Chapter 9: Can't Teach a Git New Tricks
In his darkness, Sirius could see the scene replaying in vivid details. From his transformation back into a human and his rush into the hospital to his back's sweltering pain. He could see the havoc of the lobby with a whole side blown away, no limbs and no people left from the heat of the explosion. Sirius could see a mother sobbing over a small child who's arm was badly burned, sobbing "I need a Healer. I need a Healer. I need a Healer."
In the dream Sirius rushed to the Welcome Witch to find her hiding under her desk.
"Where are they headed," he demanded. Silence. "Where are they headed," he shouted urgently.
"To the fourth floor," squeaked the Welcome Witch. "They're here for a patient who escaped- No place is safe."
Sirius heard a sob, but didn't have time to comfort her. He rushed up the stairs taking them two at a time. He saw the end of a deatheater's robe just before it disappeared into the 3rd floor. Sirius banged open the door, wand raised to had just enough time to see a deatheater standing before a Healer before the deatheater threw a glass orb filled with yellow-green liquid into the air and over the Healer. Sirius jumped behind a bed, muttering a shielding charm as the explosion broke through the room, sending heat and debris passed Sirius. The flames shot from their main point of impact, crossing the walls until they faded. One especially long arm swept passed the others and hit Sirius from behind. He felt searing pain as the fire seemed to bore into his back and burn the muscles and ribs beneath his skin. He fell over and could smell burned flesh. The deatheaters rushed passed and Sirius lay there, losing consciousness. All he could think of was that Calamity was someone in the Hospital, maybe even this floor. She could be dead. He hadn't been able to save her. "Calamity," he managed to say before it all faded away.
For a moment Sirius thought it had only been a dream. He awoke to find that he was laying on his stomach staring at his hand and a blank wall. He wiggled his fingers and nearly jumped up in surprise. Had he turned back into his human form in his sleep? His back seared with fell forward again with a sound of agony and recognized that it wasn't a deatheaters, the explosions, the battlefield, the pain- they were all real. But had he saved Calamity?
"Forgot about your accident, huh?"
Sirius turned his head slowly to see Christopher standing over him, a vial in his hand. Sirius glared at him and tried to sit up again, but the pain was immediate and harsh.
"Here, this should help with the pain," Christopher said. He put the vial on the table next to Sirius.
"Where's Calamity," Sirius demanded. He could see he was in the room at the Leaky Cauldron, light peaking through the closed curtains. He'd never seen them closed before.
"Clara? She went to get you both breakfast. Let me in to watch you," Christopher said. He sounded abotu as thrilled to watch Sirius as Sirius was to see him.
As if summoned the door opened and Calamity appeared, bringing with her a bag that filled the room with the smell of fresh pastries.
"You're up," she said happily. "An owl dropped this off for you."
She handed him the letter. It was from James. Sirius opened it, trying to ignore Christopher, who motioned for Calamity to come with him to the hall.
Padfoot,
Just got back. Whenever you want to come stay mum says it's fine. Just floo over. We made a loop hole in the protection for you!
See you soon!
Prongs
"Thanks for your help," called Calamity as she reentered the room.
"No problem, Clara," replied Christopher. He gave Sirius one final look before closing the door behind him.
"Did you sleep well," asked Calamity. Sirius shrugged but winced again.
"Stop moving it," she scolded. She approached, putting the bag of pastries on the bedside table next to the vial. Sirius could smell chocolate.
"It already looks better than before," She said gently touching the unburned skin closest to his wound. She moved her hand away sooner than Sirius would have liked, grabbing the pastry bad and sitting on the bed next to Sirius.
"I got us chocolate croissants and the Daily Prophet," Calamity said "You like the crossword, right?"
Sirius looked up as best he could. "How'd you know that?"
Calamity smiled turning the paper to the crossword.
"I've seen you do them trying to be sly in Transfiguration."
"You watch me during Transfiguration," smirked Sirius. He felt a warmth in his chest.
"You wish," Calamity smirked. She lay on her stomach next to him so that he could see the crossword.
"Seven down says an ignorant or stupid person," he said. "That's an ignoramus."
When they finished the crossword Sirius convinced Calamity to read him some Sense & Sensibility, despite her protests that she was in the middle of the book and he would be confused. By late afternoon Sirius was antsy to leave. He pushed himself up slowly as Calamity came back with two chocolate milkshakes.
"What are you doing," she said almost dropping the chocolate milkshakes on the ground. Sirius winced but stood, ignoring the pain.
"I need to stretch, can we go to Diagon Alley?"
"Absolutely not," said Calamity putting down the milkshakes and rushing over.
"Come on Calamity," Sirius whined. "I'm dying here."
"Sirius, you could die if this gets infected."
"I can't be kept inside, Calamity," he moaned. "This is torture. Cruel and unusual punishment! I've done nothing wrong! Let me out of this Azkaban!"
Calamity's stern expression remained, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
"I'd have to wrap it," she said grudgingly. He hobbled over to her, wrapping the arm from his healthy side around her. She made a sound of exasperation. "Get off, you smell like burn cream."
Once Sirius was wrapped up they made their way slowly down the stairs and into Diagon Alley. Sirius had never realized how often he used his back until it hurt to do so. They walked for a short bit, but had to stop as Sirius felt his side aching again. Calamity looked concerned, but Sirius wasn't ready to go back inside, so he grinned it off, even if the grin was part grimace. Instead they peered into Quality Quidditch Supplies, where Sirius spotted an order form for the newest Clean Sweep, though he couldn't catch the number. They walked among the possible pets at Eeylops' Owl Emporium, but ultimately Calamity decided she would just keep using the school owls. He followed her into Flourish and Blott's bookstore where she proceeded to collect ten books in her arms because they "looked good." When Sirius pointed out that perhaps ten books was a bit excessive she considered this and sat down in the middle of the aisle to read the first page of each book. After she had done so, she still couldn't decide so she skimmed the first chapter. He rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling at the antics. Calamity looked at her watch.
"Oh no," she said. "We've been out so long. The Ice Cream Parlor will close soon!"
She ran about quickly putting away the books without buying any. Calamity bought them both ice cream after she forced Sirius to explain why he had no money. As they licked the cones they sat chatting, the sun dipping behind Gringotts. Overall, it had been a delightful day, Sirius thought, if you ignored the searing pain from his back.
"Do you think you can manage one more stop," asked Calamity hopefully. "I need some ingredients from the Apothecary."
Sirius couldn't say no to her hopeful face. They had just reached the Apothecary when Sirius heard his name called. He turned to see Hannah rushing towards him, her parents looking nervously around, clearly anxious to go now that it was nightime.
"Sirius," she said hugging him. He let out a cry of agony.
"He hurt himself," explained Calamity, motioning to her own back in the same place Sirius was injured.
"Oh, my poor Sirius," cooed Hannah trying to lift the shirt to see the bandages. Sirius winced again.
"Careful," Calamity said. Hannah gave her a dark look.
"I'm making sure my boyfriend is okay," snapped Hannah.
"He won't be okay if you rip off his bandages," replied Calamity. "Just don't hurt him more while I'm gone."
Calamity stalked away into the Apothecary. What could she be annoyed about? He was the one getting poked and prodded. He turned back to Hannah, who looked annoyed.
"You haven't written all summer," she scolded.
"Hannah, I've been injured," Sirius replied. He gently lifted his shirt to show her the bandages. Her eyes grew large.
"What happened?"
"I was in St. Mungo's during the attack."
"Did you get that from a deatheater?"
"Just a deatheater explosion." He knew he shouldn't enjoy the attention, but he couldn't help his smirk at the impressed expression on Hannah's face.
"What were you doing there," asked Hannah curiously.
He caught a glimpse of Calamity in the window of the Apothecary as she paid for the potion ingredients. She looked down and carefully counted out her money, pushing a stray hair behind her ear as she talked to the cashier.
"To visit her?"
Sirus looked back at Hannah quickly, but was saved from answering when Hannah's father called "Hannah, we must go, your mother is getting nervous."
Hannah gave Sirius a final skeptical look before she disappeared with her parents.
Calamity rejoined him, counting her left over sickles.
"Was she impressed with your injury,"Calamity asked in a cool tone.
"Who wouldn't be impressed with me" Sirius asked. Calamity shrugged and they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron in silence. In the room, Calamity unwrapped the bandages delicately and reapplied the cream.
"You should be able to walk with only a bit of soreness by tomorrow," she said. "You think you'll go to stay with James?"
"You mean you don't want me here anymore," teased Sirius. "Did your boyfriend get mad?"
"Who?"
"Christopher," Sirius joked. "That healer."
Sirius regretted the half joke almost immediately because Calamity's face fell into a deep frown, her eyes flashing at him.
"Why do you always say that? Don't you have any friends who are girls?"
"You're saying you can be friends with your ex-boyfriend and it's not complicated," asked Sirius skeptically.
"You always do this," she stomped her foot in frustration. "First with Remus, now with Christopher. Why can't you just leave me alone about my friend who happen to be men? Why do you always have to act like they are my boyfriend? Why do you care?"
"I don't care," Sirius lied.
"What were you doing in St. Mungo's," asked Calamity suddenly.
"Wha-"
"What were you doing in St. Mungo's?" Calamity stared at Sirius as if she were asking more than just the stated question, but Sirius couldn't read minds.
"Visiting a friend," he lied again. "Why? Did Christopher say something else?"
"My friend," she said eyes flashing again as she emphasized the word, "thinks you were somehow related to the attacks because he didn't see you signed in as a patient or guest."
"He thinks I'm a deatheater," demanded Sirius. He stood, ignoring the pain that it caused him to make sudden movements.
"Maybe. He thinks you're connected."
"And you agree with your not boyfriend?"
"No, but I also don't think you were there to visit a friend either,"Calamity said, her voice now so cold and low that Sirius had to lean in. Calamity's eyes flashed dangerously again. "And the only person in a relationship in this room is you. So make up your mind: either break up with her and ask me out or stay out of my relationship business!"
She pushed the burn cream into his chest and marched out of the room, slamming the door as she left. Sirius glared at the door, blood pounding in his ears. They had had such a nice time and now she had to go ruin it by picking a fight with him. He grabbed his wand and shirt, hobbling to the door and throwing it open. It wasn't his fault Christopher the FRIEND thought that he was a deatheater. What did that git know anyway? And for Calamity to even ask, as if legitimizing the possibility... Sirius glared at the wall, forcing himself to settle with opening and closing his fist rather than punching it. He didn't need anymore injuries. He continued hobbling down the stairs to the bar. He scanned the room. Calamity was no where to be seen. And then she told him to make up his mind. MAKE UP HIS MIND! Hadn't he charged into a deatheater attack to see if she was okay? And that made him a suspected deatheater? He could have been killed and..she had no idea what he had been through to make sure she was okay! Hadn't he done his best to make up for being a git the last month? Then she just storms off before he can even explain anything?
"Need anything Mr. Black," asked Tom.
Sirius looked around the bar. He was standing shirtless, wound fully exposed, in front of the large fireplace. If she was going to just walk off then so would he! He hadn't done anything wrong!She was the one overreacting to a joke. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and jumped into the fireplace, shouting"Potter's Manor!"
When he stopped spinning he staggered out of the fireplace, holding his side. he very much regretted his rash choice to use floo while still injured. His back seared with pain again.
"Sirius," screeched Mrs. Potter rushing forward and helping him to a chair."Fleamont! Get James!" Mr. Potter came rushing back into the room in no time with James, who rushed to Sirius, looking him over quickly.
"We can take him to my room," James said hurriedly, and they helped Sirius to the bed, where he laid down on his stomach.
Mrs. Potter hurried in with some water and quickly cleaned the soot from the wound as Sirius used all his willpower not to holler in pain.
"What happened," Mr. Potter began but Mrs. Potter hushed him.
"Let the boys catch up. I'll get some snacks. We're just happy you're safe, dear." She shut the door and James sat down looking at the cream Sirius had dropped on their way to the room.
"Padfoot, you look terrible."
"That's just what I need after the few days I've had- compliments," snapped Sirius moodily.
"What happened?"
"Well according to Calamity's boyfriend I'm a deatheater."
"Calamity's boyfriend? You've been to St. Mungo's? I thought they haven't accepted new patients since the attack."
"It's from the attack," said Sirius.
"Alright, Padfoot," James said sitting on the floor next to Sirius, "start talking."
Sirius explained it all: getting kicked out of his place (and probably disowned), staying with Calamity as a dog, the deatheater attack, the Diagon Alley trip and the run in with Hannah. Sirius felt suddenly very tired after his story. When he finished James stood and moved towards the door.
"Mum, Sirius is going to stay with us the whole summer, is that alright?"
"Course, dear. I assumed he would," called back Mrs. Potter's voice.
James returned to his seat and looked at Sirius with a somber expression.
"So what are you going to do," asked James finally.
"I can't do anything," Sirius said. "I don't know who the deatheaters were and my back is scorched for who knows how long. Calamity said it'd be just one more day but then I used the floo powder."
"Yes, that was dumb," agreed James. "Almost as dumb as you leaving without saying anything to her."
"What would I possibly say to her?"
"I dunno, Padfoot," James said exasperated. "Maybe, I'll break up with Hannah because I've liked you since I thought you and Remus were dating?"
Sirius looked moodily at the floor in silence.
"Oh, Padfoot," James said running his hand through his hair."Why not?"
"She thinks I'm a deatheater," Sirius snapped.
"No she doesn't," James said, hitting Sirius on the head with his hand and making Sirius yelp in surprise. "Christopher thinks that. She asked you and you lied and picked a fight and then left!"
"She left first," snapped Sirius looking at the cream. It had to be an hour since his last application.
"She had to come back, Padfoot." Sirius looked at James confused. "She's renting the room, you git," James said.
"Since when are you the girl expert, any way," Sirius pouted as James opened the cream and applied it roughly to Sirius' back. "Watch it! It's an injury!"
"I might not be an expert, but even a house elf could have handled the situation better than you did."
"Bugger off, Prongs," said Sirius, and he turned his head moodily to look at the wall.
