Disclaimer: I don't have rights to Harry Potter or Bon Jovi
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Chapter 36: Lie to me
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"Draco?" Sirius repeated, using slight more force as he shook the young wizard.
When Hermione didn't hear a response, she lifted her head off Fred's shoulder and looked down at her friend. His face was covered in a fine layer of dust, save for a small trail of blood making its way down from his hairline.
"Ennervate," Sirius murmured as Fred reached across and took Elizabeth from Hermione's arms.
When the blond didn't respond to Sirius' spell, Hermione moved forward, kneeling down on the soft grass on his other side.
Shaking the wizard as she called out to him. "Draco, wake up."
His soft grey eyes remained closed.
Hearing the concerned voices float down the small terrace, Graham quickly made his way back up the slope to find Sirius and Hermione desperately trying to wake Draco.
Moving over to where Hermione knelt, Graham crouched down beside her. "Let me," he said softly.
Hermione switched places with the Auror and grasped Draco's hand, watching as Sirius and Graham tried to revive him, moving him from off the bank to lie flat on the ground.
Her chocolate eyes followed Sirius' hand, his knuckles red and raw. He moved it down the smooth, pale skin of Draco's arm, leaving a trail of blood and dust as he gently took hold of his wrist.
She heard Sirius sigh, but refused to look up.
"Hermione," Sirius said gently.
Hermione shook her head, not looking up at her husband. Beside her, she felt Graham shift and step back.
"Hermione," Sirius repeated as he moved and knelt next to her.
"No," she whispered, fighting the tears that threatened, denying the truth. She couldn't grieve if it wasn't true.
"He's gone, love." Sirius murmured gently
"No," she whispered again, clutching at the still warm hand she held in her own, "I don't understand. You got him out, you were okay." She glanced up at Sirius, meeting his grey eyes. "He saved her." Hermione murmured as a single tear fell down her cheek.
Sirius nodded, "I know he did, but Draco wouldn't do things any differently if he had the choice. You know that."
Hermione nodded numbly, before moving forward and pulling Draco into her lap and holding him close. She rocked the young wizard in her arms as if comforting him, not herself.
Sirius sighed and stood, turning to face the others. Graham's face was void of any emotion. He'd been around death long enough to know it happened to anyone at any time. Fred was holding a sleeping Elizabeth, staring at the scene in shock, tears running down his freckled face.
"The portkey?" Sirius asked quietly
Fred looked up at the older wizard, "Um, it--it should be ready to go soon."
Sirius nodded. "Take Harry and Elizabeth back to the Hospital Wing," he said quietly to Fred.
Fred glanced down at the sleeping child in his arms as Sirius reached out and gently stroked her black hair. "But--"
Sirius looked up and met Fred's eyes. "Just hold her tight," he said quietly. "We'll apparate back to the grounds and meet you there." He glanced at the two men in front of him and both nodded.
"Ok," Sirius said, glancing down at Hermione. She'd had her eyes closed with her cheek resting on top of Draco's head. "We'll see you soon."
Fred nodded and crouched next to Harry, gently grasping the injured wizard's hand and placing it on the Portkey. Moments later, Sirius watched as Fred disappeared with his daughter and godson.
Faint pops down the slope brought Sirius' attention to three Aurors apparating in. Graham caught the Animagi's gaze and nodded. "They're okay, we'll sort out a cover story. Nothing will get traced back."
"He tried to kill Remus," Sirius said quietly
Graham shook his head as he began to make his way down the slope, "I don't know what happened here Sirius. Maybe its best it stays that way."
Sirius frowned at the Auror, then nodded. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Graham made to move down to his team. "Uh, what about Malfoy?" he asked, pausing in his descent.
Sirius glanced behind him at the pair on the ground. "We'll take him back to Hogwarts."
"Give me a few minutes. I'll come back and help."
Sirius nodded and turned back to Hermione.
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When Fred landed in the Hospital Wing, he landed in what he could only describe as chaos. The private room the group often had a use for was bustling with activity, a loud shrill noise piercing his ears. Bill was trying to hold Remus down on the bed as he balanced on one leg. A sobbing Tonks stood opposite tying to help his brother, tears streaming down her heart shaped face. Ginny and Madame Pomfry had their wands out, trying desperately to stop the Werewolf from seizing. At the door, four curious faces, most likely students occupying the adjacent hospital wing, watched on with wide eyes.
Feeling his grip on Harry slacken, Fred quickly made his way over to the bed Bill had been resting in and laid Harry down. The young wizard was unconscious but breathing and Fred stepped back. Transfiguring a chair into a cot, he gently placed Elizabeth down who was now awake and crying. Concentrating, Fred swiftly cast a silencing charm around the small cot. He could still hear her crying, but the sharp noise of the room no longer reached the child's ears.
Running to the door the four wizards eyes grew wide as the red head approached.
"MOVE!" he shouted, dashing past them as they quickly dispersed.
Rushing to an open window Fred cast a patronus, sending it to find Sirius. He watched as the fox rounded the corner of the darkened castle before making his way back into the seperate wing.
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"Hermione," Sirius said, crouching down beside her, "let's go home."
Hermione glanced up, a silent question in her eyes as she glanced down at the Aurors. Graham was now making his way back up the hill, his eyes tired as ran a hand down his face.
"We'll take him back with us, okay?"
Hermione nodded and gently lay Draco down on the grass, a slight breeze picking up strands of his blonde hair that had come loose from their bindings.
Graham reached the couple and crouched down beside Draco, lifting the wizard into his arms. "I'll take him," he offered quietly and Sirius nodded. Hermione didn't take her eyes off the pair until they departed with a soft pop.
"Ready?" Sirius asked quietly. He felt Hermione nod and appareted them both back to Hogwarts, leaving the valley cloaked in darkness.
Landing on the cool grass, Sirius felt his head spin and Hermione's hands clutch at him as he swayed on his feet.
"Sirius?" she asked, concerned. "You shouldn't have done that."
Sirius sent Hermione a crooked grin, her face blurry in front of him "Bit late now."
Before Hermione could respond, Sirius noticed a fuzzy bright light round the corner of the castle as Graham entered the main doors with Draco. "What's that?" he asked as Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist to help steady him.
Following his gaze Hermione saw the red fox, leaving a trail of silver float towards them. "That's Fred's patronus," she answered as it neared.
"The Hospital wing," Sirius stated, frowning and stepping forward out of Hermione's grasp. Trying to ignore the faint feeling in his bones, Sirius began to run, Hermione close on his heels.
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Sirius burst loudly into the hospital wing after racing past Graham in the corridors, to four shocked, wide eyed faces staring back. A sight to behold, the Animagus had torn robes and was wet, muddy, and covered in blood.
Regaining his bearings after a moment, he felt Hermione slip her hand in his and lead him to the private wing to the right. Making a less dramatic entrance than Sirius did moments before, the pair entered the room to silence. Bill and Fred sat wearily in chairs, breathing heavily. Tonks sat on the chair closest to Remus, her black hair flowing down her back and around her face as she rested it on the bed beside her fiancé, her hand clasping his tightly. Madame Pomfry and Ginny were red faced and sweating as they fought to regain their breath.
Striding swiftly over to Remus, Sirius glanced down at his deathly pale friend before speaking up. "What happened?" he asked the group as he checked Remus' burnt and bleeding leg.
"He's stable now," Madame Pomfry answered.
"Now?!" Sirius snapped, turning to face the medi-witch in shock. Hermione had moved over to the small cot she had spotted and gently lifted Elizabeth into her arms.
Sirius pointed at Ginny, "You, see to Harry, then Hermione." Turning to Madame Pomfry, Sirius beckoned her to follow, "We need to talk"
Sirius led the medi-witch into the adjourning wing as Graham made his way quietly inside with Draco. Madame Pomfry's eyes widened as she noted the wizard in front of her failing to draw breath. Throwing a questioning glance at Sirius, she watched as he transfigured another of her chairs at the end of the room into a bed and curtains. Graham nodded as he stepped through the doorway and passed Ginny, working on Harry, and Hermione and Elizabeth before stepping behind the curtains.
Sirius turned to the medi-witch and caught her glance. "Not now, Poppy," he murmured.
She nodded and began to explain what had happened to Remus and the extent of the injury to his leg.
"I can't think of what else to do," she explained. "The spells aren't working, I've notified a colleague at St Mungo's who's offered his service and will be here in the morning, but to be honest, I don't know if he'll last another attack."
"Let alone the full moon," Sirius continued, sighing and moving to stand in the doorway to the other room. His gaze rested on Remus as he leant wearily back against the doorframe.
Madame Pomfry moved a chair over to the wizard and made him sit down as she started to work on his injuries, despite his initial protests.
"I don't know how you were even still standing," she said quietly to him a short time later, as he sat in thought.
"We need to amputate," Sirius stated, ignoring her previous statement as his gaze never failed to waver from the werewolf.
"What?" Madame Pomfry replied, stunned at the sudden suggestion. It was a rare occurrence in the wizarding world to remove limbs. She only knew of one case, and Alastor Moody wasn't the most average of wizards.
Sirius glanced up at the witch healing his injuries. "We need to stop the spread of the silver, removing his leg is our best option." Sirius paused as she thought his suggestion over. "It's the only option. Poppy, you know I'm right."
"Uh," she replied flustered, "I'll be back, I need to check something." she replied, blinking and turning on her heel.
Sirius nodded as she made her way down to her office to find the reference she sought. Looking back into the room, Sirius saw Ginny finish on Harry. He was out of his wet robes and now in a hospital gown. His godson was covered in bandages as the young healer shakily covered him in a soft sheet.
Sighing wearily, she turned to Hermione only to find the witch curled on the small couch asleep with Elizabeth in her arms. Sirius stood and made his way over to his wife as Ginny stepped towards the curtains that Graham had taken Draco behind. He watched as Graham stood from his seat and intercept the young witch, shaking his head and bending slightly to whisper in her ear.
Sirius sat beside Hermione as he watched Ginny emphatically shake her head before moving quickly behind the curtain.
Sirius glanced down at Hermione who was breathing steadily. Elizabeth slept, snuggled against her mother's chest, one hand holding onto Hermione's dusty robes, the other resting near her small head. Looking around the room, Bill had fallen asleep where he sat, his leg now propped on a stool in front of him. Fred was trying to mimic his older brother but uncomfortably shifted in his seat.
Sirius reluctantly stood and stepped behind the curtain Ginny had entered previously. She was sitting on the chair next to the blond, wand out after trying to revive him. Sirius stepped over to the small redhead and placed a hand on her shoulder. "No one could have done anything," he murmured.
Ginny nodded, "I know, I checked him over." she paused and looked up at Sirius. "What hit him on the head?" she asked quietly.
"A mountain," Sirius answered honestly, without the customary humour in his voice.
Ginny's hazel eyes widened and he offered her a comforting smile. "He saved Elizabeth," he explained as he stood and took her hand. "Come on, your brother needs a look at."
Ginny nodded and followed Sirius out of the partition and walked over to Fred, kneeling beside him and asking where he was hurt. Sirius watched as she expertly healed the fracture in his wand arm before wrapping a bandage around his head.
Still bandage free, despite his injuries, Sirius sat back down beside Hermione and closed his eyes for a moments rest.
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Voices brought Sirius out of his slumber and he woke to the sun streaming through the tall windows. Hermione had shifted in her sleep and her head now rested in Sirius' lap. Reaching down Sirius brushed his hand over her cheek. His fingers were still stained red and left light smudges on Hermione's face.
Looking over to the sound of the voices, Sirius saw Madame Pomfry and an unfamiliar wizard standing next to Remus and talking quietly to Tonks.
Harry was still asleep, Ginny resting on the chair next to his bed as she listened to the conversation across the room.
Hermione shifted and Sirius glanced down to find her looking over at Remus' bed.
"They're going to remove his leg, aren't they?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," Sirius answered, taking Elizabeth from her arms as his daughter opened her blue eyes. "Hello my darling, did you sleep well?"
Recent memories were forgotten as Elizabeth's blinked tiredly before her mouth formed a wide grin, giggling as her dad smiled back. Hermione sat up and moved to Harry's bed to check on her friend.
"He's still asleep," Ginny said quietly as Hermione approached and glanced down at Harry. "Does he know about--" Her gaze flickering to the partitioned area.
Hermione shook her head, "I don't think so"
"Oh," Ginny paused, "Do you want me to tell him?"
Hermione shook her head again, "No, I'll do it. When he wakes up."
Ginny nodded, glad to be relieved of the burden.
Hermione glanced at the group surrounding Remus, "Will you help them?" she asked.
"If they need it."
Hermione made her way around to Ginny's side of the bed. "Ginny?"
"Hmm?"
Hermione crouched down next to her chair. "Do you mind giving me a quick check up? I just want to know if the baby is okay."
"Oh Hermione, I forgot, you were asleep, and then Draco…"
Hermione smiled at Ginny, "It's okay, I feel fine. Just for peace of mind, please."
Ginny nodded and led Hermione out of the room.
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Hermione returned to the room with a small smile on her face and turned towards Sirius. Her smile faltered as she gazed at her husband. He held Elizabeth close to his chest as tears made their way silently down his face. Elizabeth's head was resting on his shoulder as her small fingers grasped a strand of Sirius damp hair as he tried to hold back his sobs. Hermione slowly stepped towards them and Sirius met her eyes. Kneeling down in front Sirius, Hermione cocked her head and sent him a shaky smile. He returned it and let out a deep shuddering breath, loosening his hold on Elizabeth as he gazed down at her small face.
Hermione rested her hand on her daughter's back. "Daddy made you all dirty."
"She was already dirty," Sirius answered, sniffing slightly before clearing his throat and standing up, handing Elizabeth to Hermione as she rose beside him. "Maybe Mummy will give you a bath. I need to check on Uncle Moony."
Sirius looked up from Elizabeth to Hermione who shook her head. "We'll wait."
Sirius smiled and nodded as he made his way over to Remus' bed, wiping his face as Madame Pomfry ushered Tonks out and conjured partitions to surround the werewolf.
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A few hours later, Hermione looked up from a sleeping Elizabeth as Harry stirred on his bed. Fred had taken a trip to the kitchens earlier and brought them back some breakfast. Satisfied, Elizabeth had promptly fallen asleep. Bill and Fred were quietly discussing the events to their parents who had arrived in the morning. Tonks was sitting next to them, staring at the curtains blocking her view of the procedure inside.
Checking to make sure that Elizabeth was comfortable, Hermione made her way to Harry's bed as he opened one of his eyes, the other now covered in a bandage.
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked, taking his hand.
"Better." Harry replied, wincing slightly as he propped himself up and glanced at the partitioned beds on either side of him. "What's going on?"
"They're removing Remus' leg to stop the spread of the silver," Hermione explained.
Harry's eye widened as he looked back at the curtains. A moment later he moved his gaze to the right where Graham slept on a chair in front of the second partitioned area.
Hermione saw where he was looking and sighed. "Harry," she murmured, drawing his attention back to her. She paused slightly before continuing. "Draco didn't make it," she said softly, feeling her own eyes prick with tears.
"What?" Harry asked, confused, "But he was sitting next to me, talking to me. He was fine."
Hermione shook her head. "He fell asleep and didn't wake up."
Harry's mouth opened and closed as he tried to find the words to match the chaos in his head. "But--"
"I'm sorry Harry," Hermione murmured as she reached up and brushed a tear from his cheek.
"Why?" Harry asked, eyes pleading with Hermione to answer the impossible question on his lips. "I always get people taken from me."
Hermione sighed, "Not everyone," she whispered, "You have Ginny, Sirius and I, and the Weasley's. You're not alone Harry."
Harry nodded, his face angry, "I know, but I'd rather keep everyone. Is that so selfish of me?"
"No Harry, that's not selfish at all."
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Hours later, Hermione was watching Tonks feed Elizabeth, the other witch grateful for the distraction as Sirius, Ginny, Madame Pomfry and the other medi-wizard attempted to save her fiancé.
Movement out of the corner of her eye brought her gaze around as Sirius stepped out from behind the curtain. Smiling at her, he made his way over to Tonks. His hands were clean, he'd removed his dirty robes and had rolled his shirt sleeves up to his elbows.
"Tonks?" he asked quietly, crouching down next to the couch she was on. "We ah, we had to remove Remus' leg from just below his knee. It went smoothly and the others are working on cleansing the rest of his blood."
Tonks nodded, fresh tears in her eyes, "Will he be okay?"
Sirius nodded, "It might take him a while to wake up but he'll be okay. You can go and see him."
Tonks smiled and passed Elizabeth to Hermione as she hugged Sirius, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Tonks stood and moved to the partition and slipped inside. Sirius stood and turned to Hermione with a smile. "How about that bath?"
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When the Hospital wing had quietened and people left to their respective rooms for a much needed wash and rest, Harry's eyes rested on Draco's broken wand that had been left on his bedside table. Sighing at Draco's sense of humour, Harry gingerly got out of his bed, swaying slightly as he stood. Blood pounded in his ears and he paused momentarily before shuffling across the floor.
Pushing back the curtains to where Hermione had said Draco was, Harry stepped forward. His friend was lying still on the bed, his dark fighting robes around him a stark contrast to the white sheets beneath him. Harry noticed the splint Graham had conjured and allowed himself a bitter smile. They thought Draco's broken leg was the worst of his injuries. How wrong they were. Harry brought his gaze up to Draco's pale face. Someone, most likely Hermione, Harry surmised, had brought a bowl of water in and cleaned his face. The only evidence of his head injury was the deep gash slightly above his hairline.
Harry felt Ginny beside him as she slipped her hand into his. Hermione was right. He wasn't alone in the world, but it didn't make the situation hurt any less.
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A/N: I'm not entirely happy with this chatper. It isn't as good as I wanted it to be, but it is essentially what it was supposed to be. If that makes any sense.