~Last Chapter~

"I don't particularly enjoy speaking about matters relating to my family," she finally brought herself to reply, hiding her emotions behind a formal front, "For now let's just settle for saying that it is better I stay at school."

Even if it hadn't been nearing the full moon, Remus still would have been able to hear the fluctuation in the girl's heart beat and the scent of fear that surrounded her. A protectiveness he was not fully familiar with swelled in his chest, and without fully thinking of the outcome he asked, "Your parents, do they hurt you?"

Salus was so taken back by the sudden, blunt question that she was only capable of staring with wide eyes, her mouth opening and closing awkwardly, not knowing how to respond. There was a moment of hoping he would draw back the question and say it's none of his business, but from his determined expression Salus realized that wasn't going to happen. For once she had no idea how to lie her way out of something. Although the young werewolf would not have required a response to know the answer; the girl's heart sounded as if it were trying to break from her chest.

For once luck was on the small girl's side, and in that moment Professor McGonagall rushed into the Gryffindor common room, a letter clasped in her hands and a distressed frown Salus had never seen twisting at her expression. Upon finding the two students, her lips thinned even further into a frown, "Miss Snape, Mr. Lupin, I'm afraid I'll have to be the bearer of bad news."

.

Salus hated hospitals. Throughout her life she had spent more than enough time inside hospitals and medical wings to know that she hated them dearly. She was all too familiar with the smell of cheap cleaner used to disinfect every inch of surface, the scratchy blankets that would pull and catch on dry skin, and the overbearing feeling of death and distress that hung in the air. She had been inside medical wings for a multitude of reasons; when she had 'tripped' and fallen down a flight of stairs, when Severus had 'accidentally' fractured his arm, when she 'knocked over' a pot of boiling water onto herself, when her father had been too drunk to stand and suffering from alcohol poisoning, when she had a 'mishap' while flying her broom, and now this. She wasn't always in a hospital for herself, but no matter what the circumstances were, it almost always ended badly. But this had to be the worst time so far.

As the young witch sat in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, her hatred and discomfort with hospitals only grew. A throbbing headache accompanied the stinging in her eyes, and Salus knew if she were to look in a mirror she would find them red-rimmed, and puffy. She could feel the tight pull in her cheeks from the dried tear stains, and hoped they weren't too noticeable. The girl's heart thrummed in her chest, making her gut feel as if it had been turned inside out, and made it nearly impossible to breath. A storm of emotions were rising in her chest, and it took all her self control to not let it loose. It was those reasons that she kept her eyes lowered on the hands folded in her lap, her hair falling and surrounding her like a black curtain, and she didn't look up even when she heard heavy footsteps approaching her. A large, masculine hand appeared in the corner of her eye, holding what looked like tea. Sniffling slightly, and looking up briefly, and found the man she had met only minutes ago.

"You look like you need a cup of tea," the man smiled, but there was a hint of distress in his features that overpowered any mask of happiness. From what she had seen and heard of him, Mr. Potter was a kind man, but at that moment Salus didn't have the energy to analyze James' father. He had the same hazel eyes as James, and brown hair that was beginning to get streaks of grey in it, but besides that Salus couldn't tell much through blurry eyes.

"Thank you," Salus replied meekly, and took the cup from his hands, but didn't drink any. Her stomach felt as if it had been twisted in a knot, and no cup of tea would help - even if it had been spiked with a double dose of calming draught. She kept her eyes trained on the cup and watched the steam twist and curl in the air. Salus' fingers were numb to the warmth radiating from the cup, bringing her to the realization that her limbs felt frozen even in the stifling heat of the hospital.

Slouched in another uncomfortable chair next to Salus was Remus, who was looking just as grave as she felt. She knew James and his mother were somewhere in the hospital, Mrs. Potter had been kicking up a much needed fuss when Salus and Remus had arrived via floo network, but Salus wasn't sure where they had gone. After dropping Remus and Salus off, and insuring they would be safe with Mr. and Mrs. Potter, McGonagall rushed back to Hogwarts to make preparations in the Hospital Wing of the school.

It felt like ages until Mrs. Potter and James returned, Salus knowing time had passed because the tea clasped in her hands was now ice cold. She quickly abandoned her cold tea to a small table set next to her. Mrs. Potter, despite her obvious distress, kept her head held high with a show of pride that most people could never hope to achieve. Her brows were pinched together in obvious frustration and she pulled her husband aside to speak privately. James slumped into the free chair on Salus' left, his face twisted and pale in a near agonized anger. He looked as if he needed desperately to say something, but didn't know how. Who could blame him? His best friend was laying in a hospital bed, and none of them were allowed to see him.

Wordlessly, Salus reached over to take James' hand, which had been digging into the wooden armrest of the chair. He didn't look at the small witch, but his grasp tightened slightly in gratitude.

"Mum called the aurors," James finally spoke, his voice catching slightly.

Salus didn't reply or look at the boy, but nodded her head gravely.

"She tried to tell them before, what was happening, but they never listened to her," James practically snarled, his anger coming back full force and smothering out his grief, "Said there was no proof."

"They'll have to do something now," Remus spoke, his tone having a similar growl to it as James'.

"Cases of child abuse," Salus muttered, scared that speaking will take away whatever breath she had managed to regain, "They are hard to prove, and even if they can be, most of them go unsolved because of the ministry. Especially with the Black family involved. I doubt anything will change."

"That doesn't mean they shouldn't try!" James snapped, pulling his hand from the girl's grasp and glaring at her, "Sirius could have died, Salus! Don't you care at all!? Why don't you try showing some sympathy for once instead of just sitting there!?"

"James," Remus hissed in a warning tone, but it was too late. The damage was already done. A silent gasp escaped the witch's lips, the violent storm of emotions in her chest finally breaking free of its restraints. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, hoping to stifle any further noise. Salus forced herself from her chair, embarrassment burning at her cheeks as she rushed from the waiting room, her breaths coming out in hiccuped sobs that made it even harder to breath. Her vision blurred as a fresh stream of tears began to prick at her eyes.

James stared with wide eyes in complete bewilderment as Salus fled the waiting room; he had never seen the witch show any from of emotion besides the odd smile or frown, she always remained so impassive. His mouth open and closed, not knowing what to do. He hadn't meant to snap like that, it had just slipped out. Remus stood from his chair, giving James a pointed glare as if to say 'we'll talk about this later' before following after the witch.

It wasn't difficult for Remus to find Salus, she had run to the washroom and he could hear her silent gasps and hiccups through the locked door. From the moment Salus and Remus had arrived at the hospital the overpowering scent of fear had been clouded around her, but he had been so distracted by everything around them that it almost went unnoticed. It was only when James had spoken that Remus had realized just how bad off Salus was.

"Salus?" Remus called, knocking on the door carefully and trying to open it, only to find it locked.

There was another silent gasp, but it was more muffled than a simple door would block out. She was covering her mouth with her hands, he realized. Remus wasn't sure what to do, the most upset he had ever seen Salus was when he had found her in the halls nearly crying, but she never told him why she had been that way no matter how many times he asked. Salus, whether by nature or by force, was not one to convey her emotions or thoughts, so to suddenly explode like that was more than a little concerning. Pulling out his wand, he pointed it at the lock on the door and muttered a silent 'alohomora'. The door easily unlocked and clicked open slightly.

Salus wasn't found in the best of states; she had pressed herself against the tiled wall of the washroom, her shoulders hunched in on herself as sobs wracked through her. That same cloud of fear and anxiety surrounded the girl, and Remus suspected it wasn't just from her concern for Sirius. After their conversation in the Gryffindor Common Room just earlier that day, Remus had a very good idea why Salus was so afraid. It seemed Salus' situation was disturbingly similar to Sirius'.

"C'mere," Remus murmured, carefully pulling Salus into his arms. Salus didn't attempt to fight against him, but kept her head lowered into her hands. Remus kept one arm wrapped across the girl's shoulders, and the other pressed against the back of her head running against her hair soothingly. Salus pressed her forehead against Remus' chest, her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

Salus finally managed to say between hiccups, "I-I shouldn't be a-acting like this, Sirius is h-hurt, I should be he-elping, bu- but I just-"

"It's okay, you're okay here," Remus soothed, "Take whatever time you need, Sirius is going to be fine. we can go see him once they let us, alright?"

Salus nodded slightly, dropping her hands from her face to instead wrap them around Remus' waist. She felt pathetic to be found crying like she had, and even worse for clinging onto the young werewolf, but his presence helped significantly.

Remus held onto the short girl, lowering his head so his cheek rested against the side of her head, his fingers still running through her hair in what he hoped was a soothing gesture. He felt a sudden change on the skin of her neck underneath his fingers, and it was only out of the corner of his eye that he saw a terrible scar that ran up the girl's neck, partially hidden by her long black hair. His movements froze as he took in the angry burnt skin, trying to figure out how she could have been injured in such a way, and coming to a horrifying conclusion.

"Don't tell anyone, Remus," Salus whispered against him, her shaking voice hardly carrying to him, "Please, you can't tell anyone."

Remus' hand shook slightly as he resumed his movements, his arms tightening around the small girl, and he replied huskily, "If that is what you want."

"It is."

.

When the small group of three somber students were allowed to see Sirius, they were met with skin that was black and blue, and a wincing smile that left them all speechless. Although most of the damage was hidden from view by hospital clothing and bedding, they could see the hints of bandages peeking from the collar of his shirt, and what was left of Sirius' clothing was folded next to the hospital bed - covered in blood. Sirius sat up slightly upon the group's arrival, which caused his face to momentarily screw up into an expression of pain, and he waved halfheartedly. No one really knew what to say, and looked among each other as if for guidance.

"Jeez who died?" Sirius tried to joke, which only earned glares of disapprovement and irritation, "Too soon?"

"Bit too soon, yeah," Remus nodded.

"Merlin you're such a dick," James muttered, before clearing the rest of the way towards Sirius and practically flopping on the boy in a hug.

Sirius gave a pained laugh and clapped James on the back before replying, "Love you too, Prongs, but bruised ribs."

"Right, sorry!" James quickly backed off, turning to try and hide the swipe of his sleeve across his cheek.

"How are you feeling, Sirius?" Remus asked dourly.

"Like I got ran over by the Knight bus and trampled by a troll," Sirius responded with a silent huff of dry laughter, "How's your Christmas going?"

"It'll be better once we can take you back to Hogwarts," Remus replied, not responding in the joking manor Sirius was trying to accomplish.

"Think if I flirt with one of the healers they'll let me out sooner?" Sirius asked jokingly, giving his best flirty wink through the bruises that littered across his face.

"You're incorrigible," Remus said, shaking his head, but the hints of a smile was pulling at his lips.

"You know you love it, Moony," Sirius laughed, but quickly stifled it as pain erupted in his ribs again.

Sirius' carefree attitude seemed to finally break through Remus and James' worry, and they both smiled at their injured friend before taking a seat on his bed. Only Salus remained standing, watching everything and feeling like an outsider. She had only truly met Sirius that year, every year before he had ignored her and she had done the same. She wasn't like James, Remus, and Peter; she hadn't built a friendship with the boys for the last five years. She had only considered him a friend for a mere three months now, it's not like they were especially close. To be in the room while the three boys talked felt like she was infringing on their privacy. Even James' parents stayed in the waiting room while their son saw to his best friend, so who was she to stay?

"Oi, Salus," Sirius barked, breaking the girl from her spiral of thoughts, "Don't just stand there, pull up a bed corner."

Warmth spread in the girl's chest as she did as she was told, perching on the corner of the hospital bed next to Sirius' legs. Within moments the boys' conversation turned to quidditch. Salus didn't participate, but watched and listened as they talked, keeping her main focus on Sirius. She had only been friends with him for a short few months, but despite that her concern for the boy amounted to the same level of concern she would feel for Lily or Severus if it were them lying in a hospital bed. That realization scared her a bit.

Despite the boys effort, along with the effort of James' parents, Sirius was not allowed to leave the hospital quite yet. The healers all insisted Sirius stayed overnight to evaluate whether or not the healing potions were doing their jobs. Fortunately for the group of students, they were being allowed to stay an hour past the usual visiting hours to keep Sirius company before being sent back to Hogwarts. Mr and Mrs. Potter were even letting James return to Hogwarts so that he could spend the rest of Christmas break with Sirius, even if he had to stay in the Hospital wing of the school. Because of that, James' parents were making him return home before Remus or Salus left so he could properly pack for the coming semester.

So it was just Remus, Sirius, and Salus sitting in the small hospital room, trying their best to remain quiet so none of the healers came to scold them. Sirius kept himself awake, despite his obvious exhaustion and the potions working against him, and he continued to try his best to keep the mood between the three friends light. He never mentioned what had happened to him, and he continued to make jokes in spite of his pain. Remus and Salus both knew he wasn't in a good place, but for his sake they indulged his need to simply be with his friends for a few hours. Pain and distress could be saved for another time, for now.

"I'm going to see if I can pinch some food from the kitchen," Remus brought up, standing from his corner of the bed, "You need anything, Sirius?"

"Are you kidding? I've got enough potions here to last a lifetime," Sirius snorted with sleep-deprived laughter. Remus merely shook his head, deciding to ask a healer for a tea with a hardy enough sleep potion slipped in, before addressing Salus.

"Do you want anything?" Remus asked Salus, his question weighing in the air a little more heavily than it had towards Sirius. Salus shook her head, but smiled and replied, "I'm good, thanks."

Remus nodded, his hand brushing across the top of Salus' head before exiting the hospital room in search of food and drugged tea, leaving Sirius and Salus to their own devices. Sirius shifted uncomfortably and questioned with less of a joking tone, "What was that all about? Something between you an' old Moony going on?"

"What? No, he's just- he's being Remus, he's always worried," Salus brushed off the question, "His concern is ill placed, don't worry about it."

"Why would Remus be concerned about you?" Sirius asked, before catching himself and rephrasing with a calculating hesitance, "What I mean is, should we be concerned for you?"

"Sirius, if there's anyone we should be concerned for, it's you," Salus replied, but Sirius saw through her poor attempt to pass off her problems.

Sirius sighed, sitting a little straighter in the bed despite the pain in his ribs, and said with a dry chuckle, "You know, I was saving this chat for a better time, but I suppose we can't make this day any more horrid." His expression shifted, only for a moment, to one that carried far too much for a boy his age. Finally seeming to find his words, Sirius' grey eyes met Salus', "One of the biggest differences between me and you, is that everyone knows what my home life is like. Everyone knows all about the Black who's been disgraced because he was placed in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, my parents have announced their disappointment in me since first year. And all of that rubbish only got worse each year, and all the purebloods know about it…" Sirius face pinched in a cross between pain and bitterness, but he seemed to shake off whatever memory was plaguing him and continued with even more conviction than before, "Everyone knows about the shit I deal with, but we know nothing about what you're dealing with, and that's a hell of a lot scarier, Salus."

"What are you talking about?" Salus asked, her brows knitting together, "Maybe you should rest for a bit."

"No, no," Sirius said defiantly, but with the slightest slur that gave away just how tired he really was, "If I don't say all of this now with all of these potions clouding me up, I never will."

The small girl was going to try and persuade him once again but was interrupted by Sirius whispering with a broken voice, "Salus, I'm scared for you."

"Why would you ever be scared for me?" Salus asked, her confusion growing.

"Because- because you never tell us anything!" Sirius suddenly burst, "None of us, we don't know anything about your- your family, and Lily told me that sometimes you have nightmares, and I looked in one of your books - those drawing books - the one you yelled at me for looking at, and I just-" Salus didn't know what to do. Sirius was always so lighthearted and joking around her, but now, with all of the potions breaking down his resolves and inhibitions, she had never seen so much emotion on his face. She had never seen him truly upset before, but at that moment his eyes were beginning to shimmer and turn red and his features were steadily twisting into an expression of anguish.

"Sirius, I'm fine," Salus tried to reassure, "You just need to sleep this off, and you'll feel better in the morning-"

"I'm scared, Salus!" Sirius practically shouted at the girl, "Don't you understand? I don't- I can't have you end up like me. I don't want you to get h-hurt, I don't want you to be like me. And I know, I know your parents are like mine, they- they don't treat you right! I can't just sit here and wait for you to be next, for you to be the next one in the hospital because I didn't think I'd wake up, and the thought of losing any of you-"

"You're not going to lose any of your friends, Sirius," Salus promised taking one of Sirius' larger hands into her own, "James, Remus, Peter; they're all safe. James and Peter are with their parents, and Remus will be right back. And you're not going to get hurt anymore either, James' parents will take care of you now. You don't have to worry."

"Who's going to take care of you?" Sirius slurred, finally kneeling over and leaning his forehead against the girl's shoulder, not letting go of her hands, "I don' wanna lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere, Sirius," Salus replied, trying to shift his weight back onto the bed, "I- I have . . . I have Severus, he keeps me safe."

"He's garbage," Sirius slurred tiredly, finally resting his head back on the bed, his eyelids beginning to droop, "he's no good at his job."

"I know," Salus replied, but her voice was so hushed and Sirius was so far gone that he didn't hear her reply.

"I'll keep you safe," Sirius said finally, his hands still clasped around the girl's smaller hands, and his eyes closing as a silent snore began to sound.

"I know you will," Salus replied to deaf ears, her eyes beginning to water but not ever spilling over. Even if his claims were made in a potion filed haze, she knew he meant what he said, and she had unwavering faith he would be true to his word.

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A/N: I have no idea how I feel about this chapter, it was all at a rather consistent high level of emotional tension, but I tried to slip in a few light jokes. Let me know what you think with reviews, or private message me. Who are you hoping Salus ends up with? I already know who she'll end up with, but I like to see you all guessing. Hope you enjoyed!