Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does. (Why can't she share?)

*Ch. Warning! Short! Cliff-hanger! AGAIN! Sorry... Couldn't resist it this time either. :D

"Sirius!" Lucius exclaimed as he pulled the man closer to him. There was still no reply. Warm fluid began to seep onto Lucius's robes, he could feel it. Yet, he did not dare look to see what it was... He knew, and to confirm it would be too painful. He took a deep breath to steady his unraveling nerves. He needed to assess the damage done before he could decide what needed to be done. He gently rolled Sirius's limp form into his back. He gasped.

There was so much blood. So much... His hands were trembling as he pulled his wand from from his pocket. He used the first charm that came to mind to rid Sirius of the cloak and shirt he had on. Hundreds of small cuts adorned his chest and blood was pouring from every one of the deep wounds. "Iggy! Mimmy! Fetch me hot water and rags! Get me any healing potions you can find! One of you go to Hogwarts and bring Dobby with Severus! But do NOT let Harry and Draco know you are there."

The two house-elves nodded and made quick work of their tasks. "You better not die on me, mutt," Lucius growled as he removed his outer robe. He was left in a simple shirt and trousers...

"Mister Severus, sir!" Iggy said loudly with a head bowed as he popped into the bedroom of one annoyed Potions Master.

"What is it?" he asked groggily. He had to wake up and deal with ungreatful brats in the morning, this had better be good.

"Sir, tis Master Lucius, sir!" Iggy said a bit more urgently. "The dog-man is hurt bads, sir!"

That got his attention. Snape shout out of bed and snapped his fingers. His regular black robes were billowing behind him as he strode to his wardrobe. From inside he pulled out a small, leather satchel. "Fetch Dobby and I will see you at the Manor." Iggy nodded and disappeared as ordered. Snape grabbed his wand a few more things on his way to the fireplace in his small common room. No one knew that his private chambers had access to the Floo network, and he intended to keep it that way. Dumbledore be damned. Snape would never be trapped in the castle with no other means of escape. He threw the appropriate powder and barely allowed enough time for the flames to turn green before stepping inside. "Malfoy Manor!"

A second later, he was crouching next to a very unconscious Animagus and a very worried Elf. "What has happened to him, Lucius?" he asked calmly. He had learned many years ago that worried elves would not be able calm down if anyone gave them even the slightest reason to stay worried. Elves were very emotional creatures. Snape could tell that Sirius had lost more blood than was safe, and a small sliver of doubt creeped into his heart that the brunette may not survive... But Lucius did not need to know that, not yet.

"I have no idea," Lucius said softly. "He was spotted at the station earlier today and we went our separtate ways." He took a deep breath. "He just stumbled in a few minutes ago."

"Let's move him to a bedroom. I'll be able to work better that way," Snape said. Iggy and Dobby popped in at that moment and proceeded to disappear again with Sirius's body in tow. Mimmy grabbed one of each of their hands and they followed suit.

"He has lost a lot of blood," Snape said carefully once he was finally able to get a good look at the damage done to Sirius.

Lucius looked down at his blood-covered clothes and hands. "I know," he whispered. "Mimmy, please go clean the foyer." The house-elf nodded.

"It looks like someone got him with an Incurable jinx," Snape said darkly as he used a quick healing spell. The warm, blue magic of his charm was canceled out by the deep red magic of the jinx. This jinx, in particular, rendered the victim 'incurable', as the name suggests. Snape would not be able to heal Sirius with a spell. He pulled out his black satchel. The he looked over his shoulder at Lucius. Sirius's blood covered him. "Lucius, go clean up. He won't be waking up any time soon. I'll send Iggy for you should we need you."

"I can stay," Lucius said as he wiped his hands on his soiled clothes. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. The smell of Sirius's blood was beginning to overpower him. The feel of his precious blood coating him nearly made him sick. Sirius's life was literally all around him, on his shirt, his trousers... his hands. "You're right, Severus," he said hollowly. "I'll go out on fresh robes and return shortly. Alert me at the slightest change."

Severus nodded and watched as Lucius slowly made his way out of the room on shaky legs. "Iggy, make sure he makes it all right. Dobby, prop up Sirius's head with the pillows. We'll need him able to swallow this potion." Both house-elves nodded. Iggy followed after Lucius, worry clearly visible in his large eyes. Dobby arranged the pillows beneath Sirius's head until his upper body was no longer flat against the bed. "Hold his chin still," Snape ordered while he uncorked a small vial of a deep blue potion. It was a mixture of his own creation that canceled out the effects of the Incurable jinx and repaired any damage that may have been caused due to the junx. St. Mungo's would have been only able to stop the jinx and then repair the damage separately while Snape's elixir could do both. He slowly lifted the vial to Sirius's lips.

As the blue liquid poured into the awaiting mouth, Snape used his free hand to gently massage Sirius's throst to insure that a few drops of the potion were able to be swallowed with no effort from the Animagus. Within seconds Snape noticed a difference in the flow of blood from the cuts; it was lessening. He gave a small smile as Dobby released Sirius's chin. The mutt might survive this yet.

Snape reached over to grabb a towel from the other side of the bed. As his eyes scanned Sirius's body and he immediately froze as a chill shot down his spine. He had not noticed before because of all of the blood, but now that the blood was no longer leaking out of Sirius, he could see it. Just above Sirius's navel was the last thing Snape had expected to see: a bitemark...

Sirius had been bitten by a werewolf.