Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the following story, only what happens to them.

A/N: I am so sorry that I have taken forever to update! Hopefully this chapter won't disappoint, and I will try to update more frequently. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You guys rock!

A/N 2: This chapter has not been changed. This is simply me fixing errors I did not originally catch. Sorry if there was any confusion!

Chapter 10: The Recovery

The marauders were covering ground quickly, anxious to make it out onto the fields of Hogwarts. Fellow classmates called out greetings to the four boys as they passed, but those who did found themselves ignored, and unanswered.

"Get the map back out, Moony," called Peter, who was currently jogging to keep up with the taller boys' long strides. "We're almost there."

The grim expressions on the boys' faces did not lessen as they made it to the entrance. Peter, was standing in the back of the group as they closed in on the door, blocking his view, and came to a sudden halt. He noticed that Remus had not complied with his request, and called out to him in question. "Moony? The map?"

"No need," replied Remus darkly, and stepped back to allow Peter to see what had stopped them in their tracks. Peter's soft gasp spoke volumes.

There, about fifty yards from the main double doors of the castle, strode Dumbledore carrying the limp form of one Hermione Granger in his arms across the grass. Judging from the look on the headmaster's face, things were not good.

James' mouth was still hanging open when Dumbledore finally made his way into entering the castle. "Professor," asked Sirius, his eyes huge and concerned, "what-…"

He was cut off by a sharp, "I've no idea, Mr. Black. If you gentlemen will please excuse me."

"Oh, right," said James for the group as they realized that they were still effectively blocking him from leaving the doorway.

"Where are you taking her?" asked Sirius, as the marauders began following Dumbledore's progress down a long corridor.

Dumbledore tossed a tolerant look in his direction over his shoulder. "I think the Hospital Wing would be a pertinent place to take Ms. Granger at the present, don't you?"

"Er… right," he said, his mind too preoccupied at the moment to be embarrassed at his moment of stupidity.

The marauders continued to follow Dumbledore's quick pace until he reached the doors to the Hospital Wing. The Headmaster paused for a quick second, only to tell the marauders, "I think it would be if you four would wait out here until we find out what exactly is wrong with Ms. Granger," and upon seeing the concerned rebellion forming on their faces, he continued, "I promise to let you know how she is when I find out something definitive." With that, he crossed the threshold, allowing the doors to shut with a sound "Snap!"

"Well," said Peter. "Who's up for a game of exploding snaps?"

"Peter!" said the marauders in exasperation, breaking into reluctant smiles at his attempt to break the tension.

While the boys did not play that game of exploding snap, they did find a comfortable lounge a few doors down from the hospital wings, which they turned into a makeshift waiting room. Remus left and returned with a collection of school books, "Might as well study," he'd said. Peter appeared to be taking a quick nap to pass the time. Sirius had taken to pacing around the room, which was starting to drive James quietly mad.

"Padfoot! Will you please just sit down like a sane person before you burn a hole in the rug?" James bellowed from his vantage point in an oversized burgundy chair. His loud voice woke Peter, who cast a sleepy frown in James' direction when he realized it wasn't anything to do with Hermione, and readjusted to find a more comfortable position, and promptly fell asleep again.

"No, Prongs. I don't think I will. I'm not feeling all that sane right now, and quite frankly, I don't see how you lot can sit there so serenely while we have no idea what has happened to Hermione!" retorted Sirius, his eyes flashing.

James, having known Sirius for the better part of his life, took no offence to Sirius' angry tone. Sirius tended to be a bit of a worry-wart, though few people in the school were aware of that. "Now Padfoot, you could be getting yourself all worked up over nothing. We don't know what happened to Hermione yet, so there's no use going and making up horrible scenarios for ourselves to get upset over. You know Dumbledore will do everything in his power to make sure she's ok, and there's no one else that I can think of that I be happier to have in charge of Hermione's care, can you?"

"No," sighed Sirius, "I suppose that, for once, you do have a point." James shot him a miffed look at that comment. "I just hate not knowing, you know? I keep wondering if someone's done something to her, that maybe somebody found out she's from the future and intended to kidnap her or kill her or worse. I keep thinking that it could have been any number of things, each worse than the first." He sighed again as he plopped down in another comfortable chair next to James.

"You know," began James, "you could always take a leaf out of Moony's book and get started on some homework. That would take your mind off things, seeing as how you never do any. It'd be like a whole new experience." Sirius looked at James incredulously, until James started laughing. Sirius joined in once he worked out that James was only teasing him… well sort of.

"If you could have seen your face!" said James between bursts of laughter. Sirius gave James another mock glare, but it was ruined by the smile on his face.

"Quit trying to cheer me up!"

"Hey, that's what best mates are here for, yeah?"

"Yeah," agreed Sirius.

Sirius, determined to keep worrying despite his friends' attempts to distract him, decided it was now a good time to complain about how long Dumbledore had kept them waiting. It had, after all, been well over 2 hours. Before he got the chance, however, the headmaster stepped through the doorway.

"Sorry to keep you young men waiting so long," said Dumbledore as he watched the marauders get to their feet. "However, I think I've brought something that will cheer you up!" He stepped aside to reveal a very tired looking Hermione leaning against the door jam.

"Hermione," they cheered, and Sirius was first in line to give her a hug. "Are you ok? What happened? Did somebody hurt you?" he said as he pulled back to take her by the shoulders, immediately beginning his nervous, rapid-fire babbling, much like he had the first they met.

Hermione just looked at him like he had sprouted a third eye, trying to decipher what he'd said. Dumbledore disguised a snicker as a cough and intervened, "I was hoping you four would like to escort Ms. Granger back your dormitories so that she can have a much needed rest."

"Yes, of course, sir," answered James, as they formed a sort of semi-circle in front of the pair.

"Wonderful," he replied. "I'll leave you to it then, just please make sure that she isn't disturbed. It truly is imperative that she rests," he continued, giving them an odd look.

"Oh, of course, sir," said Sirius as he took Hermione's elbow and turned them towards the door before leading them out.

"Indeed. Good day to you then. Hermione, remember to come back later to receive your medications, hmm?"

"Yes, Professor," she said, and was then led away as they parted in different directions.

"So," drawled Peter. "You going to tell us what happened to you or what?"

"Peter!" came the unanimously exasperated response.

"What? What'd I say?" asked Peter, looking from face to face, bewildered.

They just shook their heads at him with a smile and continued the long walk back to Gryffindor Tower.

A/N 3: I hope you all loved it, and I would love to hear your opinions and ideas. Make sure to drop me a review and I look forward to hearing from you all!