Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Sixteen

Family Attack Part 2

Sirius knew he was being rash as soon as he appeared at the wizarding entrance of St Mungo's Hospital. He was sure that his paranoia was working on hyper drive because someone had sent Dementors after Harry, never mind that they had no chance of reaching the boy … but in all actuality that was only because Harry's real location was kept secret. Still he had an undeniable urge to make sure there was nothing wrong with his friend. And Sirius had learned long ago to follow his urges.

When Sirius got to the hallway of James's room he sighed a breath of relief as he saw his friend talking to one of the healers. James laughed as he told the pretty woman a story and Sirius felt the fool for several seconds before he saw James's smile. A smile he seen several times before … it was the smile James used when he wanted something or was trying to get information.

"James," Sirius haled and he watched his friend frown before turning to him with a suspicious look.

"Sirius?" James answered. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, you git!" Sirius answered, putting on his own fake smile.

"You don't usually come on Thursdays … not in the morning," James commented frowning more than before, then a hopeful glint lightening his eyes as he looked around Sirius, "unless Harry is …"

"No, he's not here," Sirius sighed, hating to see how disappointed his friend was when he heard that. "But I was hoping we could talk."

"Of course buddy," James answered.

"Buddy … since when did you start calling me buddy?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Right now," James smiled at him looking relieved before he turned and walked to his room.

"Mr. Black," the healer that had been talking to James whispered as Sirius passed her, "he's been more on edge lately and suspicious … be careful what you say and don't take it personally if he doesn't respond to you."

"I won't," Sirius reassured her with a smile, though he felt himself grow tenser with every passing second there.

"What did she tell you?!" James demanded as soon as Sirius got in the room.

"That you're suspicious and I shouldn't be offended if you don't talk to me," Sirius answered bluntly. He had never been one to hold back the truth from James, at least not in matters like this, and he wasn't going to start doing that now.

James closed his eyes, nodding his head as a knowing smile reached his lips, but when he opened his eyes Sirius knew that he was watching him closely for some kind of response.

"What did you tell me right before I walked down the aisle?"

"That you were the worst groom ever … I didn't even get to use my cold feet speech that I wrote," Sirius answered as he thought of that day with a sad smile.

James sighed with relief, "I was sure it was really you … Only you would be so blunt about what Lorie told you … still I had to be sure, didn't I? I had to ask you a really hard question that only you would know."

"James … what's going on here?" Sirius asked. He really didn't like how his friend was talking; nor the fact that James was twitching slightly and looking very agitated.

"I don't know!" James groaned, sitting down on the bed and grabbing his head. "Sometimes I think they're right … I am just seeing things … jumping to the wrong conclusion. But there has been an increase in new people coming here … people that have been watching me! Then I thought I saw Peter … as a rat … Sirius … Am I going crazy?"

"Going?" Sirius asked him.

"It's never felt this way," James said rocking on the bed slightly. "It's always been slips in my memories … or I don't remember how to do things … I haven't seen things before!"

"I don't know what to say, mate," Sirius sighed, sitting on the bed next to his friend and grasping his shoulder. "You don't seem like yourself … but that doesn't mean you're wrong. Why don't you point out the people that are new and I can talk to them. We can start with that girl I just talked to …"

"No! Lorie is okay, she's been here for months," James protested quickly and Sirius was surprised to see that his friend looked flustered in a completely different way than he had been since Sirius had got there today.

"How come I've never seen her then?" Sirius asked.

"She works when you do," James answered mumbling before he changed the subject. "The tall guy across the hallway is new … and there's this woman that comes during the night …"

"And Peter?" Sirius asked calmly, "when did you see him?"

"When the others … those two aren't around," James held his arms looking miserable. "I know it sounds crazy, Sirius. He can't be here. Why would he come here? But I've seen a rat … and rats can't get in here Sirius. The healers keep telling me that the hospital has been charmed to prevent animals from getting in. But that wouldn't stop an Animagus, would it?! I mean it didn't stop me from transforming into a stag … that's an animal too … but I didn't get repelled! And other people cursed into animal shapes have been allowed in … St. Mungo's can detect if it's a real animal or not … I know …"

"James," Sirius said resting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "It's okay. I'm going to check that guy out."

"Sirius, don't," James started to warn.

"Don't worry … I'm not going to let him know what I'm doing," Sirius assured James.

"You're not just placating me, are you?" James asked frowning.

"No," Sirius answered simply but his eyes showed his own fears and James seemed to understand as he stared grimly back at his friend.

Sirius left the room then looked for the man that James had told him about. He had seen him when he had first gotten there, but he didn't seem to be anywhere in sight now, and Sirius didn't like that. He did notices, however, the healer that James had been talking to before.

"Hello," Sirius said to her with a smile.

"That's the same smile James uses when he wants extra pudding," the healer informed Sirius. "So I'll ask you what you want, Mr. Black?"

"Sirius," he corrected as he gave her a real smile. "I can see why James likes you. You're direct and I'm sure you don't let him get away with much."

"I assure I don't," the healer agreed. "I'm Healer Green, but everyone calls me Lorie," she added and then waited for him to get to his point.

"Can you tell me where the other healer went to?" Sirius asked.

"Anthony?" Lorie raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'd like to have a word with him," Sirius answered simply.

"James asked you to do this, didn't he?" Lorie sighed. "He doesn't like Anthony or Erin, despite the fact that I've explained to him they are real healers and came with excellent recommendations."

"I see," Sirius frowned. "I would still like to talk to him."

"Sirius, I'm not sure it will do James any good to play along with his fears," Lorie frowned, "sometimes it is helpf-"

"I'm not so sure he's wrong," Sirius informed Lorie before she could say more and she really frowned at him now.

"Mr. Black," she said crossly, "I assure …"

"You know whose father James is," Sirius stated.

"Of course …"

"You know the rumors that are floating around," Sirius stated again, though this time it was more of a question. His eyes traveled around the room that was now eerily empty.

"Yes," she answered slowly, "you don't really think …"

Sirius could hear it in her voice, she didn't only know of the rumors about Voldemort's return, she believed them. She looked at her wand and when it turned red she grimaced, "the rooms are all locked."

"James!" Sirius hissed turning to the room he had left his friend in, "can you open his doo …"

"No need to do that," James said coming from behind them.

"James! How did you get out of your room?" Sirius asked.

"I didn't want to stay there," James answered looking warily back at the room. "I didn't like that you were gone so long."

"Good thinking," Sirius said, turning back to Lorie, who was frowning at James. "Can we get out of this floor … are the exits locked too?"

Lorie hesitatingly looked away from James to look at Sirius. "They might be locked too … it depends on the security level that was called when the doors closed. It shouldn't bother you though. You are an Auror, right?"

"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "Yes I am. You can open the patients' doors right?"

"Yes."

"Then go to James's room … they should have realized by now that James is out here," Sirius said, "that should be the safest place for you …"

"No!" James protested. "It's not safe!"

"Stupefy!"

"What are you doing?!" Lorie demanded, looking at Sirius with wide eyes as he lowered his wand as James was now lying on the floor.

"Stunning the man that looks like my friend," Sirius answered, waving his wand and casting a quick charm and being relieved when nothing happened. "This isn't James Potter."

"It's not?" Lorie said and it sounded both like she was questioning him and believed him at the same time.

"This person isn't an Animagus and James is," Sirius explained.

"How did you know it wasn't him?" Lorie asked.

"I reckon the same way you did," Sirius said. "You don't seem surprised that it wasn't him."

"He … he didn't seem like James," Lorie admitted and Sirius nodded his head.

"That's what I thought too," he said and pointed to a room, "can you open James's door?"

Lorie didn't answer him, but she did walk over to James room and opened the door. Sirius looked around the corner and saw that James was pacing the room.

"The door was locked," James said when he noticed the two looking at him.

"Someone tried to pass themselves off as you," Sirius said. "I'm getting you out of here."

"How do you know it's me now?!" James asked, taking a step away from his friend.

"That's how," Sirius smiled. "But if you want to prove it, turn into a stag."

James frowned, took a deep calming breath before he started turning into a stag. It took longer than Sirius remembered it taking in the past, but James did transform.

"That took awhile," Sirius commented.

"My mind doesn't work as good as it use to," James sighed. "I suppose I should have asked you to transform before … instead of that question. I forgot only you can change like that …"

"Just so you don't worry," Sirius said, turning into a dog and back. "Though having a wand, I might be able to turn into that dog … you on the other hand …"

"Sirius no one would be able to fool me with your dog form … I know you then …" James said and Sirius nodded his head knowing what James meant. "Are you coming too, Lorie?"

"No," Sirius answered for her.

"Its better I stay here … who else will look after the others," Lorie added.

"Right," James sighed.

"Mr. Black," Lorie said to Sirius, who raised an eyebrow in response. "Sirius. I know you need to take James now, but he … he needs people watching him. Treatment …"

"Take this … I'll contact you soon," Sirius said handing her a card.

She nodded her head and then turned back to James. "Be careful. Take care of yourself."

"Don't worry," James smiled at her. "I'll have to be now."

"You know trying too hard doesn't help," Lorie reminded him, "and that's your player's smile … you're just trying to make me feel better."

"Stop ruining my efforts," James pouted.

"Stop worrying about me," Lorie shot back.

"We've got to go," Sirius said grabbing James's arm.

They only got to the corner before Sirius stopped again. Like he had feared the fake James hadn't been alone or at least he called in reinforcements. Sirius stepped back behind a wall, pulling James with him. On the other side there were at least two people standing near the door that lead to the closes exit. He knew if he kept going straight instead of turning there he would reach another exit.

"It's like old times, ah?" James commented.

"Expect old times you had a wand," Sirius reminded his friend.

"Yeah … I miss old times," James sighed. "What are we going to do?"

"This," Sirius said pulling something out of his pocket and throwing it on the floor, it started moving and Sirius cast a quick charm on it. The thing seemed to grow in size as it straightened itself into a humanoid form before it ran off down the corridor.

He heard footsteps coming from the corner and a few seconds later a man rounded it looking the opposite way … the way the humanoid thing had gone. James ran out and tackled him and just as if they had planned it, Sirius turned the corner and stunned the other person in the hallway. He then turned back to his friend, who was punching the man on the ground until Sirius stunned the man too.

"Is that the guy that you think was watching you?" Sirius asked.

"No," James said, "but that's the girl," he added pointing at the woman that Sirius had stunned.

"Maybe the man was the one I stunned before," Sirius said, taking in both the face of the man and woman casting a charm on them that should bind them up until the authorities would be able to come. "Let's get out of here."

O

"You used it!" Fred said. "And it worked!"

"Yeah it worked perfectly, thanks for giving it to me," Sirius said to him. "What's it called by the way?"

"What are you talking about?" Molly asked them with narrowed eyes.

"We haven't named it yet," George answered Sirius's question as Fred answered their mum's, "that humanoid thing that helped Sirius escape was something we invented. We're still trying to work out some of the kinks."

"They gave it to me so I can take a look at it. I thought I might have time to look at it when I got to work, seeing as I'm not doing anything else there," Sirius added. "Good thing I had it with me, even if the thing only lasted ten steps … it was enough to fool the others."

"Cool," Fred grinned. "Maybe we should call them Decoy Runners?"

"No, that's stupid," Ron said to his brother.

"Then you think of something clever if you can!" Fred huffed.

"I'd rather make fun of your choices, thank you very much," Ron replied.

"When did you become the one to tease me?" Fred said.

"Around the time when you said you appreciate my ideas," Ron shrugged.

"I knew that was a bad idea," Fred grumbled, though clearly not really upset.

"So you are still inventing things," Molly sighed, "I thought you would have given up on that idea by now."

"It's never going to happen, Mum," the twins said at the same time.

"They're really good," Sirius added his opinion, "and their product might have saved James and me."

"Yes, but still," Molly sighed. "It's very hard starting off a business. Especially one that's products are novelties. Not to mention I don't know where you're going to get the money to build a shop."

"Oh, we already have the money," Fred informed her.

"Fred!" George said giving him the 'what the hell are you doing' look.

"You do?" Molly asked at the same time.

"Yeah, Harry gave us his winnings for the tournament," Fred explained breezily.

"You're really going to tell her this now?!" Harry said frowning at Fred and looking uncomfortable, he was sure there was a very good reason the twins hadn't mentioned this to their mum before this point.

"I figured Mum couldn't yell at us with your Dad here, seeing as he's mad and all," Fred shrugged.

James started laughing, "I think I'm going to like him."

"Yeah, Fred and George are great," Sirius agreed laughing as well.

"You guys will never change, will you," Remus said shaking his head at his friends but he smiled just the same.

"You gave them your winnings, Harry?" Molly was final able to say, as she was indeed trying not to explode due to James's presence. She wasn't sure how much the poor man could handle even if he looked like he was okay right now.

"Yes and I'm not sorry that I did," Harry told her warily. "After everything that happened to me getting that damn money I figured the least I could do was give it to someone that would do something useful with it. And maybe you don't agree with that but I believe that we can all use a little bit of laughter."

Molly sighed yet again.

"Don't worry Mum, we'll be okay," George informed her.

"So how did you escape from St. Mungo's?" Ginny asked, trying to change the subject.

"I wouldn't call it so much as an escape as walking quickly out of the hospital," Sirius told her.

"So then you came here?" Remus asked.

"Of course not," Sirius scoffed. "James couldn't get in here."

"Oh … right," Remus said sheepishly.

"He couldn't?" Harry asked.

"Nah, he had to talk to Dumbledore before he could come," Sirius said.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"We put the Fidelius Charm on the house," Remus answered.

"When?" Harry asked.

"The beginning of this summer," Sirius answered this time.

"Why didn't I know that … how did I get in?" Harry asked.

"You didn't read the note from Dumbledore?" Hermione asked Harry.

"Note?" Harry questioned. "Wait you knew about the charm?"

"Well no one told me, but I realized as soon as I read the note that the Fidelius Charm must have been used," Hermione said. "You didn't get a note."

"Harry don't you remember reading that paper with 12 Grimmauld Place on it?" Sirius asked him. "It was a few days before we came here."

"Er …" Harry blushed, he did remember reading that when he came down to breakfast and found it odd that there was a note with the name of Sirius's house on it, but didn't think much of it.

"That was from Dumbledore," Remus explained looking amused. "It seems that we didn't explain that properly. I thought Sirius had explained it to you …"

"I thought you did," Sirius admitted.

"Whatever!" Harry huffed, clearly embarrassed. "So then you went to Dumbledore!"

"Yeah," Sirius said, allowing the subject to be changed because he felt slightly guilty he hadn't explained this to Harry before. Honestly, he had thought Remus had talked to him. "You should have seen Dumbledore's face when James and I walked in."

"I've never seen him so shock," James agreed with a grin. "And we tried all those years to get him to look flustered …"

"Good old times," Sirius laughed.

"Did you tell him the same story you just told us?" Ginny asked.

"Pretty much," Sirius said. "Though, he got me to tell him more details about things. He wasn't pleased at all that Dementors were sent to Privet Dr, but he didn't seem to think that Voldemort had sent them."

"Sirius!" Remus and Molly warned, looking at Harry.

"Ah don't worry so much," Sirius rolled his eyes. "James is going to be staying here, do you really think Harry's going to spend time thinking about Dementors?"

"I might," Harry frowned; he hadn't like hearing that his relatives had been attacked even if he never meet said relatives.

"If Voldemort didn't send them, who did?" Hermione asked, frowning.

"Well that's the thing … it could only be Voldemort or the Ministry," Sirius said grimly.

"You mean to say the Ministry is actually sending creatures after me now?" Harry gasped, looking appalled.

"Not really sure," Sirius shrugged. "Dumbledore just said that Voldemort would have a hard time getting to the Dementors and if he had really bothered to do that, he probably would have gotten a few of his Death Eaters out of Azkaban. He said more too, but I better not talk about that now."

"Argh," Harry groaned, he hated when things were kept from him.

"What did he say about you showing up with James?" Remus asked.

"That he wished that I acted with more caution but that he understood the situation made it obvious that I should move James out of there," Sirius shrugged. "I got the feeling that he's been keeping a close eye on James and knew that something wasn't right …"

"Then why wouldn't he get Dad out of there sooner?" Harry asked.

"I don't know Harry, maybe he was waiting to make sure James was in real danger," Sirius answered with a grimace.

"Lorie said the healers were okay," James said starting to rock in his chair a little; he was starting to feel the effect of such a simulating day. "They were cautious … He might not have known how serious the situation was."

"Maybe," Sirius said frowning at his friend.

"I think we've all had enough of this conversation," Remus said, looking at James sadly. "James, why don't I show you to your room."

"Yeah … that probably would be good," James agreed looking Harry. "I'll see you later, Harry."

"Yeah … I'll see you soon," Harry answered.

"It's nice … to know I'll get to see you more," James said.

"Yeah," Harry agreed with a smile growing on his face at just the thought of seeing his dad on a regular basis.