Kreacher brought Sirius and Regulus directly to the hospital wing at Hogwarts, as had been Sirius' instructions. The infirmary had quite a few occupants, though as most of them had the curtains around their beds drawn, no one seemed to notice their sudden appearance. Sirius quickly whisked Regulus onto the nearest available cot and drew its curtains.

After several failed attempts at getting information of the night's events from Kreacher, Sirius sent him back to Grimmauld Place with the order not to tell anyone of what happened. Sirius deduced that Regulus must have given similar orders but he wasn't sure if they would apply to the events following when Regulus 'died'.

Sirius peeked out of the curtains to see if he could find Madam Pomfrey, but the matron was nowhere to be seen. He did see a couple of volunteers from St. Mungo's, one of which he recognized as Rachel Candor.

Since the death eater raid at St. Mungo's, civilians and Ministry officials alike had been requesting to be treated there instead of at the hospital in London. It was public opinion now that Hogwarts was the safest place in Britain in the present climate.

As gifted as Madam Pomfrey was, the patient load was beyond what any one witch could handle alone, which had prompted many of the apprentices to begin volunteering time at Hogwarts. The healers of St. Mungo's were stretched too thin to send any aid as they had lost a few of their number to the death eaters. The apprentices were able to help with caring for most of the student's ailments as well as some of the more minor afflictions of other patients, or so Sirius had been told at the last Order meeting.

Sirius quickly closed the curtains so as to not draw the apprentice's attention. Aside from not really wanting to see her in general, he suspected Regulus needed help beyond what a first year apprentice could provide. Also considering she had been in his brother's year at school, there was a good chance she would not help even if she could. There was no telling what horrible things he and his friends might have done to her in their school days. Despite being a pureblood, she lacked the 'proper pureblood pride' required to ever have been friendly with any of the Slytherins.

After a couple of minutes, in which Regulus remained in a comatose state and Sirius checked almost obsessively to ensure he still had a pulse, Sirius again peeked out from the curtains. This time he saw Madam Pomfrey and motioned her over. She gestured that she would be over shortly and Sirius returned to his silent vigil.

After what seemed like an eternity to Sirius but was likely only a couple of minutes, the matron arrived.

"Well, Mr. Black, what can I do for you?"

"It's my brother actually," Sirius said gesturing towards the bed. "I'm not sure of everything, but near-drowning is on his list of ailments."

If the matron was surprised of Sirius' company, or his condition, she hid well. She wasted no time casting diagnostic spells, followed by healing spells as she went. The only indication of surprise she showed was in the raise of her eyebrows, which nearly blended in with her hairline by the time she addressed him again.

She made a 'tsk' sound, before asking, "And you have no idea how he came to be in this condition?"

She continued casting various healing spells as she spoke, as if to seem like she was not particularly interested in his answer.

"None at all. I found him in this state," Sirius answered firmly. He wasn't sure how much to reveal. He wanted his brother to receive proper treatment but was worried he would be sent away if she found out Regulus was a death eater.

"And what of these hand prints? It looks as if someone was rather intent on drowning him. They were there when you found him too, I suppose?" she asked sounding a bit too skeptical for Sirius' liking.

"This is exactly how I found him, with the exception that he now has the improved state of having a heartbeat," Sirius answered heatedly. 'Why would he bother with getting Regulus treatment if he had been the one to put him in this condition?'

Madam Pomfrey looked startled at that and cast another series of diagnostic spells. As her expression became ever more grave with each spell, Sirius demanded,

"Will he be okay? How long before he wakes up?"

"I couldn't say. He is in a surprisingly stable condition considering what he has been through. His current state of unconsciousness seems to be as much from exhaustion as it is from the near-drowning experience. I could revive him, but his body will heal more efficiently if it is allowed to rest. I expect he will be in a great deal of pain if he were to awaken anytime soon."

She continued casting healing spells for a few more moments before adding, "I have fixed the most serious damage. I will have someone bring over a salve for the worst of the markings on his skin. After that I suggest we let him be."

The matron then left Sirius alone to continue his watch over his still unresponsive brother. A few minutes later, Rachel, made her presence known before opening the curtains and entering the area around Regulus' cot.

She didn't seem to notice Sirius' presence as she walked in and immediately checked Regulus for a pulse. He could understand that, Regulus looked like death warmed over. He did not understand the expressions that crossed her face though, as they seemed to go from shocked to a mixture of exasperation and relief. He was thoroughly perturbed when she brushed his hair out of his face in an almost affectionate manner.

Sirius cleared his throat and she startled slightly, dropping her hand. She cast a furtive glance in his direction before beginning to apply salve to the markings on Regulus' neck.

'That was weird,' Sirius thought but didn't comment.

After treating Regulus' face, neck and what was visible on his arms, she flicked her wand to switch Regulus' tattered clothing for a long sleeved hospital gown.

"I've never seen one of those before. I've only ever seen the short sleeved kind used," Sirius remarked more to break the silence than because he actually cared about gown selection.

The apprentice looked at him as if trying to read something in his expression, but after a moment replied, "Yes, well, those are standard. He still feels really cold though, and as it's always frigid in here, I thought he might be a bit more comfortable in this."

"Thoughtful of you."

"So, what happened anyway?"

"As I've told Madam Pomfrey, I do not know what happened exactly, this is how I found him."

"Mmm."

Her noncommittal response only further irritated Sirius after his encounter with the matron, whom he was normally a favorite of.

"Care to share your real feelings? If I didn't know any better I would think you and Madam Pomfrey both think that I am somehow responsible for Regulus' current state -which is ridiculous considering I am the one that brought him in for treatment."

"Merlin, calm down, Black. I certainly don't think you would try to drown your brother. I've no idea what you told Madam Pomfrey, I was just told that a patient was nearly drowned to a point that his heart actually stopped beating temporarily. I came in here to find said patient with markings all over his body, obviously indicative of a struggle. Add in that it is his estranged brother that happens to be the one accompanying him… While I do not think you are responsible, surely you can see why the situation is a bit suspect."

Sirius was about to retort something that would likely have gotten him kicked out of the hospital wing but when he looked at Rachel's expression it looked more amused than accusing. Instead he asked,

"Why don't you think I am responsible if it's so suspicious?"

"You are reputed to be intelligent. I don't know how well-deserved that reputation is, but no one with even a grain of common sense would find themselves in your situation if they were guilty."

"That's a fair point... I guess. So, do you know Regulus then?"

"Only in passing. We had several classes together," she answered while continuing to cast various diagnostic and healing spells.

"You probably had some dealings with him and his friends while at school then. I'm a little surprised you don't seem to mind helping him to be honest," Sirius replied wryly.

"Oh. Well, they never bothered me much. I guess because I'm a pureblood and all."

"Yes, but you're also a blood traitor."

"And you're supposed to be the brother that doesn't care about that, yet here we are," Rachel replied amusedly.

"I don't, I just-"

"Have a tendency to blurt things out before thinking them through?" Rachel suggested.

Sirius grimaced, "It's been known to happen on occasion."

"You should probably work on that. Though admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, or so I've heard."

"Where did you hear that, some kind of muggle therapy?"

Rachel rolled her eyes before declaring, "I have to go check on my other patients. Is there anything you need right now?"

"No, but how long before you think he'll wake up? Madam Pomfrey didn't give an answer. Having some sort of timeframe would be nice."

"Well, Madam Pomfrey told me she thought it would be a few days. I actually think it could be sooner. The more magically powerful someone is, the faster they heal. Your brother was always one of the more powerful students in our year."

"Alright then, thanks for your help."

"You're welcome," Rachel hesitated a moment before adding, "Please let me know when he wakes up."

Sirius nodded and returned to his silent vigil. It was incredibly boring. He considered going to speak with Professor Dumbledore but did not want to leave in case Regulus woke up.

Several hours later a sleeping Sirius was awoken by an owl he did not recognize with a letter addressed to Regulus. As Sirius untied the letter he vaguely thought it unsanitary to allow owls into the hospital wing, before rolling over on his makeshift bed and falling back to sleep.

Sirius woke up again mid-afternoon and found Regulus to be just as he had left him, asleep. After ordering and then devouring a meal graciously provided by the Hogwarts house elves, Sirius became increasingly restless. He had not had any contact with anyone all day with the exception of when Madam Pomfrey or one of her minions periodically came in to check on Regulus.

It was then that he remembered the letter. He reasoned that it could contain time sensitive information and Regulus was in no shape to read it himself. He then carefully tore open the letter, and read:

'Reg-

I'm not sure where you are or what's going on. I can only presume The Dark Lord has sent you on a mission to make amends for your interference in yesterday's raid. Most are speculating you had a momentary lapse in judgment and acted on reflex. Others have suggested you were looking out for The Dark Lord's interests- because you really believe Sirius can be recruited to our cause. I won't tell you what I think in case this letter is intercepted, but do heed what I am telling you.

As you may have noticed, The Dark Lord has a bit of a fascination with you. You are, and have always been much too clever for your own good. He believes you to be an untapped vessel of intricate knowledge in the dark arts and torture, and for that reason, one of his most valuable acquisitions amongst the death eaters. Whatever you are thinking of doing, I strongly advise you to reconsider.

As clever as you are, you will be found. As you know, perhaps better than any of us; death eaters are bound for life. Anyone found to be a traitor will have a slow and most assuredly painful death. I think you may be the exception. In your case, I daresay even Azkaban might be better. Please take this under advisement and if you need help ask for it now, before it is too late to be helped.

Evan'

Sirius finished the letter and then re-read it. He then folded it back the way it had been, and charmed it so that it looked as if never opened. After placing it neatly on Regulus' bedside table, he began to ponder what he had just read.

He had often wondered whether anyone in Slytherin were actually friends, or if they were all just united in their hatred of everyone else. Rosier's letter seemed to suggest that he and Regulus were friendly, rather than just allies, though it was certainly possible that the letter was designed to lure Regulus into a trap.

Regulus and Rosier had been practically inseparable in school, though that didn't necessarily mean anything when most Slytherins always seemed to travel in packs.

Still, it sounded like Rosier thought Regulus might be on a mission to make amends for his interference. Perhaps the stint at the cave was Voldemort's retaliation for Regulus' intervention? Inferi induced drowning seemed like a bit of an overreaction to Sirius, but as Voldemort was clearly a madman, he wouldn't put it past him. That didn't explain Kreacher's involvement though, unless Regulus called him there? But why would he if only to leave him there to drown?

It also didn't make sense for Voldemort to leave Regulus to die if he was anywhere near as valuable as Rosier suggested. 'Untapped vessel of intricate knowledge in the dark arts and torture,' his letter had said. What did that mean? Did Regulus possess this intricate knowledge but refrained from using it, or is Regulus just incredibly sick in the ideas of torture he comes up with? If it was the latter then Sirius wasn't sure rescuing Regulus was in anyone's best interest. He didn't know what Regulus' plans were, he scarcely knew him anymore.

Rosier likely knew Regulus as well as anyone could. According to his letter, he seemed to think Regulus wanted out of the death eaters. 'Well that's something, at least,' Sirius thought. However this only gave him a different cause for worry. It wasn't as if Regulus could just walk up to Voldemort and hand in his resignation. Could Regulus have been trying to kill himself? Would he prefer death over continuing his life as a death eater?

For the millionth time, Sirius wondered why Regulus would have ever thought joining the death eaters was a good idea. He had been a sweet kid when he was young. More innocent than Sirius had been. Sirius had always done his best to keep him out of hearing range when their most offensive relatives came to visit.

Before Sirius began Hogwarts, Regulus had been spared from the majority of 'special lessons' with their father that Sirius had had to attend as the rightful heir of the Black family. He knew Regulus began the same lessons once he was sorted into Gryffindor, 'just in case'. The changes Sirius saw in his brother when he returned home from school following his first year spoke volumes of what he must have had to endure in his absence. Not that Regulus would ever tell him anything about it. Sirius thought it likely the lessons only worsened once he had been disowned.

He thought back to Rosier's letter. Could he really have gone through all of this effort to save Regulus from the cave and then waiting around for him to wake up only for things to go back to the way they were? Regulus was a death eater, and it certainly didn't seem like leaving them was an option, especially if Rosier's letter was anything to go by.

Sirius thought it might be best if he just left. Let Regulus wake up alone and figure things out for himself. It wasn't as if he would listen to anything he had to say anyway. The thought was fleeting though as he realized he had everything to gain by staying. The worst case scenario was that Sirius would offer to help Regulus only to be turned away. If that happened at least Sirius could be free.

Free from the guilt that he has carried with him all these years. Wondering if he could have done something more to try and sway Regulus away from the clutches of their family. He realized now that he abandoned Regulus long before ever officially leaving. The moment the sorting hat declared Regulus was to be in Slytherin, some part of his heart hardened towards his brother. As the years went by Sirius constantly looked for flaws in him to further convince himself that he had been a lost cause from the beginning.

He had long since felt that he had failed his younger brother in this regard. By leaving the family he could no longer keep him safe from them. Sirius was all but certain now that had he stayed, Regulus would never have joined the death eaters. And if that were true then why hadn't he stayed?

He left home less than a year before he would have been legally able to do so anyway. He moved in with the Potter's. What was so different about that? He had spent every Christmas and Easter holiday with them as well as the majority of the summer breaks since his first year. He had considered leaving long before when he actually did but always justified staying with the fact that he was rarely ever there to begin with.

His actual decision to leave home had been rash, decided in the heat of the moment at the height of an argument. He was lucky that the Potter's took him in and even more so that his Uncle Alphard had left him an inheritance. Without it, Sirius would not have been able to maintain anything close to his usual lifestyle. He likely would not have even been able to afford his last year's tuition at Hogwarts. Worse than that, his leaving only caused his parents to place even more pressure onto his brother's already overloaded shoulders. It very well could have pushed him into the ranks of the death eaters. His parents had been sympathizers, and after all, it would have made them proud.

That was all in the past now though. If for no other reason, Sirius was glad to have saved Regulus in the cave so as to be able to clear the air with him when he wakes up. Perhaps it would be their last conversation. Sirius was determined that regardless of the result, he was going to let go of any lingering feelings of guilt that haunted him.

Finally, late into the evening Regulus began to stir. Sirius poked his head out and caught Rachel's eye. Merlin, did she ever go home? She certainly looked exhausted. He decided not to comment on that fact when she entered the 'room' though as their last conversation had been relatively friendly. He also couldn't quite shake the feeling that her comment about him speaking before thinking things through had been a warning of some sort, though why she would feel the need to give him any such warning, he had no idea.

Rachel observed Regulus' restlessness briefly before leaving momentarily. When she came back her hands were full of several different vials of potion, all of which she sat down on the table without giving Regulus any. She saw Sirius' look of confusion and answered his unasked question, "Most of these vials contain potions for pain relief, some stronger than others. I wanted to have them close by for when he wakes up, but to give any to him now would likely just put him back to sleep. You seem anxious to have him awake. I also suspect he has obligations he will need to see to before too long."

Sirius nodded but did not reply. He too had wondered about Regulus' 'obligations' and how long it would be before he was missed.

Sirius was pulled out of that line of thought when Rachel began trying to speak to Regulus. She stroked his cheek gently and asked if he could hear her. He grunted in response. Sirius watched silently from his seat off to the side. He thought alerting Regulus of his presence might cause the younger Black unnecessary trepidation in his current state. After a minute or two of similar interaction, Regulus gradually became more lucid.

Regulus opened his eyes just enough to find out he was extremely light sensitive and promptly closed them again.

"Rachel," he greeted weakly.

Rachel smiled broadly then replied, "Welcome back to the land of the living. Your brother brought you to the hospital wing at Hogwarts."

Regulus grunted incoherently before asking, "Aren't you in the wrong place?"

"No, ever since those pesky death eaters infiltrated St. Mungo's I've been splitting my time. I'm right where I'm supposed to be," she smiled softly.

She then cleared her throat and addressed Sirius, "Well, as far as I can tell, he doesn't seem to have any short term memory loss." She cast a few more silent spells before adding, "The light sensitivity is to be expected but should subside soon. If any new symptoms develop please let Madam Pomfrey or myself know promptly."

Turning back to Regulus, she said, "I have a smorgasbord of potions to aid with your pain level. How strong of one do you need?"

After being given the potion he had requested, (by both name and dosage, instead of level of pain to Sirius' bafflement and Rachel's amusement) the healing apprentice excused herself, leaving the Black brothers alone.