"Let us see them!"

"It's been forever! I want to see them!"

"Please, calm down, you cannot see them yet."

I groaned, and blinked my eyes open. I glanced around, assessing my situation. I was in the hospital wing, my chest was aching horribly, and my head was pounding painfully.

And Sirius was nowhere to be seen.

That could be expected, seeing as Madam Pomfrey had pulled the curtains around my bed. But still, I wanted to see Sirius. Was he alive? Was I able to save him?

"Hey!" I croaked, hoping I was loud enough. I was; there was a shuffle outside, and the curtains were shoved open to reveal Lily and Regulus's relieved faces.

"James!" Regulus exclaimed, rushing over before Lily even had the chance to walk in. "Oh thank goodness you're alright! I was so worried when Professor Dumbledore brought you and Sirius in!"

"Sirius!" I cried. "Where is he? Is he alright?"

"James," Lily said soothingly, and I immediately feared the worst. My face must've shown it, too. "Oh, no, no, he isn't dead, James. He's just injured, like you. He hasn't woken up yet. We weren't expecting you to wake for another day either."

"Another day?" I said faintly. "How long was I out?"

"Two days," Lily replied. "Bellatrix got you and Sirius both with some Dark curse before Dumbledore got there."

"Indeed," said Dumbledore gravely, walking in. "Her curse caused massive internal damage; for a while, Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure either of you would make it. I found you both on the ground, and for a moment, I feared you dead."

"Sirius will be okay, though?" I asked. "He won't… he won't… die?"

"Doubtfully," Dumbledore answered. "However, neither of you are completely out of the woods. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will be keeping you for a while."

"She wanted to send you both to St. Mungo's," Regulus added. "But your parents said that you would like it even less there than you do here."

"Yeah, that sounds just about right," I chuckled. "Merlin, my chest hurts. Whatever she did certainly worked."

"Yes," Dumbledore gave me a small smile. "Under the circumstances, I believe I will turn a blind eye; none of my students were in Diagon Alley today."

"Thank you sir," I said, and Dumbledore left, probably to tell Madam Pomfrey I was up. "This is all my fault. I agreed to go to Diagon Alley…"

"It isn't your fault, James," Lily replied, rubbing my hand. "If anything, it's mine for not trying hard enough to stop you from going."

"It's nobody's fault," Regulus declared. "No, actually, it's Bellatrix's fault."

"Hmm," I laid back into the pillow. "Say what you will."

"James, you have a self blame problem," Lily sighed. "Honestly, it isn't your fault!"

"Mr. Potter! You're up! Ooh, that Dumbledore, he should have told me!" I glanced up; Madam Pomfrey had come in, potions in her arms. "Alright, drink these. Don't give me that look- just drink them. I must go check on Mr. Black."

With that, she was gone. I looked at Lily hopefully, glancing wearily at the many potions on the table beside me. "Nope, James, drink them."

I sighed dramatically, and downed the potions. "Blech, gross…"

"If it gets you better, then it doesn't matter what it tastes like," Lily said chidingly. "You are immature."

"I try," I replied cheekily. Regulus snorted. "I'm so worried about Sirius… why hasn't he woken up yet? What if he dies because I couldn't protect him- again!"

"Sirius won't die," Lily assured me. "He's a strong boy- stronger than you, at least," I gave her a cross look. "It's true, though. If you can make it, he will."

"What if she got him with a worse curse?" I fretted. "Or Madam Pomfrey missed something while healing him? Maybe because his parents put him under the Cruciatus so often, he's vulnerable to this other dark curse. Or-"

"James!" Lily said sharply. "Just stop worrying. Sirius will be fine!"

"Siri wouldn't let a little curse get him," Regulus exclaimed. "Don't worry, James, he'll pull through, and so will you."

"I'm fine," I shrugged, before wincing. "Okay. Not that fine. I'd like to know what all is wrong with me… and, preferably, I'd like to see Sirius."

"James, you can't even sit up," Lily chuckled. "You can wait to see Sirius. I wouldn't be surprised if you passed out again, you aren't supposed to be awake."

"Yeah," I said, feeling slightly dizzy. "I'm fine though… perfectly… fine…"

I winced, sitting up slightly. I must have passed out. Lily and Regulus were gone, and Madam Pomfrey was bustling around near my bed. "Hullo."

"Mr. Potter!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, nearly dropping the potions she was carrying. "You're awake again!"

"How long was I out this time?"

"Not as long," she replied. "Only a few hours. It's the middle of the night."

"Has Sirius woken up?" I asked. Madam Pomfrey's stern expression softened.

"Yes, briefly," she answered. "But not for long, and he was slightly delirious. Don't worry, Mr. Potter. Mr. Black will be just fine."

"Thank goodness," I sighed. "How bad were our injuries?"

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips. "Well, you were both about the same. Several broken ribs, severe internal bleeding, some insignificant head damage- which would explain your headache, Mr. Potter. No lasting damage, I'm sure. You'll both be out of here in a week or two, depending on your condition."

"A week!?" I exclaimed, shooting up fast, before grabbing my ribs. "Ow…"

"If you keep doing that, it will be longer," said Madam Pomfrey sharply.

"But-" I frowned. "Quidditch!"

"Gryffindor has reserve chasers, don't they?" Madam Pomfrey replied. "You and Mr. Black are in no condition to play Quidditch!"

I slumped back against my pillow, disappointed. "But it's Quidditch."

"Hmm, and it's your health," Madam Pomfrey retorted. "It's completely possible you'll be unconscious through the game. Honestly, it's just a game…"

"Just a game?" I cried. "It's Quidditch! It's an art form! A lifestyle! The very air we breathe!"

"And you'll survive missing one game," Madam Pomfrey declared crossly. "If you won't listen to me, then you can talk to your mother. I guarantee she'll say the same thing."

"No, let's not bring Mum into this," I said quickly. Madam Pomfrey gave me a triumphant nod. "Fine. But you'll get more of an argument from Pad- er, Sirius."

"Hmm, we'll see," Madam Pomfrey said. "Considering the fact that, should he argue, I'd be contacting your mother as well, I think he'll know better than to argue."

"That's true," I agreed. Just then, there was a groan, seemingly coming from the bed beside mine.

"Huh?" My eyes lit up; that was Sirius's voice. "Am I dead?"

Madam Pomfrey pulled open the curtain, and I could see Sirius in the bed beside me. He caught my eye, and looked very confused. "Are we dead, Prongs?"

"Nah," I replied, relieved that my friend was awake. "Just in the Hospital Wing, which really isn't where I'd like to end up when I die."

"Oh," Sirius said. "You saved me."

"I almost didn't," I frowned. "You almost died, Sirius."

"Yeah, today was crazy," Sirius laughed weakly.

"Actually, you've been unconscious all day today," I declared. "We were both out for two days, but I woke up earlier, then passed out again. And now we're both awake- congrats! You made it three days unconscious."

"Bloody heck," Sirius tried to sit up in his bed, before wincing, and laying back. "Any idea why I hurt so much- oh, hey, Madam Pomfrey. Let us out?"

"No, Mr. Black," Madam Pomfrey chided. "Neither of you can even sit up."

"We can-"

"-it just hurts!"

"So… when's the Quidditch game?" Sirius asked. "We'll be out by then?"

"Madam Pomfrey says we can't play Quidditch or she'll call Mum," I scowled. Sirius blanched. "Yep. And you know what Mum will say?"

"James Potter! Sirius Black! How dare you even think about playing Quidditch in your conditions! You could be really hurt!" Sirius mocked, making his voice higher in a failed imitation of Mum.

"Don't let her hear you imitating her," I warned. "You'll be grounded for life."

Madam Pomfrey chuckled. "I'll leave you two to talk. Do not leave."

She left, and Sirius and I exchanged devious smirks.

"Why don't we sneak back to our dorms?" Sirius suggested. "I hate the Hospital Wing."

"Good plan," I agreed. Sirius pulled of his covers, sat up, and slipped out of bed, standing shakily. He walked carefully over, helping me up. "Ouch!"

"You alright?" Sirius asked. I nodded, and leaned on him for support, wondering why he wasn't hurting. We limped together towards the door, and we nearly made it too, until Sirius stumbled and we both came tumbling to the floor. I grabbed my head, and Sirius clutched his chest, face screwed up in pain. I looked at him worriedly.

"I'm fine," he groaned. "Just fine."

"We both have a problem of saying we're fine when we aren't," I chuckled weakly. My head was pounding worse than ever, and the aching in my chest was more prominent, but Sirius looked really hurt- at least, in my skewed, overprotective opinion. I struggled to my feet, and pulled Sirius into my arms.

"I can walk, really," Sirius muttered, still clutching his chest. "I don't need to be carried."

"Yeah, sure," I retorted, carefully and painfully carrying Sirius (who was still too light for my liking) to his bed, laid him down, and laid back in my own bed, massaging my pounding head. "D'you think you're really hurt?"

"Nah," Sirius said, sounding strained. I raised an eyebrow. "No really!"

"Right," I replied, before taking in a painful breath. "That was a bad idea. MADAM POMFREY!"

I winced horribly right after I said that. So maybe yelling wasn't such a good idea. Madam Pomfrey came rushing in, and she scowled at us.

"You two tried to leave," she accused. I grinned sheepishly. Sirius nodded. "Well, let me see you then."

"I'm fine," Sirius insisted. "Check on James."

"Hmm, you're face says otherwise," Madam Pomfrey said crossly, but she listened to Sirius and checked over me first. "Mr. Potter, what will I do with you? I just fixed that concussion."

"Whoops?" I replied.

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Other than that, you've bruised one of your ribs again. Next time, maybe, you'll listen."

"Yeah, we will," I assured her. "Now check on Sirius. I think he's worse off."

"You two are going to be the death of me," Madam Pomfrey grumbled, checking over Sirius. "Well, you've gone and broken a few of your ribs again. That will be more Skelegro for you- and you'll be stuck here longer."

"Ah, well, that's great," Sirius groaned. "Prongs, next time I make a suggestion that is obviously a bad idea, stop me from doing it."

"Will do," I laughed. "Hey, Madam Pomfrey, have you got anything for my headache?"

"I'll be right back," she sighed. "Do-not-leave."

"Like I'd try that again," Sirius scoffed. "Er… well, at least not today. Maybe tomorrow Regulus and Wormtail can sneak us out."

"Why not Moony or Lily?"

"Because they'd say no," Sirius said simply. I started to nod my agreement, then decided against it, because nodding would worsen the pounding in my head. "Reggie and Pete would agree, they're good like that."

"You mean gullible," I replied, and Sirius stuck out his tongue at me.

"Yeah, sure," he grinned cheekily. "Whatever, I'm sneaking out tomorrow."

"By all means, mess up your ribs a bit more," I said sarcastically. "I'll be laughing when you're back in here moaning in pain."

"Nah, you wouldn't laugh at my pain," Sirius smiled. I gave him a dubious look. "Er…. You wouldn't… would you?"

"No, I wouldn't laugh at your pain," I chuckled. "Just at the fact that your escape attempt failed miserably."

"Oh, quiet you," Sirius retorted. "You just want to be good for your precious Lily flower."

"That's right," I smiled cheekily. "Besides, I prefer my head to not be pounding."

Sirius gave me a guilty look. "Sorry 'bout that, mate."

"Nah," I replied. "I imagine you're worse off."

"Oh, this?" Sirius asked, gesturing to his chest. "No, I've had worse."

"I don't doubt it," I muttered darkly, sitting up. "You're bloody parents are evil."

"How d'you know it was my parents?" Sirius challenged jokingly. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, fine, maybe it was."

"Mr. Potter!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, walking in with an armful of potions. "Lay down!"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, grinning and laying back. "Er… please tell me those are all for Sirius."

Sirius stuck his tongue out at me, and Madam Pomfrey gave me a skeptical look.

"Okay," I sighed. "Not all for Sirius. Got it."

A/N: See! I didn't kill either of them! And they'll be fine, even if they do have to miss Quidditch and stay in the Hospital Wing for a bit (no thanks to Sirius's escape attempt). Thanks to N.E. Person, weasleychick32, Theta-McBride, Accalia Silvermoon, Lovewriting12, jeremiah123, and potterhead934 for reviewing! You all get virtual ice cream cones! Hope you all liked this chapter!

I don't, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter.