A/N: You guys are fantastic. This is now a T rated story. Hope you are enjoying and that the suspense is killing you! That means I did what I intended.

Does Dumbledore Make it All Better?

SIRIUS POV

"So you say she is missing?" Dumbledore asked us in a thoughtful voice.

"Yes Professor, the last we saw her was around 6 in the evening. Sirius, James, Peter and I were walking to the Gryffindor Common Room," Lily explained.

"We had detention, so Remus was walking his friend back to Ravenclaw tower and we were walking the girls back to ours. Lily went inside and Sirius said goodbye to Mary and we went to detention," James added.

Dumbledore nodded and his eyes flickered to me. I wondered bizarrely for a moment if he'd ever thought of having me in for counseling sessions like I so often thought I needed.

"And she didn't return to the common room Lily?" he asked, turning to her. She was perched on the arm of the chair I was sat in, a hand on my back, still rubbing soothing circles into it. I sighed and closed my eyes. Suddenly I was very depressed. I wondered what would happen if we'd alerted Dumbledore and she had just been off with some other boy. There was a jab of pain in my chest as I thought of this. I didn't want to even imagine the other alternative. Losing Mary to someone else, as painful as the thought was, was easier to think about than losing her altogether.

"No Sir, but she'd mentioned going to the Library earlier, so I just assumed that's where she was."

"I see…" Dumbledore stroked his long, white beard and I had a strange desire to yank it. Why was he taking so long to process this!? Wasn't he meant to be some kind of genius?

"What class would she have now?" he asked, not looking at any of us, as if he was still thinking.

"She'd have Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall and us," James answered.

"Very well. I shall send a message along to Professor McGonagall and Madame Pince. I suppose I ought to also contact Madame Pomfrey to see if she is in the Hospital Wing."

We nodded awkwardly, wondering what we should do in the meantime.

"You are welcome to stay. I am sure Mr.Pettigrew will be taking notes for your ill friend, Mr.Lupin, so I am sure you may borrow those."

James and I had a moment where we looked at each other with a strange desire to laugh. Wormtail taking notes? James always did that for Moony. He was the only one with the attention span and capability to be useful.

"Sirius, are you ok?" Lily was saying. I was suddenly aware of the slight smirk on my face and the fact that I hadn't said a word in the whole time we were there. I nodded ever so slightly and watched with fascination as Dumbledore sent three silvery Phoenixes off into the halls. I couldn't wait to be able to make a Patronus. James could already make silvery wisps come from his wand. I guess the one thing we'll be missing out on is wondering about the shape our Patronuses would take. As Animagi it seemed obvious.

"He's fine Lily," James lied. He knew I just wanted to be left alone.

There was about five minutes of silence as Lily rubbed my back, James tapped his foot unconsciously and Dumbledore paced in front of us. Soon, I heard voices and in came McGonagall, Pince and Poppy. They eyed us and turned to Dumbledore.

"I have called you in because I wondered if any of you knew the whereabouts of Mary MacDonald."

The three witches looked at each other briefly before Poppy spoke.

"No Professor, the only person in my Hospital Wing is Remus Lupin, who is very ill currently."

She said it with a dark significance and a secrecy that only the other teachers were meant to understand. She had no idea that every one in the room had a good idea why Remus was 'ill'.

"Is he ok?" James spoke up. I was grateful. I had wanted to ask myself but I couldn't get any words out right now. I looked to Poppy with the same interest as James.

"He will be fine by tonight," she said.

I wonder if she ever suspects we know already. We're in there every time he's 'sick', talking in low whispers. She must know. Blimey, grown-ups can be stupid.

James and I nodded and turned expectantly to Madame Pince next.

"No Professor, I haven't seen Miss MacDonald in the library since Friday, although I admit I was surprised, she is always there on Sundays."

I was surprised too. Who would've known Madame Pince took so much notice of her students.

"I see…Minerva?"

"She hasn't been in class today. Half of my class is missing," she paused eyeing us sternly, but I noticed there was sympathy too. "I did see her pass by my classroom around six thirty yesterday evening however….but-"

She paused again and shook her head as if it wasn't important,

"What!?" I blurted out. It was the first time I'd spoken and Lily and Professor Dumbledore looked taken aback. James was studying me with worry.

"Excuse me Mr.Black?" McGonagall glared at me.

"Sorry Professor, but I noticed you were about to say something but stopped yourself…" I said in my most polite tone. She looked mildly shocked. I was always so cheeky around her that she'd grown accustomed to it. She seemed completely caught off guard at my stiff, polite voice. Everyone forgets I grew up in the Black household. The oldest of pureblood rules is dignified politeness. No playful banter, no cheek. Only stiff, cold manners were permitted. Maybe that's why I try so hard to be impolite.

McGonagall just stood staring at me, confused and interested in what was going on in my head.

"Minerva, did you have anything else to say?" Dumbledore spoke up, coming to our aid.

She woke up from her trance and turned her attention to him. "Well, I try very much to ignore student rumours, but I couldn't help but overhear her name quite a few times today during breakfast and before class."

"What were they saying Professor?" James asked.

"Well…" she looked embarrassed to be relaying gossip to us. "It was said that Richard Davies and Mary spent the night together yesterday. And…when I saw her pass my classroom, she was with Davies." Her eye went to me, looking more school-girlish than I had ever cared to imagine.

"Hmm," Dumbledore said stroking his beard again. My face was hot and I felt sweaty and bothered. Unknown to me, I was now clutching the side of my chair with furious anger.

"No! That's just a rumour! A coincidence! It can't be true at all. Mary would never,"
Lily defended her, staring at me.

"Miss Evans, I never said I believed it. I am merely relaying what I heard…" McGonagall said in an offended voice.

"Well, I suppose we needn't have bothered you Professor…" I said to Dumbledore getting up abruptly knocking into Lily accidentally. I felt dizzy but fought hard to appear composed. She stumbled and James caught her from falling on the floor. She blushed as he steadied her on the arm of the seat. All the while however, he was staring at me, as if trying to figure out some puzzle or riddle.

"Sirius, stop. You know those rumours aren't true," he said quietly, so only Lily and I could hear. I'm positive Dumbledore heard too but pretended he didn't.

"I don't know what is true anymore! And it's the only thing we've heard isn't it!? How can you two have such bloody blind faith in people!? People are supposed to earn trust and…." I was yelling at Lily and James who were both standing now, together, facing me.

"Mary hasn't earned it?" Lily finished skeptically.

I sunk back in my chair and shook my head. "She has. I just…I don't know anymore."

I saw their looks of sympathy. Why couldn't I be like them? I was so afraid to trust the fact that someone like Mary could never hurt me. Why did it seem so much easier to believe this rumour?

"Let's not jump to conclusions based on hearsay Sirius. Madame Pince, will you fetch Richard Davies, a Sixth Year Ravenclaw? Miss Pomfey, you ought to return to your patient," Dumbledore said calmly. They nodded and scurried off and McGonagall looked on questioningly.

"Shall I return to my class Albus?" she asked.

"Actually, I fear this may be a more serious matter. Perhaps you should dismiss them." He asked it like a question but it was definitely a statement. Wordlessly McGonagall nodded and swept out of the room.

Then there was more waiting. James had his arm around Lily now, comforting her. I keep forgetting that I'm not the only one freaking out right now. I keep forgetting that Lily is her best friend. James adores Mary too. They are both equally worried about what was happening, but were putting me first. I felt a fierce pride rush into my body for being friends with the two of them. I found myself hoping, despite all that was happening, that they would finally get together. It seemed like they were the perfect balance. I noticed Dumbledore opened his mouth once, as if to say something to me, but thought better of it. I didn't have the guts to ask him to say what he was thinking like I did with McGonagall. Maybe I just didn't want to know what his theories were though.

Suddenly, there he was. Davies. He looked confused and apprehensive as he entered the room with Madame Pince.

"That will be all Madame Pince," Dumbledore said kindly and she curtsied before returning to her precious books.

"Mr.Davies, please come in. Take a seat," he said to Davies who was now staring at us with confusion. He nodded and made his way to the seat beside me. I felt suddenly furious and wished our chairs were further apart.

"I am about to ask you something about Mary MacDonald. In particular, the rumours that are circulating about you and Miss MacDonald," he peered at Davies over his half moon spectacles. "I take it you've heard them?"

Davies nodded silently in response and I stood up angrily, walking to the back of the room. James followed, creating a shield between Davies and myself. I glared at him but he just shook his head. I saw that Lily and Dumbledore were watching with both interest and worry.

"If you should prefer that Sirius leave the room when you choose answer me Richard. And you will answer truthfully, then I shall certainly have him leave."

I felt James hands clasp around my shoulders. I suppose I must've looked like I was going to kill, because that was the way I felt.

Davies looked at me, and I saw a strange, sad expression on his face.

"No Sir, he can stay. I have nothing to hide from him."

It only made me angrier. Didn't he care? Wasn't he worried I would beat him to a bloody pulp if he had touched Mary?

"Well then, I must ask you if you were with Mary MacDonald at all last night," Dumbledore said.

I moved with James shuffling in front of me, so that I could see Davies face. He had an eyebrow raised, surprised at the Headmaster's straightforwardness.

"I bumped into her around six or six thirty in the Transfiguration hallway. I walked with her a while and I…I asked her about her relationship with Black."

"Where was she going?" Dumbledore asked.

"She was headed to the Library. I won't deny that I tried to convince her that Black would just move on to another girl without another glance in her direction and I was the one who really cared about her."

"What did she say?" Lily whispered and Dumbledore allowed it.

"She said that she thought I was a conceited prat and Black was twice the man I'd ever be," he said reluctantly with a frown. I suppose lying in front of Dumbledore is something you just don't do. Especially when he so unexpectantly asks about your personal life.

My mouth twitched and James smirked at me. I felt a sudden weight lift from my shoulders before a different feeling came over me. Now I wasn't angry. I was scared.

"I encouraged the rumours, but the truth is Mary left me after five minutes and headed straight in the direction of the Library," Richard said with a shrug.

"Right. Thank you Mr.Davies. You may go back to class now," Dumbledore said with a slight smile.

He nodded, getting up. "Is she ok?" he asked.

"We don't know yet Richard," Dumbledore said kindly and Davies looked at me and an expression unfamiliar to him appeared on his face. He looked worried for me. Our gaze didn't break until Davies was out of the room.

"Now…I will have to request that you three return to your classes. I will begin a search for Mary. If I am correct in my assumption, I believe she was probably abducted somewhere between the Transfiguration hallway and the Library, so there is where I will begin."

"Are you having a laugh!?" I spluttered incredulously. I had never been rude to Dumbledore, but right now I was furious. He wanted us to go to class? Forget that our friend, my girlfriend was nowhere to be found!?

Dumbledore looked at me with his piercing blue eyes. "I will forgive your tone this once Mr.Black because I am aware that you are distressed, but do not presume I will be this kind if it happens again."

I sighed in frustration and James glared at me warningly.

"I'm sorry Professor, but can't we help please?" I asked weakly, trying my polite voice again. I saw the sympathy in his face for a moment but he shook his head.

"Losing more students is not a risk I am willing to take Mr.Black. These are dark and dangerous times."

"That Wizard…the Dark one who's all over the papers? You don't think…" Lily asked her voice breaking.

"Well I can't say Lord Voldemort would enter Hogwarts for a simple pureblood or a 'blood traitor' as he might put it. But I can't say I won't worry that there are people in this school, Death Eaters in the making, who sympathise with his ideals and so…are using Mary as an example."

Though we were confused, he refused to go on and ushered us out.

"Oh what is going to happen!?" Lily asked tearfully. James looked pale and squeezed her hand which no one had realized he was holding. She looked at him, confused for a moment before she whispered, "You were very mature in there. Calm…I almost didn't believe it was real."

James smiled slightly and shrugged. "You were just as calm. There was no point in getting worked up. Losing our minds won't get us any closer to finding Mary."

I listened to their quiet conversation and the looks of admiration being passed between them. Despite feeling like I was invading a private moment in their slowly developing relationship, I felt my breath catch. I glared at them determinedly.

"If they won't let us help. We'll take matters into our own hands…" I said, noting their approving but worried expressions.

I'd find her. I wasn't letting her go that easy.