid responding. He wasn't certain what he felt about an apology and forgiving the Headmaster anymore.
"You alright?" probed Sirius gently.
"Just…" Harry poked his cake. "I guess I was thinking about whether I wanted to forgive Professor Dumbledore."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Harry took a deep breath and met Sirius's eyes. "I was thinking I wanted to forgive him because I wanted him to still like me but that's stupid, isn't it? I should hear his apology and then forgive him if I think he means it."
"Well, I wouldn't say it was stupid so much as human." Sirius said gently. "Everybody wants to be liked and nobody really likes confrontations or rejection. But you're right in that if somebody has wronged you, you should forgive them only if they're genuinely sorry not for any other reason – and if they're a true friend then they'll be genuinely sorry."
Harry nodded. "Will you arrange something with Professor Dumbledore then?"
Sirius nodded. "For next week."
"And you're OK with me giving him a second chance?" Harry checked, remembering Sirius's words to Remus.
"I am and I'm very proud that you've thought about your reasons for doing so." Sirius reassured him. "And second chances are a good thing sometimes."
"Like with the Malfoys?" Harry asked dryly. The Malfoys had been a topic of much discussion when they'd gone over their strategy for the family meeting. Harry had been all for treating them the same as the LeStranges.
"Well, that's not so much a second chance as delayed judgement." Sirius grinned. "Old Lucy seems to have realised it. Some of his prominent supporters were actually quite helpful today."
"I still don't like it. I doubt he's genuinely sorry."
"Possibly not but we need him – at least until old Voldepants is gone for good." Sirius smirked mischievously. "Then we'll go with the plan of dropping him and your Uncle Vernon naked in Diagon Alley with 'guilty' tattooed all over them. Maybe we'll even handcuff them together."
Harry couldn't help laughing at the mental image. "Can I just say eww?"
A yawn took him by surprise and a moment later he was divested of his tray and encouraged to snuggle back down under his duvet.
"Are you staying with me?" Harry asked sleepily as Sirius retook his seat.
"Where else would I go?" Sirius remarked with a smile. "Go to sleep, Pronglet."
Harry smiled back, had a momentary thought that it was nice to have Sirius, someone who cared about him, because Aunt Petunia would never have stayed, and in the next instant was fast asleep.
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