Hello Everyone! I'm so excited to finally be on spring break so I'm finally posting this chapter. This is the craziest semester ever so I'm sorry about the late updates. I feel awful for keeping you in suspense. But wait no longer! Here's the next addition. Hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimed. (And I don't own P&P either, dang it.)

The next morning the boys had to force Sirius out of bed and to attend class. Every time there was a break he dropped in to the hospital wing and read Pride and Prejudice to Laurie. He now suspected that Madame Pomfrey was listening as well since she never told him to leave until he finished the chapter he was on.

There was little change in Laurie. Amber had brought pajamas for her to wear and Sirius smiled a bit when he noticed they were pink with griffins on them. Madame Pomfrey said that Dumbledore had dropped in again to check on her and said she should wake in a day or so. Sirius nodded and left to go to his class.

He came back that evening and picked up the book where he left off. He was almost finished with the book

"Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem.

"'I admire all my three sons-in-law highly,' he said. 'Wickham, perhaps, is my favorite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's."

Sirius stopped and stretched his neck, slightly stiff from looking down while he read. He was just about to pick up the book when the sound he longed for most reached his ears.

"You have a really good reading voice, you know."

"Laurie," he breathed. Sirius dropped the book and rushed to the bed, pulling Laurie into his arms and holding her so tight she couldn't breathe.

She tried to laugh but her throat was dry and scratchy and it hurt to do so. Sirius immediately conjured a glass of water and handed it to her, not letting her out of his arms for a second. She found it a little difficult to drink when Sirius was so close, but she was so very thirsty. She lifted the glass and her arm trembled a little. Sirius apparently noticed and helped hold the glass to her lips.

"What happened?" Laurie asked, resting her head on Sirius's shoulder as he set the glass on the table.

Sirius brushed back her hair and lifted her head so that he could look her in the face. Laurie noticed that his eyes were watery. "You fell."

Laurie searched his eyes, trying to remember what happened. She remembered running to Sirius's aid during a skirmish with Snape, but after that it was fuzzy.

"I- I don't remember after I joined you in the hall. It wasn't something I'd like to remember I'm thinking."

"Shhh." Sirius whispered as she started to shiver. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and adjusted their positions so that he was leaning against the headboard of the bed while she was halfway in his lap. "You're fine now. Finally."

"How long was I out?" her voice was still gravelly and her eyes felt as if they couldn't stay open.

Sirius smoothed her hair and tightened his grip around her waist. "Three and a half days."

Laurie looked up at him in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes." Sirius closed his eyes and brushed his lips against her forehead. "I've never felt so horrified in my life. It was almost off as if my heart left my body."

Laurie leaned forward and kissed him. It was a kiss of reassurance and comfort which soon turned out to be one of possessiveness by Sirius. All his emotions had built up over the past few days and his kiss reflected everything he'd gone through. His hands moved to frame her face and hold her, making sure she was alright.

Laurie was swept away by the power of that kiss but soon pulled away. Sirius was breathing hard and she raised her hand to brush away the tears that had escaped his eyes.

Sirius closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. She was awake and fine, soon he would be too. He leaned his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes as his breathing became more regular.

"I have to tell you something," he said.

Laurie laid her hand over his which had cupped her cheek. "What is it?" she asked wondering why he was shaking a bit.

"I'm not sure I know how to tell you." He looked down at the book. "I've never told anyone this, much less a girl I've known for as little as four months."

"What's wrong?"

He turned back to her. "Nothing's wrong. Everything's perfect now, but I have to tell you something important….I found out…well… I've fallen in love with you."

Laurie's eyes grew wide and her heart was beating rapidly and though she was still extremely tired her mind was completely and utterly awake.

"What?" her voice was faint.

Sirius took her hand in his and leaned forward. "I love you."

Laurie's eyes started to tear and she let out a nervous, tired giggle. "Do you know how long I've longed for you to say that?" Her voice was thick with emotion and she threw her arms around him, holding him as close as she could get him. She felt him press his lips to her hair and breathe deeply. She pulled back and pressed her lips firmly against his.

There have only been three perfect kisses in the world and that kiss was nowhere near any of them, but it was close enough to heaven for both of them.

Eventually they pulled away from each other and Sirius took the end of his black scarf and dried Laurie's tears.

"Should you tell Madame Pomfrey that I'm awake?" Laurie asked, trying to keep her eyes open.

"I should, but I want you to myself for now." Sirius picked her up and carried her to the chair he recently vacated. He set her in his lap and wrapped her in a thick blanket to keep her from getting cold. Sirius grabbed the book from where it landed in his excitement and opened the book in front of them both. He smoothed back Laurie's hair and started to read the first paragraph of the next chapter.

"Elizabeth's spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her." He was then cut off by Laurie who was looking at him as she quoted the book, not even glancing at the novel in his hands.

"How could you begin?" Laurie asked softly in her best British accent, tilting her head ponderingly. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?"

Sirius smiled. He looked down at the book and said Darcy's lines, knowing they were true for him as well as Mr. Darcy. "I cannot fix the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew I had begun."

Laurie felt tears come to her eyes again. She had always dreamed of a boy would say those words to her. She was tired and her eyelids were heavy, but she wanted to finish the conversation. "My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners—my behavior to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?"

Sirius laughed as he held her. Then replied, "For the liveliness of your mind, I did."

Laurie laid her head on his chest, underneath his chin. "You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused and interested you because I was so unlike them." Laurie closed her eyes. "Had you not been really amiable you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you." Laurie's voice grew softer. "There – I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me – but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love."

Sirius smiled and continued reading. He knew that Laurie was moments from falling asleep and so let his voice carry her into her dreams. He finished the few pages left of the chapter and closed the book. If she was awake he was sure that she would tell him to continue reading. He set the book on the table and picked Laurie up to place her back in the hospital bed.

He tucked her in and kissed her forehead before turning to walk to the back of the hospital wing. He needed to tell Madame Pomfrey she had woken if only for a few minutes.

Sirius knocked on the door and heard her acknowledge it from within. He opened the door slowly and was met with the sight of many shelves filled with books and ingredients. Madame Pomfrey was in a chair at the far end of the room, sipping at a cup of tea and reading a manual on making sleeping draughts. "Yes, Mr. Black?"

"I just wanted to tell you that Laurie woke up for a few minutes. She's asleep again now, but she was awake."

Madame Pomfrey set down her book and cup and stood from her seat. She grabbed her wand from the nearby desk and followed Sirius out.

They walked to Laurie's bed and Madame Pomfrey began her examination. "You're free to go Mr. Black. I still have your jacket in my office. Go and get it then go down to dinner. They should be starting soon."

Sirius stood still for a second then did as he was bid. He walked back to her office to grab his jacket. He checked that the mirror was still there then left the hospital wing, glancing back at Madame Pomfrey as she leaned over Laurie as she slept.

Sirius walked down the corridors with a much lighter step. He dropped off his jacket in the dorm and then headed down to the Great Hall.

Sirius sat down to curious stares at the Gryffindor table. James was looking expectantly at him as was everyone else.

"How is she?" Lily ventured to ask, stopping to take a sip of pumpkin juice.

"She woke up."

There was a loud clamor of whoops and sighs of relief which caused all the other tables to look in their direction. Everyone began to talk at once saying they knew it wouldn't last too long and it was only a matter of time before she realized what she was missing and woke up. Sirius nodded and smiled easily to his friends' encouragements.

"Is she ok?" Amber asked from across the table.

"Oh yes, just tired. She was only awake for a few minutes."

"Good."

Sirius noted that she was acting oddly but he figured it was just the effect the last few days of stress and uncertainty. He ran a hand through his hair. He knew what she felt like.

"Do you think she'll be up to visitors?" Remus asked.

"Tomorrow I should think." Sirius forked some steak.

Casey leaned over James. "Do you think she'll have to stay up there tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure," Sirius said after swallowing the meat. "I'm going back after dinner to see if she's awake. I'll ask Madame Pomfrey."

--

Laurie was checked out to be just fine by Madame Pomfrey who was glad that students wouldn't invade her haven any longer with their unwarranted visits. She liked to keep the hospital wing orderly, but with the Gryffindor students running in and out it was impossible to do so.

Laurie was sitting up in bed when Sirius returned from dinner. He had swiped a roll with butter and some fruit to give her since Madame Pomfrey was only feeding her bread and broth.

"Have I told you today that you're my hero?" Laurie asked as he handed her the real food and sat down on the bed. She immediately tucked into the roll.

"No, not yet," Sirius smiled.

"Well you are," she said after she swallowed her large bite. "How is everyone? Is James ok? And Amber? I didn't get to ask last time you were here."

Sirius was glad to see that she was quite awake for the moment. "They're fine. James was never harmed in the fight and Amber is better now that she knows you're awake. She's been rather gloomy. Remus has tried to cheer her up, but she's been distancing herself from him too."

Laurie slowed her chewing. "She's distancing herself from him? Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe to protect herself or something. She hasn't really explained it to us you know."

Laurie bit into an apple. "Of course, sorry. I just feel so out of the loop."

"You'll catch up," Sirius said as he took the apple from her and bit into it. Laurie gave him a glare. "What? You made it look good?" he said through the food in his mouth.

Sirius let her finish the rest of her food in peace but kept up a lively conversation on what had been happening. She had already missed a couple days of school so he went over what they learned and the antics of their friends.

"Oh, I wish I could've seen Lily curse James. That must have been hilarious. How did his hand ever come off the cauldron?"

"Well, Professor Slughorn had to find a solution to un-stick it. Lily, of course, knew the remedy the whole time but refused to share."

"Of course. And I don't exactly blame her," Laurie said playing with her necklace.

"Well, I for one think she shouldn't have behaved so irrationally. I mean, I think James deserved something far worse than that. What possessed her to satisfy herself with something so meager?" Sirius shook his head in confusion.

"Aren't you supposed to be his friend?"

"What? I am! Of course I am. But if I'd been embarrassed in front of half the school I'd do the same thing if he asked if he could 'try it again,' I mean, really. He's a git, but I wouldn't be here without him." Sirius crossed his legs and stretched.

"You should go to the common room. You're tired," Laurie remarked as she leaned back into her pillows.

"You've just woken up after three days, I'm not leaving you now."

"You've been here for three days, and yes, I know you've been here every chance you got. You need to get some sleep. Unfortunately, I'm heading in that direction," she yawned. "I hate how tired I am."

Sirius took her hand and leaned forward to kiss her lightly. "You know you'll be kicked out of here tomorrow so it is best you get as much sleep as you can."

"I've been sleeping for three days, I'm sick of it."

Sirius chuckled. "Well, sleep tonight and then you can stay up as long as you want. In only a couple days you'll be off with Amber."

"Is break that close?" Laurie was surprised, though she really shouldn't have been. Sleeping for three days throws your off your perception of time.

"Yes. I'll be going to James's house which isn't that far from Amber's. Thirty minutes' walk, I think."

"Faster by floo network."

"Of course." Sirius brushed Laurie's hair behind her ear. "And James's parents always have a Christmas party. You'll be invited."

"We should get together outside of that."

"We shall. But first you have to sleep in order to get up tomorrow."

"That is usually how it works," Laurie remarked getting a look from Sirius. "You best get out of here. Madame Pomfrey was not a happy camper when the last group came in."

"The last group?" Sirius skipped over the weird American slang and jumped to the group. He thought he was the only one who knew she was awake.

"Oh, I guess I didn't tell you. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall as well as Slughorn came by. They heard I was awake and just checked to see if I was okay. It was weird, but nice that they cared. Dumbledore talked to my mom via floo network the day after I fell and told her what was going on. She apparently wanted to come but he said it wasn't necessary. I kinda wish she'd been here though, even if it was dull."

Sirius squeezed her hand. "Well, I think you've had enough excitement for one night. And since you keep nagging me to go to bed I shall, but I won't be happy about it." He grimaced as he spoke and kissed her forehead as he left.

"Goodnight," he whispered.

"Until tomorrow, then." Laurie replied softly.

"Until tomorrow. Dream of me."

"I always do."

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