Due to the temperamental nature of Port-Keys, the brief journey was not a pleasant one. Perhaps it was the fact that the ring had been already used for a Port-Key earlier that morning. Or maybe Mrs. Black's malicious aura pervaded that particular item. Or, maybe, it was the simple fact that this particular Saturday just wasn't his day. Whatever the cause, Regulus landed on his broken arm as the five of them fell onto the floor in the middle of a great stone corridor.

His vision went white for a moment, his already impaired consciousness flickering. He was on his right side, unable to shift his weight off his broken arm. Beside him, Remus groaned and rolled over. James tried to get up, cursed, and slammed a fist against the floor. Sirius released his hold on Peter and kicked him out of the way, getting to one knee.

"OI!" He shouted down the hallway. "WE NEED HELP DOWN HERE!"

Footsteps raced down the corridor, and Regulus saw various shoes and boots came into view. Someone grabbed him by the shoulder and rolled him over – as gently as possible – onto his back.

"Help him first," he heard Sirius tell them. "He's got – something – a Curse – on his arm. It's spreading –"

A bespectacled man came into view. Remus pushed himself into a sitting position. "Doctor, I think I know what it is – "

The doctor saw the arm and recoiled, face blanching. "I'm sorry," he said, taking a step back. "We – we don't – let – them – in here."

"Them?" James shot, nonplussed. "What?"

The doctor gestured at the Dark Mark on Regulus' arm. "We don't treat – the Ministry must be contacted before – "

"But-" Remus began again. An assistant cut him off. "It's policy," he said curtly, flicking his wand and starting to move on to Peter. "No exceptions."

Sirius lurched to his feet painfully, grabbing the assistant by his collar. "Listen," he grated out. "You help him now, or I'll –"

The assistant threw him off, face white. Sirius hit the floor again, and this time he didn't get up. The doctor retreated a few steps, wand upraised. James swore while Lupin forced his exhausted brain to think of something to say before-

With a flash of scarlet light, Dumbledore, Moody, Minerva, and Snape appeared. Dumbledore was helping Minerva along, with Moody assisting Snape. Minerva's hair was turning into snakes and Snape had a nasty gash on one side of his face, but otherwise they seemed to be fine. Dumbledore took in the situation at a glance.

"I'll explain later – just help him."

The doctor glanced between Dumbledore and Regulus, shoulders tense. He hesitated for an instant before examining Regulus' arm again. As he grasped the forearm, the black veins beneath the skin broke apart and the flesh began peeling off.

Regulus was very glad he lost consciousness at this point.


Some time later, Sirius woke up to find himself in a clean white bed in a sterilized room. He looked around, confused for a second, and then remembered what had happened. He made to leap up and cursed, clutching at his side.

"I wouldn't," McGonagall said from the chair by his bed. She put down her cup of tea. "You broke a couple of ribs. You also have quite a sizeable lump on your head. It would be best if you didn't move for a while."

Sirius regarded her with stupefied amazement, quickly replaced by panic.

"Professor – what the – how long have I been out?"

"For some time. On the plus side-" her mouth twitched. "You're up just in time for the Evening Edition."

She gestured to a paper on the bedside table. It was The Daily Prophet, and the headline was –

"WHAT?!"

Sirius grabbed the paper and squinted, certain his eyes were playing tricks on him. "Malfoy Manor Attacked!" he read, and further down the page; "Ministry Officials Arrive Just in Time to Send Death-Eaters Packing!"

He looked up from the paper, utterly confused. "What – "

McGonagall picked up her tea again. "The Headmaster remained invisible for the entire time – and I don't believe the Death-Eaters truly know who attacked them. But I must say, they made up a good cover story. Shifts suspicion off of them onto the mysterious, terrifying force that threatens us all." She chuckled at Sirius' expression. "Rhetoric, Sirius. A powerful little tool."

"How's Regulus? And the others?"

Her face darkened. "Well, that's not so good."

A high-pitched cough sounded from the door. Sirius looked up to see a very toad-like woman slip in through the doorway. She was dressed entirely in pink.

"Minerva, dear, it sounded as if-"

McGonagall got to her feet, smiling falsely. "As if what, Dolores?"

The woman tittered. "Silly me, but it sounded like you were criticizing the Ministry's policies. And as you know – " She stopped and glanced sidelong at Sirius, who still lay back against the pillows. "Is that the brother?"

"Yes, but don't mind him," McGonagall said, waving her hand dismissively. "He's always in here for something – broken limbs, the occasional Hex. He's been out for hours."

Umbridge glanced back towards Sirius, who had taken his cue immediately. He lay against the pillows, eyes closed, one arm sprawled listlessly over his chest, the other hanging over the side of the bed. "Well," she continued, turning back to Minerva, "Death Eaters must be confined. There's really no point in filling hospital rooms with them when they should be in Azkaban."

McGonagall's hand twitched slightly and she shot Sirius a very brief look. He'd stiffened. If his eyes had been open, Minerva knew he would have been glaring poisonously at Umbridge's back. Minerva turned her gaze back to Dolores.

"Dolores, I must say, you have a point."

Umbridge nodded sagely. Minerva took her by the arm. "Why don't you and I go get some tea and chat some more?"

Umbridge glanced back towards Sirius, who had begun to breathe softly and regularly.

"But – what if he – "

"Don't worry about it," Minerva assured her, leading her out of the room. "He couldn't even get up two minutes ago – and besides, why would he take any interest in a Death-Eater? You've heard the stories. Did you know, during one Quidditch Match, he-"

The door shut behind them. Sirius' eyes shot open. Gritting his teeth, he sat up and, using the bedside table for support, got unsteadily to his feet. He'd get to the door, get his bearings, and start searching for Regulus. He still had his Muggle clothes on, which was convenient. Sneaking around a hospital in jeans and a t-shirt would be far easier than if he looked like one of the infirm.

The paper on the bedside table shifted slightly, revealing its other side. McGonagall had scribbled something in the margin – 18C.

He grinned. Professor McGonagall was now, officially, his favorite teacher.


"What do you mean, they're sending him to Azkaban?!" James shot at his father in disbelieved horror. "We brought Peter back specifically for questioning-"

Henry Potter held up a hand. "I know, I know. But he doesn't have the Dark Mark on his arm. Regulus does. As far as Fudge is concerned, that clinches it."

He drew a hand across his face. "He's a fool – Dumbledore's been arguing with him for hours now – but I don't think Fudge is going to listen."

James gritted his teeth, thinking hard. He was sitting upright in bed, the bandages on his right foot making him feel strangely unbalanced. The ankle wasn't broken – only badly bruised and sprained.

"Okay," he grated out. "But how are we going to stop him from sending Regulus to Azkaban?"

His father glanced at him sidelong. "Well, I can't do much on my end," he said. "But I'm going to take a walk – try and clear my head." He rose and went to the door, turning at the doorway.

"Your mother is coming back from Ireland today – she should be here in half an hour." he said. "So – I'll see you then." A glint in his eyes mirrored that of his son's.

"See you later, Dad."

Mr. Potter left, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him. James took up the package his father had left by his bed and opened it. The Invisibility Cloak rippled out of the paper wrapping and fell onto his covers, along with a slip of paper.

18C.

James grinned and slipped out of bed. He had work to do.


Remus drummed his fingers against his bed frame, eyebrows furrowed. His mother could tell he was fighting to contain his temper. Antonia was sniffing, her father's arm around her shoulder.

"Mom, Dad – I have an idea."

His father looked closely at him. "Remus – are you thinking of –"

"Yes, but I'll need some help."

His mother made a sound of cautionary protest. "Now, Remus, I'm sure that Professor Dumbledore will-"

"Mom – you saw Regulus. He's in no fit state to be questioned, much less moved to Azkaban. And Dumbledore's been trying, but he can't prevent them from taking Regulus."

Antonia sniffed again. "Mom – please – we've got to try something."

Mr. Lupin looked over at his wife. "It might work. And it wouldn't hurt to try."

"Oh…" Mrs. Lupin sighed. She took out her wand.


A few rather exciting minutes later, Remus was on the other side of the hospital. His appearance was slightly altered – for one thing, his hair was black, and he was a far taller than usual. He also wore a white assistant's coat and held a clipboard easily in one hand.

Lupin smiled a little as he remembered the hoax his family had pulled off. The Swelling Hex his father had received hadn't been a bad one – he hadn't even looked that puffy – but his family had made a good job of pretending it was serious. Antonia had run around in little circles, flapping her arms and squealing in 'panic', while Mrs. Lupin had run out and fetched the assistant on duty – giving Remus ample time to slip out of the room, borrow the assistant's coat, and disappear into the milling throng of doctors in the main corridor.

Remus had headed straight for the north wing of the hospital. He knew – from what his parents had told him – that he and his friends had been taken to the Recovery Ward, which was situated in the east wing. Regulus, however, had been kept in Room 18C. So – if he hadn't been moved yet, he was still in this part of the building.

Remus had reached the north wing of the hospital and was about to turn a corner when he heard a familiar step. His ears pricked. He stopped short and hissed a question.

"James?"

There was a whirl of movement to his left, and James' head appeared, floating, right by him.

"So – you had the same idea, did you?"

Remus nodded and looked behind his friend.

"Where's Sirius?"

"I don't know – maybe he couldn't-"

Two hands shot out from a doorway and dragged them both inside. James yelped in fright, kicking the figure before he saw who it was.

"You idiot," Snape hissed at him, massaging his leg. He had a lopsided bandage on his face, and looked rather sick – but otherwise, he seemed fine. Sirius stood by him, twitching in impatience.

"Sorry, Sev. How did you -"

"I nearly didn't. Lucius was outside my room, hovering around, but your dad collared him and started talking about Quidditch. I snuck out and – obviously – came here."

"Nice," said James, almost grinning. "You'd think we planned this."

"Quiet!" Remus hissed. Footsteps rounded the corner and they heard Dumbledore's voice.

"Honestly, Cornelius – he's no more of a threat at this point then I am –"

"Albus, if you persist in arguing this point, I'll-"

They passed down the corridor, still arguing. The door squeaked open. The four of them snuck down the hallway, Lupin still in his assistant's coat, the other three crunched together underneath the Invisibility Cloak.

"Right – 18C," Lupin said, checking his clipboard. "That'll be down this corridor."

"Wait!" Snape hissed. "There's probably a guard. We've got to get past them unnoticed - "

"Simple," Sirius said. "Lupin, you'd better scout out the territory-"

But before he could finish, they heard a voice drift down the hallway.

"Not to worry, Alastor," it said easily. "I'll take care of it."

"It's not that I don't trust you, Barty," they heard Alastor reply. "But – well, actually – I don't. I'll be the one who carries out the order."

"Alastor," Barty Jr. said again, in a very cold voice. "Move."

Lupin, who had ducked out of sight, risked a peek around the corner. The two men stood in the hallway, Moody with his back to a door, Barty Jr. facing him. Lupin, pretending to examine the clipboard closely, turned back and related the sight to his three invisible friends.

James sighed. "Right – well, we'll need a distraction or something – "

Sirius' voice, although low, held an unmistakable grin. "Gotcha."

A huge black dog appeared in the middle of the corridor. Lupin nearly dropped in clipboard in surprise. Before he could react, the dog had started jogging down the corridor towards the two men.

"Quick – under the cloak!" Snape hissed.

Lupin ducked underneath the Invisibility Cloak as the chaos broke out. Barking, confused and disjointed yells of surprise, and general confusion reigned for the next two minutes, during which time James carefully steered the three of them into Room 18C. Once inside, Lupin pushed the door gently. As soon as it clicked shut, he locked and bolted it. Snape took out a battered, worn key from his jeans pocket and strode over towards the figure on the bed.

"Right," he said. "I'll take him to Hogwarts – you two get back to your rooms."

"Yes sir, yes sir, Professor," James said with a smirk. He began to mock-salute – but something he saw made him stop. Lupin caught his arm and turned him back towards the door.

"Come on, James. Let's go."

"But is his arm really-"

"Yes. Let's. Go."