Rescued

Madam Pomfrey: Harry

Remus held onto Harry's hand tightly as he turned and concentrated. They appeared a second later at a small cottage in the woods. It looked as if it was out of a fairy tale. The rose bushes were sneakily climbing the walls, and the windows glistened and sparkled from the warm sunlight. There was a garden in the back, and a paved path lazily roamed to a laughing stream nearby. Harry's eyes were wide, this time in awe. This was the humble abode of Remus Lupin.

"Blimey, I forget every time. " Sirius looked fondly at the cabin. Remus smiled.
"Shall we go in?" Harry nodded. "Good." Remus unlocked the door and they stepped into an airy entryway.

"How do you keep this place so clean, Moony? How? I can barely keep that black hole of a house tidy. Not that I try, of course."

"And there you have it. Harry, shall I show you your room?" Remus turned and smiled kindly at the boy. Then he saw something that almost made him lose his breakfast. "Harry? What's that?"

Harry quickly covered his arm and turned away. "What?" Sirius said, confused.

"Padfoot-there's a cut. Or something. And I think it's infected." Moony's face was pale, and slightly green. "We have to get him to Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey."

And so they apparated again. Madam Pomfrey was more than happy to help them. "The poor dear! And, as you two are the guardians, I need to speak to you." She nodded towards the door.

"Whatever you want to talk about can be said in front of Harry." Madam Pomfrey nodded, but didn't look happy. She lowered her voice.

"I need to know background information. Harry has obviously been seriously mistreated. The poor child is almost starving. If you don't tell me where, or how, this happened, he could die. " Remus looked at Sirius, who looked shocked. He hadn't expected things to be this bad.

"He has lived with Petunia and Vernon Dursley ever since his parents died," Remus stated flatly.

"Hmmm. Is that all you know?" Madam Pomfrey looked at the two men. There was a silence, which was broken by a moan of pain so soft it hurt. the healer rushed to the bed, and muttered a spell. She proceeded to scan her wand over Harry's body, and stopped when the light coming from the wand turned red.

"I am going to heal as much as I can right now," she informed the two men. She flicked her wand and Harry's shirt disappeared. His midriff was covered in cuts, scrapes, a deep looking gash, and lots of dried blood. Madam Pomfrey didn't say a word, just muttered spells and in time the small cuts and blood disappeared. The only thing left was a rib that looked very unnatural in the position it was in and the deep gash in Harry's arm.

"Let me do that," Remus offered. Madam Pomfrey was about to apply some cream to the numerous bruises on Harry's stomach. She sighed in thanks. Remus walked over to Harry, who looked paralyzed from fear. The green eyes widened more than Remus thought possible as he stepped forward.

"Harry. I am going to make your owies go away, all right? This won't hurt. See?" and he smeared some of the paste onto his own arm. Harry looked at him, but didn't say anything when Remus began to apply the paste to his bruises.

"Hey, Moony?" Sirius had been silent this whole time, a rare thing.

"Yes?" Remus stopped rubbing in the ointment and turned.

"Lemme have a go. Harry trusts uncle Padfoot, doesn't he?" And to everyone's surprise he nodded.

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They arrived back at Remus's cottage late. After a meeting with Dumbledore and the signing of adoption papers, the small trio walked wearily into the living room.

"Harry, would you like to see your bedroom?" Remus asked. Harry nodded again. Sirius got up too, and happily led the way upstairs.

"So, Prongslet, this is your room." Sirius bowed. "So, kid, what's your favorite color?" Harry looked at Sirius. He was being asked his own opinion? He could choose what he wanted? He had never been given that option. He had never been asked or cared about, because, well, no one cared.

"Red," he whispered. Sirius grinned and flicked his wand. Harry gasped in amazement as the walls turned from the yellowing white to a grand red. On the bare wall a golden lion prowled and roared, and the windows were surrounded with thick gold curtains. Harry's face was split in half with a grin. For once he forgot his worries and quickly hopped onto the master bed that had red sheets. For once, he was truly happy.