CHAPTER 11

SIRIUS'S POINT OF VIEW

Thoughts kept running through my mind. Remus had turned on me and Lizzie had jumped in front of me at the last minute, catching his attack head on. Then she was laying in her own blood and he suddenly started trying to get the blood off of her. I knew they were having a mental conversation. After a while, I saw her shake her head and he looked at me pointedly. I knew what was going on so I forced Lizzie out the door.

"Turn human." I said. I stood on y hind legs and turned back into my normal form and she did the same.

"Now are you going to go willingly or not?" i asked. She didn't say anything, she just started walking up to the castle. After she had been ahead of me for several seconds, she turned around.

"Padfoot are you coming?" she asked before falling to the ground. I freaked out, knowing Remus would blame me if she died on the way to the castle. I ran to her and was relieved to find she had just passed out. I carried her up to the hospital wing. Pomfrey was sitting at her desk but came running when she saw me carrying Lizzie. There was blood seeping through Lizzie's clothes and I was covered in her blood by that time. I sat her on a bed.

"What happened to her?" Pomfrey asked while she worked over Lizzie.

"Remus…Remus just went crazy tonight. The moment he changed, he turned and tried attacking me. Lizzie was the only one who realized what he was doing in time and jumped between us. He attacked her and then seemed to realize what he'd done AFTER she was laying in her own blood. Her silver fur was soaked red. They were having a mental conversation or something because after he'd licked most of her blood off her fur, she shook her head and he kinda looked pointedly at me so I made her come and she passed out just a few steps away from the Whomping Willow." I replied. I finally broke down. I knew the only reason why Lizzie was in this mess was because she defended me, and now I didn't know if she was even going to live.

"You should go to bed, Black. I don't want you going back down there tonight." Pomfrey said.

"I don't wanna leave her. Its my fault she's hurt. I should have realized not to be that close to Remus." I replied.

"Well at least sit in that chair." Pomfrey said. I sat down and buried my face in my hands.

"Moony's going to kill me." I said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because he may have been the one who was attacking, but he's not going to take to kindly to his girl risking her life to save me, and he's sure not going to like the fact that I'M the one sitting beside her bed waiting for her to wake up." I replied.

"Look, Sirius. Anyone can tell you're crazy over that girl. Maybe even crazier over her than he is. the fact that she almost died to save you says something. She has feelings for you." Pomfrey said gently. I sighed.

"That just makes things worse. I'm the one who set them up. I'm the one she could possibly die for. I'm the one who was stupid enough to fall for a girl I knew I could never have. I deserve all the unhappiness that comes along with those things." I said.

"No, you don't. you didn't mean to like her, I'm sure."

"No. But I basically destroyed my happiness just to make her happy." I said.

"That right there shows how much you really care about her. But if her and Remus ever split up, you better make your move before they have time to get back together." Pomfrey said. She finished with Lizzie and said she'd live but she had no clue when she'd wake up. She went to her living quarters, giving me permission to sit with Lizzie through the night.

"Why'd you jump in front of me?" I asked, although I knew she wouldn't answer. I tucked a stray lock of her kinky black hair behind her ear and started crying. Sure, Pomfrey said she'd live, but it WAS my fault she was in that position, it was my fault she was with Remus, it was my fault I was so unhappy. I tried pushing her away when I realized I liked her, but it didn't work out so well.

I sat with her, crying, until the morning. Pomfrey took one look at me and did some sort of spell on me.

"You wouldn't want Remus to know you were crying all night over her." she explained. Lizzie was still in her coma like state. It wasn't long before Remus, James, and Peter burst through the door. I stood up, knowing Remus would probably wanna stay for a long time and that it would be uncomfortable for him to have to stand for hours without moving.

"Thank you, Sirius." Remus said.

"Don't thank me. Its my fault she's in this mess." I replied.

"It's not your fault she jumped in front of you, and thanks to you she made it to the hospital wing." Remus pointed out.

"Well if I hadn't been so close to you, I would have been prepared for the attack and she wouldn't have jumped in." I said.

"No…she would have jumped in anyways. She fancies you, whether she admits it or not. I've seen the way she watches you. If I had my way, she'd be with you. You could give her a much better life than I could." Remus said.

"Don't talk like that. She loves you." I said. "I'm going to take a shower." I said, rushing out before he could say anything else.

REMUS'S POV

"Sirius is acting rather strange." Peter said.

"Because he likes Lizzie and thinks its his fault she almost died." James said.

"Well he had his chance with her." Peter said.

"No he didn't. Lizzie didn't see how much he cared. After this, she'll see and probably leave me to be with him. And I wouldn't blame her. Who would choose a monster like me when someone like Sirius basically worships you?" I said.

"She wont leave you." James replied.

"I don't wanna lose her, but I think I'm going to when she realizes just how much Sirius does care." I said.

"He doesn't care that much or he wouldn't have set you two up." Peter said.

"Actually, yes he does care. A lot." Pomfrey said.

"How do you know?" James asked.

"Because of the fact that he kept saying it was his fault she was almost dead and he sat in here by her side all night long without sleeping and he was crying the whole time. And he was terrified of Remus finding out for fear that Remus would either end the friendship or end it with Lizzie." Pomfrey replied.

"I've gotta go talk to him." I said.

"Take it easy on him." James said.

"I'm not mad at him. Alright? I just need to talk about a few things." I replied. I reached our dorm while Sirius was in the shower. I stood by the window.

"Why aren't you with Lizzie?" Sirius asked. I turned to look at him.

"Because I wanted to talk to you." I replied.

"Pomfrey told you about last night." He realized. I nodded.

"Look Sirius, I'm not mad. I'm going to break up with Lizzie when she wakes up. You could give her so much more than I could when we're all out of school." I said.

"Don't you dare hurt her like that." Sirius snapped.

"Why? It would make you happy. And she'd be happy. I've seen how she watches you sometimes." I said.

"Don't. Why make yourself unhappy?" he asked.

"Because you made yourself miserable and I honestly think she'd be happier with you." I replied. James walked in.

"Remus, she's awake." James said.

"You two stay here for a few minutes." I said before slipping out the door.

JAMES'S POV

"What's he doing?" I asked.

"He's going to end it. I told him not to." Sirius replied.

"He's making the biggest mistake of his life. He's really gonna regret doing this. Especially if she gets with someone else." I said. Sirius went silent. He turned his back towards me and looked out the window, leaning against the windowsill.

"Sirius, please tell me you're not thinking about snatching her up the moment she's single." I said.

"I'm not. I don't want to get her this way. I'm going to be there for her if she's upset, but I'm not starting a relationship with her until SHE says she wants to be with me. I'm not saying a single thing about relationships at all. That's something she needs to decide." he said.

"Just please don't rub it in his face if she does move on from him and get with you." I pleaded. He turned around and nodded.

SIRIUS'S POV

I knew that with Remus's head start, he'd have broken up with her before I got to the Hospital Wing so I left. When I entered, he was no where to be seen and I hadn't seen him in the corridors.

"Lizzie?" I said quietly. She turned to look at me and I saw she had tears streaming down her face.

LIZZIE'S POV

Remus walked in. I smiled up at him but he didn't return it. I knew something was wrong.

"Remus, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Lizzie…you're amazing, and I'm not just saying that. But I think its better we're just friends." he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I've seen the way you watch Sirius. And the fact that you almost died just to save him from an attack…"

"Please. Don't do this." I pleaded. I could tell he was feeling just as hurt as I was.

"I wanna be with you more than anything. But not right now. Maybe in a couple of months or something, but until you sort out all of your feelings for Sirius, I don't want us together. If you get over him, I'll be willing to try again." Remus said.

"I love you." I said as he was walking out.

"I know you do." he replied before disappearing out the door.

Ten minutes later, Sirius walked in.

"Lizzie?" he said quietly. I turned to look at him. He saw I was crying and sat on the edge of my bed.

"Lizzie, I begged him not to do this to you." Sirius said gently.

"Why would he?" I asked.

"Because in his head, he thinks you like me." he replied. I didn't say anything. "Lizzie, please tell me you don't."

"I don't." I said, but I didn't look at him when I said it. Truth was, I wasn't sure about it at the moment.

"Well I'm here for you if you need anyone to talk to." Sirius said. I noticed how tired he looked.

"Sirius, go get some sleep." I said.

"Not until you stop being so upset." he replied.

SIRIUS'S POV

"Not until you stop being so upset." I replied. It was a stupid thing to say. Of course she was going to be upset over Remus leaving her. She sat beside me. I put my arms around her in a hug, not really knowing what to do. She turned and started crying on my shoulder.

"Lizzie." I whispered. She didn't say anything. I looked up and saw Pomfrey watching us. She gave me a half grin but I knew she hated seeing Lizzie like this even if she barely knew her.

When Lizzie stopped crying, she stayed in her position pressed up against me with her face buried in my shoulder. I kept my arms around her.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Sirius." she said quietly, not moving from her position.

"Well without me, you wouldn't be in this mess." I said gently.

"Without you, I never would have been a Marauder or have the best several weeks of my life." she said.

"How can these have been the best weeks of your life? You've been in here several times." I asked.

"Because I've had the most amazing friends ever. Chris and Claire have been there for me since I was little, but its nothing compared to you guys." She started crying again. James and Peter walked in but were silent when they saw me holding her.

"Lizzie, it'll be fine. You'll get him back." I said quietly.

"I don't know Sirius. Maybe he had a point." she said.

"Lizzie, are you alright?" James asked, knowing the conversation was taking a turn that I would welcome willingly but that might not be the best on her part.

She shook her head. They started talking and I sat in the chair next to her bed. I drifted before finally falling asleep.

LIZZIE'S POV

I looked over and noticed Sirius was asleep. I had no idea why because I figured he'd probably gone back to the Shrieking Shack the moment he dropped me off at the hospital wing.

"He was in here all night." James said, as if reading my mind.

"Why?" I asked.

"He didn't want you to be alone and he stayed until Remus got here. Then they both left before you woke up." James replied. I barely stopped myself from crying at the mention of Remus's name. James seemed to realize what he'd done.

"Lizzie I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking." he said.

"It's fine James. I'm going to have to get used to being around him. We're partners in two classes and we have every single class together and if I hang out with yall, I'm gonna have to be around him." I replied.

"It might be good for you to be around each other. He wouldn't be able to stand being around you without having you as his own, so it might get you back with him." Peter said.

"If he was going to take me back, he wouldn't have dumped me in the first place." I said.