Padfoot and his Pup

22. | Midnight Adventures - Part III

Harry would've fallen face first into the carpet had it not been for Sirius. Despite having done a side-along a couple of times, he wasn't sure if he would ever be comfortable with Apparation. Or the floo for that matter.

"Sirius, I'm s—"

Whatever he wanted to say was cut off by Sirius. Strong arms wrapped around him, crushing him to his godfather's broad chest.

A hug? Overcoming his momentary surprise, Harry all but sagged against the man, gripping the back of Sirius's shirt tightly. "M' sorry," he mumbled into his shoulder.

"Bloody hell, pup,"as Sirius's hand moved upward to comb through Harry's hair, he felt the man freeze when his fingers brushed against the bandaid on the back of his head.

"You're hurt." It wasn't a question.

"I'm okay, I swear. It's nothing." He didn't remind Sirius how he'd had far worse before because although Harry was relatively new to this whole parent-child caring thing, even he knew that was the wrong thing to say to a worried godfather.

Instead, he allowed Sirius to pull away and inspect the wound for himself.

With a gentleness that was reserved solely for his godson, he tilted Harry's head downwards and peeled off the bandaid, fingers lightly probing the area for any more damage. Sirius took out his wand and cast a healing spell, effectively sealing the cut.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

They sat down in the living room. Harry tucked himself in the corner of the sofa and shook his head, hugging his knees to his chest.

Sirius didn't miss the significance of the move. It was almost as though the boy was attempting to shield himself, making himself as small as possible.

He sat down on the coffee table, forearms resting on his legs, hands laced together. "Tell me what happened, Harry. The inspector told us what he knew but, I'd like to hear your side of it as well."

In a voice all too small and forlorn, Harry narrated the entire thing to him, right from the moment the twins had suggested to take the car out for a drive to when they were taken to the police station. He described how the car's engine started to fail which ultimate resulted in them crashing to the ground.

"I know I said it was the twins' idea to sneak out, but it was my decision, Sirius. I decided to go with them. It was foolish and dumb and stupid but it sounded really exciting at the time and I knew I shouldn't have agreed to it but I did and everything went wrong and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I ruined your sleep and that you had to come and get me. I was stupid and we were nearly caught by muggles."

"Ha—"

"You trusted me to behave and I messed up and now you're mad at me and you should be but I swear, I'll never do anything like this ever again."

"Cou—"

"I won't screw up again. You don't have to worry anymore."

Dear sweet Merlin

Sirius was speechless. Had Harry really been carrying all that around the entire night? The boy wasn't crying but Sirius could tell that he was close. Throughout his monologue, there had been something pleading, nearly desperate in the lad's emerald eyes. Now, his gaze was glued to the plush carpet, shoulders hunched inward, firmly refusing to look at Sirius.