Disclaimer: The characters of this story are not owned by me and are being used for non-commercial purposes. Harry Potter will always be Rowling's creation.
Thanks for the reviews and the encouragement! I hope I did not keep you guys waiting too long. Post any questions you might have in the comments section.
"It's rather rude to point, Mr Black," I quipped. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! My brain had surely frozen.
Sirius quirked one of his eyebrows and arched his taut arms back. He had both his hands behind his waist. He stood with his leg slightly parted, back straight, chin up. In his completely black Auror robes, he looked imperious. Then, just as suddenly, he was falling backwards. Laughter cackled in the air. Everything was dark. A veil shimmered in the background. He was falling. "No, no," I cried, trying to reach out, grab him somehow lest I never see him again. I couldn't reach him. I was paralysed. Something was holding me back. Someone was holding me back. Stabilizing me. Once again, I felt that sensation of utter safety come over me. Sirius was there. Right there. I could see through the floor through the gap between his legs as I took strong breaths. In and out. In and out. A long time passed. Finally, he gently put me back on my bed.
The healer began poking and prodding me. I had to gulp down some really weird tasting potions. Through all this, my eyes searched for the comfort of Sirius's presence. "Auror Black, the patient just suffered some kind of seizure. I must ask you to leave." "No", I begged in my mind.
"I will wait here till the patient is stable." Phew.
"Really, Auror Black, you must go. The patient needs to be stabilized."
"Really, Healer, I must insist this is urgent."
"Auror Black, he is not in the condition to talk."
"With due respect madam, we have found a highly illegal item on him. This man could be dangerous."
What? I possessed no illegal item! I did not, did not possess such a thing.
"I will have him moved to a secure ward then," the healer's voice trembled, scared. She was a young un.
I looked around. James Potter (not Dad, not Dad) was looking a little bewildered and peaky. Soon, his expression turned to utter disgust. This was the first time I noticed how stoic Sirius's face was. Only his eyes showed something and it was not warmth, not even mirth but blanket suspicion.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
"There will be no need to remove him right now in the unstable condition. The only civilian here is to be discharged soon. I will wait till his wife Lily arrives. The patient should feel better by then."
"Calm down. Calm down," I said to my rapidly beating heart. I had been in worse situations before. Come on! I have faced Voldemort a hundred times over. He practically tried to kill me since age one. This was just Sirius. Just Sirius. Was it just Sirius though? Sure, he was a Sirius. But he had never known me; never held me as a baby; never let me ride Padfoot; never gave me a ferocious hug. This Sirius did not know Harry Potter, his godson, was not my godfather. No, this Sirius looked young, unscarred, not haunted. This Sirius probably believed I was a Death Eater or something.
"Can I trust that you will not make a run for it or do I need to incarcerate you?"
Was I supposed to answer that?
"Blink twice if you understood me."
I did. "Well, you don't seem to be in any condition to run," Sirius said, pulling up a chair near me and began to rifle through my medical charts. It looked like the Healer wanted to say something to prevent him but after a brief struggle, she stayed mum.
Some time passed. I had stopped looking at Sirius and James. Then, a woman came. I just saw a flash of red hair and turned away. I didn't want to see my mother. I didn't want to see the same suspicious look in her eye. She briefly spoke to the Healer and then told James, "Time to go, hon."
I didn't even turn to take a last look as Sirius yelled "Bye, bye Prongsie" to their backs.
"Can you talk now?" Sirius asked.
"Yes." My voice came out in a whisper.
"What's your name?"
What was the name I had given the Healer? Peverell? Portner? Porteur? "Porter"
"So, Mr Porter, how did you get injured?"
Shit. What do I tell him? The truth? Will he believe me? Well, half-truths are the best lies.
"I fell."
"You fell"
"I fell."
"I see."
"So, how did you come to Mungo's?"
"Portkey."
"Ah! Do you recognise this?" Sirius asked holding out my portkey.
I blinked. "Yes" No, oh shit!
"How did you come in possession of this?"
What do I say? How do I get out of this? My portkey was an auror portkey. Even then, it was highly restricted. In this time, I wasn't an Auror. I didn't even exist. Possession of an Auror portkey could mean prison time.
"I don't know," I said.
"You don't know?"
"No."
"Do you remember your fall?"
"Slightly"
"How did it occur? Where did it occur?"
"Abroad."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Do you remember what you were doing?"
"Travelling"
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Mr Porter, what do you remember?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. My memory is hazy."
The Healer chipped in something about brain trauma and amnesia. I mentally thanked her.
"Mr Porter, who is the Minister of Magic?" the Healer asked.
Would it be Fudge? "I don't know. Where am I? Who are you?" I fidgeted.
"Mr Porter. You are currently on the soil of Great Britain. Are you a citizen?"
"Britain? I don't know. I think I am home though. I thought the portkey was going to take me home."
"Mr Porter. Do you remember Mr what-was-it Weasel?" The Healer asked.
"Must be Weasley," Black added.
Oh no! I had mentioned Ron.
"Yeah, Weasley. Out of the country. I was supposed to meet him. Out of the country. Then I fell."
"Auror Black, I think he mentioned a Mr Ronald Weasley but doesn't seem to recollect who he is."
"Alright. A Weasley won't be that hard to track down. He must know this lad. Otherwise, let's hope his memory returns soon."
"Mr Porter. You may rest now. You were found in possession of a highly restricted portkey. Either you are a danger, or you are in danger. I will lock down this ward. Do not make any attempt to leave." Having said this, Sirius left. I fell into a fitful sleep.