Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Preventative Measures	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 151582 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 30
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this work in perversion

Chapter List
- 36
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- 38
Chapter 37

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Just a reminder of what's on my profile: reviews complaining or whinging about the lack 'o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

Making sure that Harry was busy with Remus working on the school schedule, Sirius grabbed Snape to talk to him alone about a couple things. It had been two days since that first nightmare and they kept happening, so he wanted some advice on what he should do or where they might be coming from. He had an inkling on the latter, but wanted to make sure before he pressed on.
Taking a seat in one of the back parlors, Severus settled in then asked, “What is it you need?” He assumed it was about Harry, but wanted to make sure.
“I need to pick your brain on a couple of issues as you've had experience with them,” Sirius told him, getting comfortable after taking a seat on the settee in there. Quickly, he gave Severus the rundown about the nightmares. Shaking his head, he said, “It started the day before yesterday. I’m not sure where they are coming from, honestly. He's had a couple since moving in, but not like these. At first, I thought they might be because we were talking about some tetchy areas, like what happened in the graveyard and dealing with Dudley afterwards, but I'm not sure now. That's what I wanted to get with you about. Could it be that or what you talked about when we found out he has a court date?”
Thinking it over, Severus asked, rubbing his chin as he did, “Were the discussions detailed about what went on or just the general kind?”
“Just general. I didn't get into anything that actually happened in the graveyard or some of the more troublesome bits. We just brushed against them when they came up in the conversation about other things,” Sirius explained. “What we were really talking about was how some relationships were formed. Those were just part of that.”
Nodding to let Black know he heard, Severus thought it over then sighed. “I'm betting, though what happened with the events you talked about might be a small part of it, what it's triggering is what I discussed.” Folding his arms over his chest, brow furrowed, he asked, “How bad are they and can you get them calmed?”
“I can, but they aren't like the ones he had before this,” Sirius admitted with a sigh. “It takes actually picking him up and moving to the rocking chair get them to stop. Even then, it takes some time. I'm not sure about waking him to make them stop, honestly. Before, with the others, I just curled up to him and talked, nothing more than that, then they seemed to stop. These—that's not happening.”
“That probably means they are being triggered by the looming hearing,” Severus groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “And they may have ventured into the realm of night terrors rather than just nightmares.” Shaking his head, he sighed, “All I can suggest is keep doing what you are doing and find something that might help more, since I imagine they are going to grow worse as that court date draws closer.”
“I have a couple of things I can put in place,” Sirius assured him. “They're a bit rougher than what I've done so far, so it's going to take some time. I'll give it a shot and start today.” Shaking his head, he asked, “How much would it help keeping him busy during the day so he's exhausted?” That he wasn't counting on as the first night he noticed it they were both tired for working on the backyard, but wanted to see.
“That won't work,” Severus admitted with a shake of his head. “It may help with what he's dealing with during the day, but it won't for the nightmares. We won't discuss Dreamless Sleep for it either. That—it may make an already bad situation worse, since he would use it to hide from them, thus having a chance for addiction. I've noticed that he seems more tired than normal in the mornings.”
“He's not waking up from them, but he does say he remembers what they were about,” Sirius explained. “I've asked about them to see if I could get out of him what the topic is, but he won't say.”
“I didn't think he would,” Severus groused. Shaking his head, he admitted, “There just isn't a lot we can do to help. Until that hearing is over, I imagine it's going to grow worse. All we can do is reassure him that there isn't anything to worry about. Though I doubt that will help either. It's just the idea of not only facing them, but the possibility of them getting off and him being forced back. At least that's what we've heard in the classes we've had to take on it. While we know he won't have to go back, as the emancipation is in place and nothing can reverse that, the fear is probably there as Albus did just that, even when Harry did what he should have.”
“Bloody wonderful,” Sirius groaned, head going back and eyes sliding shut. “I'll set up what I can and go from there.” Head coming up, he looked at the man then said, “There is something else I've got in place, but I need your help with it.” Seeing Snape motion him to go on, he explained, “It's about setting it up to where if he needs to talk about some of this nightmare that he has somewhere to go. I've not had to learn what you did on part of it, but even I know the more he talks the better off he's going to be in handling some of it.”
“Very true,” Severus conceded with a nod. “What is it you need?” Considering the topic, he doubted it was something he had an issue with.
“With school about to start again, I wanted you to make sure you had that mirror on you at all times. He's more comfortable talking with you about some of this, for various reasons, including that you know just what happened and he wouldn't have to go into the whole whatever to explain it to me. I told him that if he couldn't talk to me, that he could go to you and I wouldn't be upset. It was just a case of me wanting to make sure that outlet was there.”
“Of course,” Severus told him with a nod. “I'll make sure to get with him and tell him to do just that. It might take me some time to get back with him once the term starts, but I will as soon as I'm able. If it's a big enough issue, I'm sure that I can wiggle to get out of the castle for an hour or so to come talk to him in person.”
“Good,” Sirius said, relieved. “I just want as much in place as we can get before you have to go back.” Stopping, he thought it over then said, tone distracted, “Get with Lucius to see if he and Narcissa can charm a book for you like he did for Harry and me. That way Harry can just write it out. That might be easier on him for some of these bits.”
“Another good suggestion I'll take,” Severus agreed, planning to do just that. “You and Lupin do need to sit down with me and go over how to handle some of this once I go back.”
“We'll set aside a day for that soon,” Sirius told him. Sighing, he shook his head then said, “There are some other bits as well that relate to the mess with Albus. I'm not sure what you can do to wiggle around and find out, but, for all our sakes, I think we need to know.”
Honing in on that, knowing such areas were needed, Severus asked, “What kind and is it Albus I need to talk to or someone else?”
“Some areas only that old man knows, but one isn't.” Looking at him, Sirius asked, “Is there any way to talk to the Sorting Hat without Albus finding out or it saying something to him?”
Brow drawn down, Severus asked, completely bewildered, “Why? What can it tell us?” That—he had no idea how it could relate.
“Severus, from what Harry told me early on, before he came here and while we still using the mirrors to talk every night, then he explained it more last night when I asked, it sure as hell sounds like something was wonky with his Sorting. Even Harry said that Gryffindor wasn't mentioned much in where it wanted to put him. Before you ask, he made it clear that he really didn't give a damn what house he went in. Now he says that if he knew then what was coming, he would have asked for Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. From what he told me, that hat was leaning towards putting him in Slytherin, that it was mentioned more than the others, though the other leaning seemed like Ravenclaw. He told me Gryffindor wasn't mentioned but in passing. That seems wonky to me.” Shrugging, Sirius admitted, “With all he went through and how he had to deal with his family, Slytherin seems like it would be the best choice. There is courage, no doubt there, but he said it just wasn't mentioned much. Which tells me something is off with it. And I think it's something we need to know to help put the pieces together of what in the hell is going on.”
Looking at Black, Severus thought over what was said. He knew that the hat had mentioned putting Harry in his house, as Harry himself had told him that. What he didn't know was it wasn't more than a passing mention because they hadn't discussed it in depth. Now he was more than slightly curious. “Harry didn't ask for a specific house?” He inquired, just to make sure.
“No,” Sirius told him with a shake of his head. “Harry said that he didn't care, honestly. He heard bias against Slytherin from Hagrid, something we know where it comes from, but he didn't care where it put him. Even Harry says that he thinks something was off with that sorting. From what he's told me, it sure as hell sounds like it as well. I just don't know what.”
“I'll see what I can manage,” Severus told him, decidedly curious about this as well. “In all honesty, it's probably best he didn't get sorted into Slytherin, what with everything that's gone on.”
“Something else Harry said too,” Sirius nodded. “This—it strikes me as it relates to this mess as well. It really does. There is just that feeling about it.”
“I'm sure it does,” Severus told him distractedly, wondering how to go about finding the answers he now wanted. Shaking his head, he told him, “Let me see what I can manage. There's much I need to get out of that old man, I just don't know how to do it.”
“It's all strange, Severus. All of it. He knows something. Harry's scar alone is odd. I get it's a curse scar, but there shouldn't be any way that evil arse should affect Harry the way he does or how he got the visions he did. The same with the Parselmouth bit. Curse scars are odd, we all get that, but they don't do what Harry's does. Harry told me Albus explained he's a Parselmouth because that evil arse is and it transferred to him somehow. Scars, even cursed ones, don't do that. The same with they don't cause the pain Harry gets. We won't even get into those visions he gets. Albus was avoiding him, we know that, but not why, and it sure as hell isn't the current mess, which tells me he knows plenty we need to get out of him, because I'd bet my magic that it factors into what all is going on.”
Looking at Black, mind turning over what he said, Severus gave a slow nod. “You're right. I'm going to get with Harry some day this week and have him lay out what that old man said about so much. I didn't know Albus told him that the Parselmouth was because of the Dark Lord. When was he told that, do you know?” Severus asked, not sure when that could have been.
“After the bit with the Chamber from what Harry said.” Stopping, Sirius shook his head, “Powers don't transfer into curse scars. I'm sure you know that. Curse scars can do odd things, but they don't have the powers from the one that caused them transferred in. If they did, Harry would have ended up with everything from that evil arse. He didn't. Harry's strong and magically powerful, but that's because he was born that way, not a power transfer.”
“Again, you're right,” Severus sighed, slouching slightly, looking down as he thought over what Black just told him. “Let me see what I can do to find out. I'll get with Harry and have him lay out everything. The Pensieve is something I think I'll use so I can view the memories, if Harry allows it. If I go about it that way, I may be able to pick up something that Harry didn't. We'll set aside a day this week for me to spend time alone with him and get what I can. The more we know, the better off we're going to be.”
“We can do that,” Sirius nodded, fully planning to and to explain it to Harry tonight. Changing tracks, he said, “Lucius is going to sit in court tomorrow when Poppy and Albus go before the panel. He agreed with me that we need to know what is said so we don't have to take Albus or the Prophet's spin on it. He's going to pass it to that evil arse, of course, and most will think he's there for Fudge, but he's going to be there for us as well.”
“We do need that,” Severus agreed, pleased that the two had thought of that. “If this were normal circumstances, without that other hearing looming, I would say we needed to take Harry so he could hear what was said. I just don't think it's wise with all he's dealing with. While the family court part went well and wasn't something he was overly uptight about, the other hearing he had was the thing nightmares were made of. I think that would factor in as well.”
“Agreed. I say we take tomorrow and go out to the stores like we talked about so he can forget about it for a time. By the time we're done, I'm sure the hearing will be over then we can get Lucius to tell us what went on.” Sirius said, hoping that would work for Harry. Besides, getting all of them out of the house and having fun was something he wanted to do anyway. It could only help plenty, including for himself.
“That's something we'll plan on,” Severus agreed, happy with the idea. “I think we should spend several hours doing that and going wherever Harry would like. Going out to lunch should factor in as well. We can easily disguise the both of you for the amount of time it takes.”
“I'll send Kreacher today to get money from Harry’s and my accounts then have it exchanged into Muggle money so we don't have to brave the Alley before we go,” Sirius told him, making a mental note to do just that.
“Good plan,” Severus admitted, pleased they didn't have to go that route. It was one less thing to worry about. “Was there anything else?”
Chuckling, Sirius said, “Just something minor and something I want to say to you, nothing else.” Quickly, he asked about the spell to make the bathwater like a hot tub then explained, “We've been spending an hour or so at nights just soaking and talking. As we both enjoy it and Harry asked about the spell, I thought it was something to look up.” Shrugging, he admitted, “Us talking like that can only help plenty. Not only do I learn some of what I asked you about or what to look into, it gives me insight into what I'm dealing with. That I need, in plenty of ways.”
Agreeing wholeheartedly with Black's assessments about how it could help, Severus then smirked and said, tone somewhat smug, “I know a spell. It's quite relaxing after a trying day. I'll teach it to the both of you today so you can use it.”
“Good,” Sirius grinned, wanting to try that out, figuring Harry would like it as well.
“And the last part?” Severus asked, curious about what Black had to say to him. He wasn't certain how it could relate, though assumed Harry would factor into it.
Looking down at the floor, Sirius wasn't sure how to word this. Brow furrowed, he finally sighed then said, softly, “I wanted to say thank you.”
Both eyebrows going up, a startled expression on his face, Severus asked, tone slightly wary, “What for?” He wasn't sure where this came from and was decidedly curious.
Lifting his eyes and looking at Snape, he said, “For taking such good care of Harry when I couldn't. He walked me through the basics of how this came to be and I'm thankful for all you've done for him. He's right in something he said; you don't get enough credit for all you do.” That's where he stopped, figuring it was enough.
Now understanding, Severus tried not to look smug and just nodded, “I won't say it was an easy task, as we both know it wasn't, but it's one I had no issue taking on. And you're welcome.” It felt good, though, to have someone recognize what he did, besides Harry that is. Of course, that wasn't the reason he did it, but it did feel good.
“From all I've heard, I know it wasn't,” Sirius snorted, giving a dry chuckle and shake of his head. “You were fighting plenty that Harry most certainly didn't put himself in the middle of. I think you did more good than you realize. He made it clear those talks with you at the end of last year helped more than you'll ever know when it came to what he was dealing with after that nightmare in the graveyard.”
“I assumed he had no one else to talk to about it with and wouldn't in a letter to you,” Severus sighed, looking dour. “With what we know now--,” he trailed off and shrugged. Shaking his head, he told Black, “Let's go hammer out plans for tomorrow. That way we have an idea of where Harry and you want to go so we can plan accordingly. Harry knows better than I where some bits are located. If he doesn't, I may have to venture out to get a map and Muggle phone book to get locations.” Seeing Black nod, he stood then swept out of the room, heading towards the kitchen.
Standing himself, Sirius trailed along behind, thinking over not only where they wanted to go, but about some areas Snape mentioned. By now there was plenty he wanted to know about, but wasn't sure how to find the information.

Sitting propped up against the headboard of his bed with a sleeping Harry's head in his lap, his fingers running through his godson's hair, Sirius was reading through the book Harry got for his birthday. Oh, he wasn't going cover to cover, of course, but going through relevant sections to see what he could find to help with the mess going on and to push what they wanted further. He had skimmed the book when Harry got it, but hadn't read it all like his godson had.
Picking up a quill he had beside him, he made another note on a sheet of parchment there about some bits he wanted, making sure to add the page number. This was good. He was actually getting some much needed information and hints about why Harry wanted some of what he did. That could only help.
After jotting down some notes and a list of words that a 'little' would use for some of their body parts, snorting in laughter at some that were there, sure he couldn't use them or hear them from Harry without having a laughing fit, he shook his head then flipped a couple more pages back after skimming and seeing nothing he could use. Focusing on the part about comfort, though not dealing with behaviors, his brow furrowed as he read. Glancing up at the bars on the one side of the crib, he then looked back at the book. Scratching his chin as he read more, he jotted a couple more notes down then glanced through a spell there. Bookmarking that page as something he would go back to, as he wanted the spell, he then lowered the book and looked at Harry. Now he got it.
His godson felt safe in the 'crib' as it was small. With what he knew of so much, he was sure it mimicked the cupboard he had used for a room for so long. As confined as that was, he was damned sure that whale Vernon couldn't get in it. That had to help Harry feel safe. This was probably a continuation of that, though he wasn't in that kind of danger anymore, which meant he would learn to put up with the bars. The spell he found to apply to what they had on the bed would make it to where it didn't bother him feeling confined. It was something he could deal with.
Giving Harry's head a rub, he decided to send Lucius out for a couple more things. He already had two presents for Harry to open when he woke up. They were something he wanted Lucius to grab after the first nightmare. One was a set of sheets for the bed, the nice soft flannel kind that felt good to snuggle in, that were decorated with dragons and a bigger blanket like they had for the chair so Harry could use it in bed. He was hoping that they would work. Since they didn't bother him a bit, as linens were linens and he didn't give a shite what decorations were on them, he thought his godson would like them. He now had a couple more ideas of what they could use to make the bed feel more child-like in nature. That was something he hoped helped all Harry was dealing with. It might embarrass his godson, but he was damned sure that he would like them.
Flipping through more pages, nodding when he found a lightening spell that was for a bracelet, something he could use to make Harry lighter so he could carry him around easier, he marked it for later. After this skim of the book, he wanted to sit down and have a talk with Harry today about much in it. He could press on with what he needed, of course, and get a better feel for some other bits that could help later. That he needed. Lucius was a huge help in getting them this far, something he was relieved about, but they needed to keep going. To do that, they required Harry's input. That was something his godson would probably take better coming from him. So, he would take it on though he was fumbling with parts. No problem, he would manage.

Once more seated on the floor in 'Harry's room', they were working on the castle again with Harry sitting between Sirius' legs. Watching his godson work with a trickier part of it as he seemed to do better and knew what he was doing, Sirius thought this was good time to launch in with parts of what he came up with. He had already given Harry the blanket and sheets, something that made him flush, though he admitted he liked them, and they were on the bed. Like always, he was going to go about this by mixing the stressful bits with the normal. “I've got some stuff I want to work out with you. As I plan to stay up here until tea time, we'll be alone.” Seeing his godson nod, he said, “I think I've got a code phrase for slipping out of the Daddy role when we need it. I know we've not done that much, but I thought it best to have it beforehand. If I say 'time out', that means I'm slipping out of the role.”
“That's easy enough to remember,” Harry admitted with a smile. He filed it away to keep it in mind.
As Harry had completed the rough part of what they were doing, Sirius went back to helping. While he started snapping the block into place, he said, “I've found a spell in that book that we can put on a bracelet or something we can use to make you lighter so I don't have to keep using my wand on you. It's activated by touch. That's something we're going to tackle in the next day or so. It should make it easier on us and save me from having to use lightening charms on you.”
Nodding, Harry's brow then furrowed and he stopped with the blocks. Thinking it over, he said, tone distracted, “If I remember right, there is a runic equation that does that. It should be in my first or second year book. That might be better as it won't wear off like a spell will.”
“It would,” Sirius nodded. “We'll go that route and carve it into something made of metal. Good damned suggestion, Harry! I take it you know how to do it?”
“I do,” Harry said, grinning at the compliment. “If I remember right, it was a really easy one.”
“We'll find one of those metallic wrist cuffs or something like that and do it that way. We can easily hide the runes on the underside so that no one sees them,” Sirius told him, pleased with that suggestion. Pressing on, he asked, “Is there anything you can think of you would like to decorate either side of the room with that we can grab tomorrow? As Snape and Remus will be with us, I don't mean like the stuff Daddy Lucius gets.” He assumed that this would keep Harry at ease as it would be normal and something he could grab that would help put his own touch on things. Plus, he would get to pick out something he liked.
Stopping again, Harry looked around and thought about it. He rather liked the way both sides were when it came to the colors and that, so he was pondering what he might like. Glancing at the one wall that had the big dresser there, he asked, “Can get we get a fish tank with some fish? I always liked watching those as they were relaxing. We'd have to get a top for it, of course, so Hedwig doesn't think it's a buffet or something.”
“Fish we can do,” Sirius nodded, happy with that. “I'm sure we have one of the old fish tanks around here. Kreacher can find that for us and clean it up. Muggle fish are fine as we have about the same ones. It's just self cleaning and has a food dispenser that does it automatically. Besides, those things make a damned good nightlight so we don't break our necks going to the bathroom in the dark.”
“True,” Harry chuckled, going back to layering some more bricks.
Pressing on to one of the bits that would probably cause some anxiety, though wasn’t the worst of them, Sirius said, “I found a spell in your book for the crib. I'll apply it tonight before we go to bed. This way you can sleep with the bars up and it won't freak me out by being so confined. That'll make both of us happy. Your new sheets and blanket are on, so we're good there. They'll be hidden under the comforter, so no one will be the wiser if they come in. I bet you'll like the sheets, they're nice and soft, not to mention comfortable. I'm sure they'll keep both of us plenty warm this winter, too.”
Though tensing up at that, Harry didn't let it deter him much, as the crib was something he liked. “Sounds good to me,” he said. “As long as it doesn't bother you. I don't want it to make you more uncomfortable.”
“It won't,” Sirius assured him, giving him a squeeze. “That's what this spell is for. I'll handle it just fine. If I can't, I'll say something and we won't try it again. Nothing to worry about.” Seeing Harry nod, he continued, “We're going to try to be gone until about noon tomorrow, that way you get to pick out somewhere to eat.” Seeing Harry grin at that, he chuckled, “So, you have to pick something good for all of us. That and to appease Snape as I'm sure we're going to drive him batshite.”
Laughing, Harry said, “I'll find something good that isn't a burger joint. Maybe pizza or something we'll all like.”
“We'll enjoy that and he won't grouse too much,” Sirius chuckled. Changing topics once again, he said, “In a day or so, Snape wants to get with you to cover some of what that old fart has said to you about bits of this mess. And, if you're willing, to view some of your memories about it. That way we can all get on the same page as to what we know about it. If he does, he might be able to piece together some of this as he knows more than the rest of us because the old man talks to him about parts he doesn't communicate to anyone else.”
“No problem. I'll give him everything I can,” Harry told him honestly. As it was Severus, he didn't have an issue with that and would help as much as he was able. Doing that could only give them all the parts they might need in the future.
“I didn't figure you'd have issues with it, I just wanted to give you fair warning was all,” Sirius explained. “We need all we can get to figure out what the old man is up to. This can help because Snape didn't know what the old man told you about being a Parselmouth. I'm sure there are plenty of other bits he didn't either.”
“Let's see what he can put together,” Harry sighed, shaking his head, now curious what Severus could figure out about the whole nightmare.
Moving back to one of the more uncomfortable topics, Sirius said, “Tomorrow, when we get home and after Daddy Lucius fills us in on what was said in court, the two of us are going to spend the rest of the day alone, other than tea. I think it'll do Snape good to have time to calm down after dealing with us all morning.” Hearing Harry chuckle and agree, he continued, “For the first time we'll spend most of the day with me as Daddy. Well, we'll try as I'm sure I'll muck it up plenty as I'm not used to it. We'll come up with plenty to do to keep us occupied. That way I get a better feel for the role and you can slip into being a little boy more than you have been. What do you think?” That's where he stopped, waiting to see what Harry had to say.
Stopping what he was doing, Harry clutched Elliot close then thought it over. Though it was unnerving to do that for the first time for that long, he was excited as well. It was easier that it was Sirius he would be doing it with. After a couple of moments, he gave a shaky nod. “We can try. What are you planning on, do you know?” He hoped he would get a couple of ideas so he knew what to expect and wouldn't be so tense.
“Not much different than what we are now, honestly, though we'll try to stay in the roles,” Sirius chuckled. “That and talk while we do to work on some stuff that is part of the role, nothing more. We'll manage. Mostly it's to see how long we can before something comes up and we have to slip out of it.”
Happy that it wasn't something too stressful, Harry told him, going back to helping with the castle, “We can try anyway.”
“We can,” Sirius nodded, pleased that Harry wasn't overly stressed by it. “Nothing to worry about,” he assured Harry, wrapping both arms around his middle and giving him a squeeze. “I'm sure, with the two of us and how warped our sense of humor is, we're going to have more than one laughing fit over it.” Hearing Harry chuckle and agree, he said, snorting, “And we are not using some of those words for 'littles' in the book you got. I'm telling you that right now. Those would send me off into a fit of laughter if you said them.”
“I'm not sure I could get a few of them out without doing that,” Harry admitted with a grin and a chuckle while he shook his head.
“I know I couldn't,” Sirius agreed, snorting. Changing topics, he talked about the spell Snape had, grinning as he did, vowing they were trying that after their bath. He figured that was enough stressful bits, though Harry didn't seemed overly tense about any of it, for the night. They would just have fun. At bedtime he would try one more that would end up the worst of it, so he wanted Harry to stay calm until then.

Lying in bed that night, the lights out, Sirius was holding his godson close. Harry was in his jammies, of course, and was curled up under his new blanket. His godson admitted he liked not only the new sheets, but the blanket as well. Good. Looking around, Sirius was pleased. The spell for the bars worked perfectly. Harry got to keep the feel of the smaller space, while he didn't feel like they were there. It was perfect for both of them.
Smoothing down Harry's unruly hair with one hand, Sirius then kissed him on top of the head. As they were both relaxed after the nice bubbling bath, he wanted to try one more thing before bed. Gently, he said, “Let's try one more new thing before we get some sleep. Nothing to worry about. Remember, it's me; Daddy. No judgments. Just try for a couple of minutes, nothing more, then we'll get some sleep.”
Now slightly tense, wondering what it was, Harry asked, tone wary, “What's that?”
Curling up tighter to his godson, Sirius gave him a kiss on the head then said, “First, just shut your eyes and hold Elliot close. Then take some deep breaths. When you think you're as relaxed as you can get, nod.” Stopping, he waited for Harry to do that, hoping it would help before he launched in.
Curious where this was going, though tense about it, Harry nodded then shut his eyes, doing what Sirius suggested. It took a few minutes, but he was finally as calm as he was sure he would get.
Gently, holding Harry close with one arm, Sirius put his hand over one of Harry's. Then he managed to get it in the shape of a fist with the thumb out. Urging it closer to Harry's mouth, he said, softly, “Take it in your mouth. Just keep your eyes shut. It's only for a couple of minutes. Daddy wants to see you do this.” It was his thought that the first time would be the worst for this. Once he could get Harry to do it once, it would be easier. As Harry had said this was what he wanted to try for comforting behaviors, they would go with it. Holding Harry's hand gently, he stroked it with his own thumb and waited, hoping Harry wouldn't panic over it. That he didn't need with some other bits going on.
Shaking, Harry wasn't sure what to do. This was hard. Yes, he wanted it, no doubt there, and it was exciting, but it was hard to do as well. Lying there, he tried to decide, keeping his eyes shut as he did, clutching Elliot tightly with his other arm, fingers digging into the dragon's fur so much the knuckles were white.
“It's fine,” Sirius soothed, giving him a gentle squeeze, though not letting loose of his hand. “Just for a couple of minutes, nothing more than that. Give it a try. If you don't like it, we won't do it again.” With what was going on with the dreams and how Snape said it might get worse, this was something he wanted to press for as it might give Harry another means to cope. That he needed, desperately. “It's just Daddy,” he reiterated softly. “Nothing to worry about.”
Nodding to let Sirius know he heard, Harry gave a sigh. That internal struggle, similar to the one he had when he was going to put on the nappy the first time was happening all over again. This was a big, hard step to take and he wasn't sure if he could do it. On the other hand, he wanted to, though. In the worst way. Unlike the time with the nappies, he wasn't alone to make that choice. Sirius was here. His Daddy. His Daddy didn't care and wanted to see it. His Daddy wanted to push this forward just as much as he did. That did make it easier than before.
After several minutes where he struggled with the choice, feeling Sirius just hold him close, he shook then let his thumb slip into his mouth. Shaking harder at what he had done, he waited, not sure how long he could do this, but realized how good it felt that he had managed.
“Good boy,” Sirius praised, grinning a little then giving Harry a kiss on the head. Wrapping his other arm back around Harry, he held him close until his godson would decide that was enough. The hurdle had been cleared. That's what he needed.
After a few minutes, when the still trembling Harry pulled his thumb out of his mouth, Sirius kissed him on the head again then said, softly, “I'm proud that you managed. Good boy.” Giving him another squeeze, he then added, “Let's get some sleep. We have a busy day of driving Snape nuts tomorrow.”
Chuckling unevenly at that, Harry pressed back tighter against Sirius, clutching Elliot close, then nodded. He wasn't sure if he could get anything out right now, so he wasn't going to try. Shutting his eyes, he let out a soft sigh. He had managed. That was good. It was hard, no doubt there, but he had done it.
“It should give you a few good laughs,” Sirius grinned as he doused the last candle in the room. Holding Harry close, he rested his head against his godson's. This was good. He was sure another nightmare was coming tonight, but he thought, maybe, if he could push it just a little more tomorrow, he might have added another tool to help. That's all he needed for that. Plus, it would get them further. That he wanted as well. He just had to wait and see, nothing more than that.
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Preventative Measures