Absolutely Adorable

Absolutely Adorable

Author: Prongs

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all things 'Harry Potter.'

A/N: Thank you for the comments and reviews!

Chapter Six: The Potion

………………………

"How do you feel?" James asked the following morning.  

Sirius smiled at his best friend and started to sit up in bed.  James gently pushed him down and held his hand on Sirius' chest.  "You should rest," James commanded.

Sirius decided not to argue and snuggled against the pillow.  "I feel fine, James.  Maybe a little bit weak, but other than that, I'm okay.  I can't stay in bed all day, you know."

James removed his hand from Sirius' chest and sat down on the edge of the bed.  "I know, love."

"So, did you carry me to bed or did I sleep-walk or what?" Sirius asked, glancing around his best friend's bedroom.

James tenderly brushed some strands of Sirius' hair away from his boyfriend's beautiful blue eyes.  "I carried you," he replied.  

"And where did you sleep?  Next to me?" Sirius asked hopefully.

James nodded his head.  

"When did you wake up?" Sirius questioned.  "What time is"

James grinned.  "You sure do ask a lot of questions."

Sirius shrugged his shoulders and grabbed one of James' hands.  "T you you for letting me stay with you."

James squeezed Sirius' hand.  "You don't have to thank me.  I want to be with you all of the time, Siri."

Sirius smirked.  "Are you sure about that?  I can probably get rather annoying sometimes, you know."

James rolled his eyes and pressed a kiss on Sirius' forehead.  "You're not annoying.  And to answer your question, it's about eleven in the morning.  I woke up at ten so that I could send off a few owls."

"Who were you writing to?" Sirius asked curiously.  

"Lily and Remus.  I just wanted to tell them that you were here, all right?  I know they worry about both of us sometimes."

Sirius nodded his head in understanding.  "And who else?"

James sighed.  "Madam Pomfrey."

"About me," Sirius mumbled.

"Yes," James admitted.  

"You didn't say anything to Lily or Remus about me and the eating, did you?" Sirius looked worried.

"Of course not," James replied.  "I told you I wouldn't, Siri, although you should tell them sometime soon."

"I know.  Just not yet.  What did you tell Poppy?"

James snorted.  "She hates it when you call her that."

"I'm well aware," Sirius remarked with a slight grin.  

"I just told her about your eating…and well…I kind of told Dumbledore, too.  I mean, he should know, and they can both probably help you more than I can, Siri.  I want you to get better."

Sirius sighed and closed his eyes.  "I know, James.  I'm sorry I'm such a burden."

James groaned in frustration and climbed onto the bed next to his boyfriend.  "You are nothing of the sort, Siri."  James wrapped his arms around Sirius and tightly embraced his best friend.  "I love you."

"And I love you," Sirius replied as he cuddled up next to James.  

……………….

"I don't think you're anorexic," Madam Pomfrey said after she had finished examining Sirius and listening to his tale of what had taken place.

"I agree," Dumbledore said, stepping forward.

"You're definitely very weak, and had you continued in this manner for much longer, you probably would have been hospitalized," Madam Pomfreytinutinued.  

"Well, even if he isn't anorexic, he isn't okay," James said worriedly.  "How is he supposed to start eating normally again?"

"You're right, Mr. Potter.  He isn't okay.  What we-"

"I'm right here," Sirius said, folding his arms across his chest.  "There's no need to talk about me like I'm not in the room!"

"Sorry," James murmured as he gently rubbed Sirius' back.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he watched the interaction between the two young wizards, but he said nothing.

Madam Pomfrey ignored Sirius' comment and continued speaking.  "I am going to give you a potion that you must take before every single meal," she said, looking at Sirius sternly.  "And by every meal, I mean breakfast, lunch, and supper.  You have to eat all three meals, Mr. Black."

Sirius nodded his head.

"You will drink this potion before each meal, and-"

"You just said that," Sirius pointed out.

James smirked, Dumbledore smiled, and the nurse glared at Sirius.

"You must slowly start eating balanced meals again.  You will have to start very slowly and carefully follow the guidelines in this booklet," Madam Pomfrey said as she handed Sirius a small pamphlet.  "The potion will allow you to keep the food down, unless of course, you over-do it and eat too much.  That's why it's very important to read through the foods listed in that booklet I just gave you."

"Sirius, you also shouldn't work for several weeks, and you needget get plenty of rest," Dumbledore recommended.

"Can't I at least keep one of the jobs?" Sirius asked.

The Headmaster shook his head.  "You need to give your body time to relax and heal itself.  As soon as you are back to normal, you can start working again."

"If anybody will hire me," Sirius muttered.

Dumbledore placed his hand on Sirius' head and looked into the bright blue eyes of his former student.  "As soon as you have healed, you will find a job, I can promise you that.  In the meantime, I do not want you to think about work or your parents or anything that might cause you any stress."

"What about the jobs I'm working now?  I have to let them know that I'm not going to-"

"I have already taken care of that," Dumbledore interrupted, smiling at Sirius and James.  

"Here is the potion," Madam Pomfrey said as he handed Sirius a large bottle.  "The label tells you exactly how much to take.  I will need to see you again in two weeks, unless of course, something goes wrong.  In that case, I'll need to see you sooner."

Sirius nodded his head and thanked the headmaster and nurse.

………………..

Sirius looked at the food on his plate apprehensively.  "Just looking at it makes me feel sick, James."

"I know, love.  But you took the potion, so that should help you eat this food.  It's just half of a sandwich, which isn't that much."

"Easy for you to say," Sirius grumbled as he slowly picked up the sandwich and took a small bite.  

James worriedly watched his boyfriend for several minutes until Sirius finally threw a small piece of crust at James.

"What was that for?" James asked, pulling the tiny piece of bread out of his hair.

"You're watching me eat!" Sirius exclaimed.  "It's bizarre, James!"

James just chuckled and tried to focus on his own lunch.  Out of the corner of his eye, he kept a close watch on Sirius, though.

Finally, nearly half an hour later, Sirius finished his lunch and allowed his boyfriend to lead him into the living room and onto the sofa.  James sat down and pulled Sirius onto his lap.

"I guess tomorrow we need to start moving things out of my flat," Sirius mumbled.  He pressed his head against James' shoulder and yawned.

"We can wait several days," James replied as he protectively wrapped his arms around Sirius' body.  "And I'm sure Remus and Lily will help us."

"MmmHmm," Sirius said tiredly.  "Mind if I take a nap?"

"Not at all," James said softly.  "Here or in the bedroom?"

"Where will you be?"

"Wherever you want me to be."

Sirius grinned and pushed James back onto the couch.  He snuggled up on top of his best friend and closed his eyes.  "Here is just fine," Sirius whispered before falling asleep.

TBC

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