Disclaimer: I own the plot and Saerry Snape. Everything else is JKR's.
Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses
Chapter 31 ***Into the Darkness***
"Ungh."
Sirius rolled onto his back and opened his eyes slowly. His head felt like it had been run over several times by a horde of Slytherins.
Lifting one hand up to touch his bruised head, he used to other to push himself up into a sitting position. The arm burst with pain at the moment but he clenched his teeth and managed to sit up.
He glanced around the room and saw Saerry Snape huddled in a corner, asleep, her black hair falling over her face. But what else he saw caused him to blink. There, lying on the floor to his right, was a woman with shoulder-length hair of a brilliant red. Only one wizarding family that he knew of had that color hair in the bloodline.
And that was the Weasley's.
Sirius blinked again and thought, Maybe it's not her.
Pain in every move, he made his way over and gently turned the woman onto her back.
He had been right. It was Ginny Weasley.
"Oh hell. Bloody bloody hell."
"What is it?"
Turning his head, Sirius saw Saerry sitting up out of the corner of his eyes. Her eyes were unfocused but as she shook her head they cleared.
Seeing Ginny she snarled, "Damn."
Sirius wondered how she found the energy to snarl in their current situation. He could barely move himself. The Cruciatus Curse was harsh enough without Voldemort using it several times in a row on him. He had lost count of the curse at three.
Saerry inched across the stone floor and sat next to him, looking worriedly down at Ginny. She asked, "Is she going to be okay?"
Sirius glumly replied, "None of us are going to be okay if we don't get out of here."
Saerry frowned and swallowed hard. She glanced at the door then looked back at Sirius.
"How long do you think it will be before he returns?"
Sirius shrugged in reply, not really in the mood to talk to Snape's sister.
Saerry snapped, "We might as well talk as that's all we can do besides wait at the moment." She glared at him for a moment then sighed.
"Oh forget it. It takes to much energy."
Sirius looked at her and mumbled, "Damned Cruciatus Curse. Takes it out of you."
Saerry nodded faintly and sighed again.
It was silent for a while before Saerry whispered, "I wish Sev were here."
Sirius gave her a surprised look and she smiled faintly.
"He's not as bad as he seems Mr. Black."
"To you at least Ms. Snape."
"No. He truly isn't that bad. Its just – he's just trying to protect himself."
Sirius blinked. "From what?"
"Love. Compassion. Pity. He hates pity the most. But he's a good man inside." Saerry looked up at Sirius and continued, "He should never have had to go through what he went through. It nearly tore him apart."
Sirius could hardly believe that but listening to the girl made it halfway believable. After all, she was Snape's sister.
"May I ask what did that?"
Saerry weakly waved a hand around. "All of this. The Death Eaters, Voldemort, the torture, and then Lily."
Sirius froze. "What about Lily?"
"You didn't know?" Saerry looked completely shocked and confused as Sirius shook his head.
"He told me that Lily had been one of his few true friends when he was at Hogwarts."
Sirius almost scoffed, almost. But the look on Saerry's face made him pause.
He looked down at her and asked, "Are you sure?"
Saerry gave a half-smile and replied, "I know my own brother Mr. Black. He may have been a Death Eater and lied, but he has never lied to me."
Sirius nodded and turned his gaze back to Ginny, who was beginning to stir.
"Oh. My head.."
Ginny started to get up but Sirius pushed her back down.
"Easy there. You've got a bad blow on the head."
Ginny blinked in startlement and whispered, "Sirius."
"Yea. Rest Ginny."
The redhead nodded faintly and closed her eyes, almost instantly falling back asleep.
Sirius sighed and shifted, moving closer to the wall that Ginny was laying beside. He leaned his back against the wall and closed his eyes. A warm spot against his side cause him to give a little jump and look down.
Saerry huddled underneath his arm, looking up at him.
"I do hope you don't mind Mr. Black. But…I'd really rather stay near you and - Ginny, was it? - than be alone."
Sirius gave a faint smile, knowing the feeling. He gave Saerry's shoulders a gentle squeeze and said, "I don't mind. Any company would be enjoyable right now."
Saerry managed a smirk. "Even my brothers?"
"Now lets not go that far…"
Saerry chuckled and mumbled, "Yes, Mr. Black," before she drifted off into sleep, curled up against Sirius' left side.
Sirius sighed and closed his eyes, hoping they would be found soon.
He didn't know how much longer they could last.
A/N: More coming folks! ^^
Anya – Thank you. And you'll be seeing that soon enough. O_O Three times a day? Wow. I'm…stunned. And very glad you like it so much.
Sophie W – Here you go! ^_^