Blood and Sunlight

The first thing Sirius registered as his conscious mind awoke was that his neck felt stiff, heavy and oddly tingly. He kept his eyes closed, mentally checking the rest of his body for injuries – he ached all over but there seemed to be nothing serious and no lasting damage. He also realised that he was lying on something soft, and a blanket was covering him. This was strange; the last thing he could recall was collapsing in an alleyway.

Sirius finally wrenched his eyes open, only to screw them tightly shut again with a yell of surprise as they stung and began to water profusely from the bright light. He groaned and then sighed as footsteps hurried in his direction. He flinched instinctively as they reached him, pulling the covers away from his arm as he did so, and felt excruciating pain as though his skin was being ripped off and nailed back on again and again. A scream escaped his lips and his eyes opened of their own accord, instantly adding to his pain and discomfort.

"Calm down," said a voice next to him soothingly. Sirius was shocked – he had expected Kreacher at the very least. The woman to whom the voice belonged fixed the covers and the pain disappeared from Sirius arm, allowing him to close his eyes again, sighing with relief. He heard a snapping sound nearby, and a swishing. The lights beyond his eyelids immediately dimmed so Sirius opened one eye gingerly. When no pain came, he opened the other and looked at the room he was in, instantly recognisable as a hospital by the smell that Sirius hadn't noticed before and the cleanliness. Everything was white as well.

A Healer standing next to the bed was bending over him, checking his arms, face, and chest. Sirius glared at her but she ignored him and continued with the check up, continuing on to his eyes, mouth, ears and nose. She listened to his heartbeat and checked his blood pressure before stepping backwards, stowing her wand in her robes.

"Good morning," she said.

"Where am I?" he asked. "What happened? Why am I here?"

"You're in St. Mungo's," she told him.

"Why?" Sirius asked immediately.

"I am not your Healer, I cannot tell you. I will call Healer Compton now." She was already walking away. Sirius scowled angrily at her back and as soon as the office door closed he slipped out of bed, stumbling as his legs shook. He had barely taken two steps when a male voice said loudly "Sirius Black, you are to stay in bed; you need rest."

Sirius started and spun round, glaring at the intruder as his head spun. It was a tall man in green robes. He had dark hair, dark eyes and a thin mouth. He looks a little like a male Professor McGonagall, Sirius mused as he looked at him.

"Get back into bed," the Healer snapped.

Yep, Sirius thought, definitely a McGonagall. He grinned as he realised the fun he could have, at least until Healer Compton arrived.

"Don't you grin at me, young man. Get back into that bed, now."

Sirius took a step away from the bed and began strolling towards the bathroom, trying his utmost not to laugh. He reached the door of the bathroom and pushed it open, stepping inside quickly because the Healer was walking down the ward towards him with quick footsteps. Sirius lent against the door before his knees could buckle and looked around, realising that he wasn't in the bathroom, he was in a large potions cabinet.

Great, he thought sarcastically. Absolutely marvellous.

The Healer banged on the door, shouting "Sirius Black, if you don't come out right now-"

Sirius opened the door, and looked at the Healer, staring straight into his eyes. "Why am I here?" he asked.

The man ignored him and grabbed his arm, pulling him over to the bed. Shoving him onto it, he proceeded to carry out exactly the same tests the woman had, frowning darkly.

When the Healer put down his wand, Sirius attempted to get out of bed again but the man put a hand on his shoulder.

"Oh no," he said, applying pressure so that Sirius was forced to lie down. "They warned me about you."

"Who're 'they'?" he asked. "And why am I here?"

"'They' would be your Professors from school. And you are here because you have sustained a bite."

"A bite?" Sirius asked sceptically.

"From a vampire."

Sirius stopped struggling, his eyes wide as tears welled up in them.

"A…a vampire?" he whispered.

The Healer nodded, tactfully ignoring the tears that spilled over Sirius's eyelids and down his cheeks. The boy seemed unaware that it was not salt water trailing down his face, but blood. A green robed arm reached forward, perhaps to comfort him but Sirius screamed angrily.

"Leave me alone!" he shrieked, lashing out with his fists. "I hate you! I hate all of you!"

"Now Sirius-" The Healer had stepped neatly out of the way of Sirius's flailing fists and was watching him warily but Sirius interrupted him by springing out of bed and tearing to the exit at the opposite end of the ward. He smashed through the door, terrifying those standing in the corridor and screamed so loudly that the patients on the top floor could hear him. Sirius crumpled to the floor, yelling, howling, and wailing with such heart wrenching pain and despair that several people in the corridor actually had tears in their eyes, but nobody stepped forward to help the boy. They watched in fear and sorrow but none of them moved. It was because he came from the ward that housed patients who had been bitten and the bandage wound thickly around Sirius's neck was a good indicator as to what exactly had bitten him. And they were scared. Scared of a young boy who needed help but couldn't receive that help because one night a vampire decided to snack on him. Healer Compton ran to Sirius and dropped to his knees beside him, throwing his cloak over the boy's body and closing all of the curtains with his wand. Sirius stopped screaming and instead lay on the floor, covered by the robe, panting and gasping, terror coursing through his veins as surely as his blood was.

"Sirius," the man's voice was soft. "Sirius you must listen to me! When I tell you to stay in bed, I mean it and I have good reason to say it!"

Sirius tried to say sorry but his mouth wouldn't move and his tongue was limp. Healer Compton gently pulled the cloak away from Sirius's body and several people gasped as they saw that his skin was smoking. He lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, still breathing heavily, tears of blood still coursing down his cheeks, still looking afraid.

"I…I'm s…s…sorry," he said, taking several attempts and gasping. The effort of talking cost a lot.

"Ssh, don't speak, just rest for now. We can talk later," the Healer replied, gathering Sirius into his arms and slipping back into the ward in which Sirius was the only patient.

"No…" said Sirius weakly. "I…want to…talk. Now."

"Sirius, your body has suffered physical and emotional trauma, I don't think now is the time for chat. We can talk later." His tone was final and Sirius didn't argue; he was extremely tired and aching all over. Compton laid his patient on the clean white bed and Sirius drifted into the land of the blissfully unaware within seconds.

When Sirius awoke some time later, the aches had minimised, though they were still most definitely present. Outside the now open windows the sky was dark. He groaned and rolled onto his side, feeling that his neck was still covered in bandages. His feet touched the cold floor but he did not feel it and his eyes scanned the room for something to drink; he was so thirsty, much more than he had ever been in his life. He spied a jug of water above the fireplace and set his sights for it.

Sirius put his weight onto his legs without thinking; it was a natural thing to do, and yet he collapsed painfully.

"No," he muttered, pulling himself onto his knees and crawling towards the jug, the thirst driving him, yet dragging him back. He had to make it; he felt he wouldn't, couldn't survive if he didn't. His progress was painfully slow but he made it and grabbed the jug, tipping it into his mouth without the aid of a cup. It quenched the thirst somewhat and strengthened him, though he was not satisfied.

At that moment, Healer Compton strode in, looking apprehensively at Sirius. He was holding a goblet. It was a clear, glass goblet, filled with a ruby red liquid that sang to Sirius like the most painfully beautiful music. He wanted that liquid, and he would kill to have it. Without knowing exactly what he was doing, Sirius made a dart for the Healer and struck him to the floor, snatching the goblet, driven half crazy by the metallic, bitter, seductive scent of the liquid it held. He tipped it towards his mouth and the minute it touched his tongue, the most overwhelming pleasure coursed through his body, heightening his senses and sending his mind into overdrive. The blood satisfied him like nothing before had, he felt as though he was a man dying of thirst who had found a spring; every one of his desires was brought together, into that cup and turned into a liquid so pure, so delectable that Sirius knew nothing would be the same again and the only thing he wanted at that moment was to drink that blood and feel that pleasure for eternity.

When the goblet was empty, Sirius found himself on the floor, breathing heavily, feeling the new blood course through his veins, pumped by his heart. He wanted more, but there was no more. Was there? He could smell it though, gallons of it, some scents stronger than others but definitely present. In fact, he could smell it in the room with him. Healer Compton was on his feet, watching Sirius, waiting for another attack and looking interestedly at his patient. Sirius was a sight; his hair was dishevelled and falling over his face, into his newly poisonous yellow coloured eyes with vertical pupils, his skin was deathly pale, though it now held a tinge of redness, his mouth was stretched wide revealing deadly fangs, sharpened to a dangerous point, blood running down his chin where he had spilled it in his desire to experience that unique pleasure. He might have looked comical if it wasn't so damned frightening. Sirius's new instincts kicked in once more as he made a lunge for the Healer, smelling that maddening scent, remembering that heavenly taste. Compton kept the fledgling away using a magical barrier that a mature vampire would have been able to break easily but was too powerful for a new born such as Sirius who kept at it relentlessly anyway. Soon, he became tired and slumped to the ground, defeated, safe. The Healer let down the barrier and though Sirius looked round at the strengthened scent he did not attack again.

"Sirius," Compton said, his voice soft so as not to startle him. "You're going to have to try to control your thirst. I know it seems that I ask the impossible, but please try."

Sirius looked around slowly, fixing a deathly glare upon the Healer. "Have you ever been bitten by a v…" his voice broke. "A vamp…ire," he finished, forcing himself to say the word.

Healer Compton shook his head slowly.

"Then you do not know what it is like," Sirius growled angrily. He quickly wiped the blood from his chin, feeling disgusted with himself.

"Sirius, I realise that I cannot understand this ordeal, but you must try to control yourself," Compton insisted.

Sirius stood slowly, his legs shaking slightly. Healer Compton stepped forwards, taking his arm and leading him over to the bed.

"Tell me what happened," Sirius whispered, sitting on the edge of the soft, feather mattress.

Compton looked uncomfortable. "Are you sure that's something you want to know?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. I think it's probably better if I know," he said, thinking aloud.

"Well, what can you remember?" the Healer asked, sitting in the chair next to the bed. Sirius didn't look at him, choosing instead to look at the bedside table. He gasped when he saw his wand lying upon it.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, snatching up the tool without which he felt so useless and vulnerable.

Compton's eyebrows rose. "It was on the floor next to you," he frowned. "Where was it when you fell?"

"That man had it. I don't know his name."

"The one who bit you?"

Sirius nodded; he didn't trust his voice.

"He must have dropped it before he left," Compton realised.

Sirius bit his lip – an old habit, and winced as his new fangs pierced the skin. His tongue flicked out automatically to lick it.

"I would advise against that," the Healer said lightly. "Biting your lip."

Sirius nodded again.

"Do you remember anything Sirius?" Compton prodded gently.

Sirius nodded. "I was out walking; we had a guest at…home in whose company I wasn't comfortable. He was tall, and he had really dark hair and…yellow eyes. His pupils were vertical," Sirius described, closing his own, identical eyes as the memory overtook him. "He had my wand, but I went out anyway. I was walking and I could hear footsteps and I realised who it was and he came closer and I couldn't get away-" Sirius was speaking quickly, becoming slightly hysterical.

"Sirius, breathe," Compton reminded him. Sirius complied and took a deep breath, allowing it to calm him down. "Is that everything that happened?"

Sirius nodded. "That's what I remember," he whispered, fighting back more tears.

Compton sighed. "I'm afraid whoever it was that bit you doesn't match any of our records. You may be his first fledgling."

Sirius flinched at the word; it was a painful reminder. "You don't…know who…bit…?" he asked, looking horrified, his voice trailing away.

"I didn't say that," Compton interrupted softly. "From the colour of your eyes, the holes on your neck, the style of the event and your description, which almost guarantees it, we can guess that it was a man named Ambrose, a very famous vampire, very fond of killing."

"Ambrose? I think I've heard of him – he's in the Prophet a lot," Sirius said. "Why did he leave me alive?" he wondered. He cast his mind back to what were now his worst memories. He saw that terrible face looming over him, that evil grin and he remembered what Ambrose had said: "I am on strict orders, fledgling. I have to do this."

"He was ordered to do it," he told Compton. "Somebody wanted me to be a…monster."

"Orders?" the Healer asked. "Do you know whose?"

Sirius shook his head. "He didn't say."

Compton nodded. "I wouldn't have expected him to," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

"Can I ask you one last thing?" Sirius said, looking at the Healer hopefully.

"One more question then," he allowed.

"Who found me? In the alley, I mean," Sirius questioned.

The green robed man looked worried; he had obviously been hoping Sirius wouldn't ask that.

"She…wishes to remain unknown," he said reluctantly.

"Oh," Sirius muttered, averting his gaze. "Okay then."

Compton yawned widely, covering his mouth. "I'm so sorry," he said afterwards.

"Don't worry," Sirius replied. "You should probably go and sleep," he added.

"But then what would you do? " Compton asked. "You don't exactly need to sleep yet."

"Yet?"

"Vampires don't need to sleep, though many rest for a long time every ten years or so to strengthen themselves," the Healer explained. Sirius winced at the word 'vampire' but then his face lit up.

"I don't have to sleep?" he asked in amazement. "I was wondering if anything good would come out of this."

Compton smiled. "No doubt that will be helpful when it comes to revising for exams," he laughed.

At his words Sirius went cold. He hadn't thought of it before, but he realised now that he couldn't go back to Hogwarts; he might bite someone. He was dangerous now, Healer Compton was in terrible danger just by being in the same room as him and that same danger would apply to James, Remus, Peter - anyone who came near him. He could already feel the overwhelming thirst building up inside of him and felt terrified by it; what if he lost control again and Compton wasn't quick enough? What if he bit the Healer who was currently sitting next to him?

"But I can't go-" he started, looking round, but the Healer was fast asleep, his head lolling on the back of the chair, mouth hanging open and snoring gently. It was then that Sirius realised just how much danger he was putting everyone in.

"Oh god," he muttered, trying to swallow the empty feeling that was rising inside of him. "Oh god oh god oh god." He could feel the thirst building steadily and guessed he had three minutes at most before he lost himself once again. "Healer Compton," he hissed, leaning towards the sleeping man but immediately pulling away again; the smell of blood was surprisingly strong. Sirius bared his fangs without realising what he was doing and growled quietly. The sound woke the Healer with a start and he immediately jumped up, taking one look at Sirius who was poised and ready to pounce, hurrying away to the office and coming back with another goblet. Sirius drained it thankfully.

"Thanks," he gasped afterwards, sitting back against the head rest. "I thought I was going to attack you."

"So did I," Compton admitted, smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry," Sirius muttered, looking away.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," the Healer said, patting the boy's arm. "It's your nature."

"I wish it wasn't," mumbled Sirius. "Why was I thirsty again so quickly?" he asked suddenly, glancing upwards. "I'd only just attacked you before I needed more."

"Well, you're young," Compton reasoned. "Fledglings need to drink more because their bodies need it to develop properly. You've underwent drastic changes; it's to be expected."

Sirius sighed. "That doesn't change the fact that I'm still dangerous," he said.

"Don't worry. Dumbledore is arranging everything – there's no chance of you losing control at Hogwarts," Compton assured him.

"Hogwarts? But I can't go back there!" Sirius exclaimed.

"Why ever not?"

"Because…what if I hurt someone?" Sirius demanded.

"You won't. I just said, didn't I? Dumbledore has it all planned out, there's no way you'll attack anyone," the Healer said comfortingly.

"You mean, I'm allowed back?" he asked in disbelief.

Compton nodded. "You're allowed back," he promised.

And despite the fact that Sirius was damned, despite the fact that he was dangerous, he felt a flicker of hope; he was going back to Hogwarts.