Chapter 21

"So let me get this straight, you don't want to go out with me?" said James. He'd been trying to get Lily to talk to him and Sirius for the past two weeks. The exams were coming up in three days' time, making Lily more formidable than ever. She would promptly leave any room when the two boys would enter, and Severus made it his life's mission to make sure that they never spoke to Lily again. Lily looked at him with disdain, before getting up and going to the girl's dormitory. James was smiling until he heard the door at the top slam shut.

They continued to talk, until Sirius got bored and called Demi downstairs. He waited until he heard her open the top door, but then something went wrong. There was a loud thump as Demi came toppling down the staircase, her limp form slamming each step till she was in a heap on the common room floor. Sirius turned her over and checked for a pulse while everyone else crowded around her. "Quick, get someone-a teacher-anybody-NOW!" He roared at the crowd.

They quickly dispersed, and soon Lily had come down to see what the shouting was about. 'If you guys are –" she stopped, looking at Demi on the ground. She rushed over and checked for a pulse.

"She has one, Sirius checked" said James, solemnly.

Lily looked across Demi at Sirius, curiously, "how did you know to do that?" she asked.

"She needs help, and that's what you're asking?" he spat, as he got up from beside Demi, and walked over to the portrait door which immediately flew open as Professor McGonagall and Fabian Prewett came in. Professor McGonagall conjured up a stretcher and placed Demi on it. She bewitched it to go to the Hospital Wing. Sirius ran to it and picked up one of Demi's hands and walked beside the stretcher, ignoring whatever McGonagall was saying.

As Sirius walked up with Demi to the Hospital he couldn't help noticing something odd, her pulse, for someone who had been knocked out cold was unusually strong and fast. She also felt cold, ice cold. He though that it was because of the temperature in the castle but quickly remembered that it was summer, and the castle would often be stifling hot. He proceeded in silence ignoring the portraits and the passing students. They finally made it to the hospital wing; where Madam Pomfrey attempted to shoo him away.

"I've got her now Mr. Black, why don't you go back to the common room?" she suggested as she busied herself with Demi.

"No, I am staying here. With her" he said stubbornly.

McGonagall came a moment later and turned to Madam Pomfrey, "Poppy, is she alright?" she sounded somewhat tense.

"Yes, thank god" said Madame Pomfrey.

Professor McGonagall turned to Sirius and said, "You ought to go back to your dormitory, you may want to study for your exams."

"I will stay with her no matter what" he responded aggressively.

Sirius sat down, and looked at the clock. It chimed 11 o clock, and as it did, the Hospital doors flew open and two men entered. They both had long, ghostly-looking sliver beards, and bright blue eyes. One was Dumbledore, so the other mist have been. . . . .

"Albus, Aberforth, where have you two been" said McGonagall.

"Just heard now, Minerva" said Aberforth as he sat down, taking one of Demi's hands into both of his own.

"Is she fine? No bruises or cuts?" inquired Dumbledore.

"No, none. We would know if anything would have happened, right?" said Madame Pomfrey.

"Yes, she is far past that stage" murmured Dumbledore as he checked her pupils.

"What stage? What is she far past?" said Sirius, causing everyone who had forgotten he was here to jump.

"Nothing, my dear, nothing" said Madame Pomfrey.

"No I think it is something" said Sirius questioningly.

"Listen here boy-" started Aberforth.

"No, he has the right to ask of the secret, they are close friends" said Dumbledore, smiling down at Sirius. "Unfortunately, it is up to Miss Demitria here if she wished to divulge it. However, I know you wish to stay, Mr. Black, but I do not think that would be a good idea, perhaps a visit in the morning, to make sure she is fit and well. She will most likely be well enough to leave," he smiled.

Sirius understood he was being dismissed and gave Demi's hand a little squeeze as he walked by to the door. Before it shut, he heard Aberforth's voice growl, "so you're taking over the care of Demi as well now? I'd like to see how that goes." Sirius knew it wasn't any good trying to pretend he hadn't heard that, but he'd ask Demi about it later. For now, she needed rest. He managed to make it to the dormitory quietly, but the moment he stepped through, several students rushed forward to ask about her. He walked past quickly and went to sleep, ignoring the rest of his friends, as he worried about another.

I wonder what her secret is? I wonder what her secret is? This ought to be fun to work with. . . . .