Author's Note: This chapter is a little less intense than the first one. This story is not slash, despite the title. Thanks for the reviews and follows, keep reading and reviewing! There will either be one or two more chapters.
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Sirius was carefully wrapping the wound when Snape woke up.
"Ironic isn't it? I would've never imagined you helping me,"
Sirius tied the bandage a little tighter causing Snape to gasp.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for James and Lily, for Harry. If we had more spies in Voldemort's inner circle, you'd be dead or in Azkaban."
The raven-haired man pushed away Sirius's hands, and sat up dizzily.
"I can finish from here,"
Snape ground out through clenched teeth. But Sirius was mad and pulled the bandage till there was little room in between layers. Snape's fingers pulled at his frantically. He was angry that he was stuck playing nurse to this greasy git. He would rather be alone.
"Try not to hurt yourself further Snivellus,"
He slammed the door, continuing across the hall. Seeing Snape injured made him think about his own place in the order. He hated that he couldn't do anything. He hated how he couldn't see Harry, or even step outside of the house. Dumbledore reassured him that he played a crucial role and sooner or later Harry would be brought here but until that time Sirius's job was to stay in Grimmauld. He thumped down on the couch, trying, and failing to focus on a book. He should've been the Potter's secret keeper but instead they had trusted that filthy rat. And now the Order had to trust Snape who was just as bad. The potion's master would turn against the order eventually; that he was sure of. In fact, quite a few of the members were unsure of Snape's loyalty to the order. True, he did provide crucial information sometimes, but other times, he seemed to hinder the Order, as if no one played as big as role as he did. And Dumbledore would say a few things, vouching for Snape, trusting him, even caring for him, like last night. He looked across the room to find the teacher looking paler than ever, one hand holding onto the wall for support, the other wrapped protectively around his stomach. Sirius watched for a second before remembering Dumbledore's orders to take care of him. With a sigh he walked towards the slow moving man.
"What are you trying to do?"
Snape's gaze didn't waiver from the bathroom door. Sirius went to put a hand around his waist when Snape pulled away sharply, almost tripping himself in the process.
"I don't need your help Black. Leave me alone,"
Sirius leaned against the wall with one shoulder, watching as Snape nearly toppled over. The other man's back hunched over, his hands on his knees. If he didn't want help then Sirius wouldn't help him.
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Snape was tired of having that stupid Marauder take care of him. He didn't need the mangy mutt to wrap his wound, he could do it himself, if he was conscious. But that bathroom door just didn't seem to get any closer. And then a new pain burst from his stomach. He nearly fell over, his hands clutching his knees as he doubled over. He could feel Black's eyes boring into his back, just waiting for him to ask, just waiting to prove Snape wrong. Why couldn't someone else help him? He tried straightening up but could barely manage to lift his chest. His lips formed a tight, thin line, determined to keep going, one step at a time.
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Sirius cringed as Snape took another step, his back still hunched over. Why did the greasy git have to be so stubborn? Well if he wasn't going to ask for help, Sirius wasn't going to give it. He nodded to himself. Sooner or later Snivellus would come crawling back to him, begging him for help. Snape took a faltering step before he started to crumble to the floor. Dumbledore's orders rang out in the back of his head as he ran for Snape, catching him around the waist before he fell into a crumpled heap on the rug. The man was surprisingly light. Snape was still glaring at him, trying weakly to push himself off of the other man.
"Come on,"
Sirius half carried, half dragged Snape across the hallway. He wasn't exactly worried that Snape didn't fight him, no, worried wasn't the word he would use for it. He wasn't worried either that Snape's forehead nearly burned a hole in his shoulder. The sight of more blood appearing on the white gauze he had changed half an hour ago did worry him. Snape clutched the bathroom door.
"Do you-?"
His question was cut off by the pointed stare and the quiet latch of the door being closed.
He leaned against the wallpaper, listening for any sounds of Snape fainting. Thankfully none came and Snape opened the door a minute later. His arm bound around the wound. Snape then did something very strange. Very strange indeed. He reached out for Sirius. He physically stuck his hand out to grab hold of Sirius's arm. Only one word escaped his lips,
"Please,"
Turning his head the other way, Sirius guided him back to the room, stopping periodically to let Snape rest against the wall. Snape leaned back in the bed, shivering slightly. Sirius grabbed an extra blanket from the closet and threw it on the bed, noticing Snape's glassy eyes, failing to focus.
"What's wrong Snivellus? Can't unfold a blanket?"
Snape's hands were trembling again, struggling to pull the blanket towards him. Sirius batted the other man's hands away before distributing the blanket over the bed evenly.
"Pathetic aren't I? Even back in our school days, I was pathetic,"
"Yeah well you are a Slytherin,"
Snape's throaty laugh ripped through the air.
"Oh, and what's that supposed to me? Does it mean I don't have feelings, or that I don't bleed, because I can assure you that I do, or have been for the last twenty four hours,"
Snape closed his eyes, as if the retort had taken everything out of him. Sirius sat on the chair next to the bed.
"Don't you fall asleep again. A certain Hogwarts nurse gave me strict orders to keep you awake."
Snape let out an exasperated groan. He lifted his left arm off the sheets. Sirius and Snape exchanged a look of terror. The dark mark burned black against the pallid skin.
