Title: A Godfather's Love
Author: Tina
Fandom: Harry Potter
Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I own nothing.
Summary: Harry and Sirius are alone at Grimmauld Place, both dealing with colds.
Author Notes: Written for the SF Love Challenge, focusing on the love between a godfather and godson.
Bunny: #7

Harry Potter made his way down the stairway at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, remaining silent to avoid disturbing the portrait of Mrs. Black. He was surprised at how quiet and empty the house seemed. As he made his way towards the back of the house he could hear someone moving about in the kitchen. As he approached he door, he heard the sound of several explosive sneezes. "Sirius..." He smiled to himself, grateful it wasn't Mrs. Weasley he heard in the kitchen.

"Bless you Sirius." He called out hoarsely as he entered the kitchen.

"Oy Harry, you're up." He smiled at the boy, wiping at his nose and then tucking his handkerchief back into the pocket of his jeans. His voice was deep with congestion. "How are you feeling?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders, smiling back a his godfather. " 'Bout the same I reckon. How about you?"

"I guess I'm about the same too. Are you hungry?" He gestured at the large pot, simmering before him on the stove.

"Is that chicken soup?" Harry smiled again. "Brilliant!"

"Molly made it before she left. It's for you of course, but she generously offered some to me as well."

Harry chuckled at that, knowing full well Molly Weasley's opinion of his godfather. He was about to respond when he sneezed instead. "Heshoooooo!!! ETCHOOOOO!!!!!"

Sirius looked at his godson with sympathy. "Bless you Harry. Do you need a handkerchief?" He gestured to a stack on the counter and smiled. "Remus left me well supplied."

"No thanks, " Harry sniffed, pulling a handkerchief from his own pocket. "Mrs Weasley left me my own pile on the dresser."

Sirius grinned, "I imagine she's even more smothering than Remus. Which is really saying something."

Harry nodded while blowing his nose and then replaced the handkerchief. "How is Professor Lupin... I mean Remus?" He asked , still having trouble thinking of Remus as anything but his teacher.

"Much better today. He's gone to meet with Dumbledore." Sirius looked relieved. "Seems once he found someone to pass along his cold to, he recovered quickly."

"Same with Ron." Harry agreed. At the time of their arrival at Grimmauld Place earlier in the week, both Ron and Remus had been battling head colds, and Remus had definitely been losing the battle. After several days of constant attention and chicken soup from Molly Weasley both had recovered nicely just as Harry and Sirius had started to sniffle and sneeze.

Sirius served them both soup and they sat at the table to eat. They ate mainly in a comfortable silence, frequently interrupted by sneezing and sniffling from both. Sirius knew Harry was upset about Arthur Weasley's attack and he wanted to talk to him about it, but he also knew that what Harry needed was his support, not his questions. Harry himself was quite relieved that Sirius had not brought up the subject. The thought of it made him sick to his stomach, he didn't think he could stand to talk about it again

After they finished the soup Sirius cleared their dishes. "That woman may be a terrible judge of character," He grinned at Harry, "But she does know her way around the kitchen.". Harry nodded in agreement as Sirius continued. "Fancy a game of chess Harry?"

Harry readily agreed, happy for something to keep his mind occupied. Siris watched Harry closely as they played several games of chess. He still couldn't get over the fact that he was sitting there playing chess with James and Lily's son. His resemblance to James was uncanny, yet there was much of Lily there as well he decided. He wondered how the boy would have turned out had things been different, had his parents lived to raise him, instead of him being raised by those vile muggles. He found himself discreetly wiping a tear from his eye and sniffling wetly as he pondered what could have been. He quickly reached for his handkerchief and blew his nose wetly, "Bloody cold." He muttered, hoping Harry had not noticed the tears.

Several games later Sirius noticed Harry's cheeks turning pink and flushed and his eyes drooping. He was slightly worried about the boy, after seeing how sick Remus had gotten, he wanted to be sure to look after Harry. His own aches and pains did not even enter his mind as he watched his godson. As he ended the game with a victory he looked at the sleepy boy, now starting to shiver "Harry, you look like you need some sleep. How about you head back up to your room and I'll get the fire going for you."

Harry seemed suddenly awake and Sirius say the look of fear that quickly passed in his eyes. "No, really I'm fine Sirius. I'd....I'd like to stay down here, with you." His voice was hardly more than a hoarse whisper, but it conveyed his need to not be alone.

"Alright then," Sirius suggested, "I have a much better idea. Remus left us some hot chocolate, so why don't I make that and the two of us can relax in by the living room fire."

Harry nodded readily, starting to pick up the chess pieces with shaky hands. Sirius gently put his arm around Harry's shoulders. "You let me take care of that Harry, you're shivering." He gently guided the boy into the large living room and seated him on a large couch close to the fireplace. He flicked his wand and ignited a roaring fire. "You stay here and warm yourself by the fire, I'll be back in a minute with the hot chocolate."

Sirius quickly returned with two large mugs of chocolate to find Harry shivering fiercely, staring into the fire. He set down the mugs and summoned a warm quilt form his bedroom. "Here, Harry, this will help to warm you." He leaned forward, to wrap the quilt around the boys shoulders. He leaned in briefly hugging Harry, before standing back up to adjust the blanket. Although Harry knew he was too old for such things the hug had meant a lot to him, and made him feel somewhat safer.

The two sat sipping their hot chocolate, and staring at the fire somewhat sleepily. Harry was jolted back form dozing by a series of harsh sneezes from his godfather. "ETCHOOOO!!! Hetchooo!!!! Hurchoooooo!!!!! Hetch!!!!!" He looked to see Sirius shivering slightly as he fumbled for his handkerchief.

"Bless you," He mumbled sleepily. "Hey, you're cold too. Here," He gestured to the large quilt, spreading it over both of them.

Sirius smiled gratefully and moved closer to the boy, "Thanks Harry, I am a bit cold."

They sat as close as they felt they could. Sirius, not wanting to make Harry uncomfortable, and Harry not wanting to look like a child. Soon both drifted off but Sirius awoke to Harry's cries, "No!, No, no please. Stop it, stop me!"

"Hey Harry," He gently shook the boy awake, looking with worry at the terror in his eyes. "Shhhh, s'okay Harry it's just a dream."

The panic left the boys eyes as he saw his godfather. Sirius touched his forehead and found it somewhat warm, but not really worrisome, he tucked the blanket snugly around Harry and put his arm around the boy. The scene repeated itself several times. Harry was clearly exhausted, but the dreams came frequently. Sirius felt at a loss as how to comfort the boy.

Harry seemed to finally fall into a deeper sleep, but seemed uncomfortable sitting up on the couch. Sirius gently eased him into a lying position and covered him well with the quilt. Wanting to stay nearby he had sat on the floor in front of the couch, resting his hand gently on the boys back, but soon found himself quite cold and uncomfortable. He was going to move to the chair on the other side of the fire, but Harry seemed to stir and whimper whenever he broke contact.

Sensing the boy needed to know, even in his sleep that he was there to protect him, he quickly transformed into to Padfoot, climbed up on the couch and stretched out beside him. Harry opened his eyes for a second with the movement, but smiled at the dog beside him, wrapping his hands in the thick black fur as he quickly feel back asleep, feeling safe and protected, in the love of his godfather.