Dumbledore sat down wearily at the library reading table. No books were there at the moment, something Sirius doubted would last. "It is as we feared. Total randomized nerve failure, most likely from the shock accumulated from so many forays. It was-"

"I know the lecture, Mr. Black," Dumbledore cut in. "Who do you think asked him to go back this time?"

Sirius crouched in front of the headmaster. "We all take risks. Severus was doing what he could. Don't take that away from him."

Dumbledore looked closely at the crouching man. "You've changed, Sirius. Perhaps for the better. The eight year old seems to be gone."

Sirius sniffed. "Oh, he's not gone. He's just locked up in a room he hasn't figured out how to open…yet. What I don't understand," he continued on a more serious note, "is how he managed to walk away form this, settle a campfire, clean his wounds, then seize up."

Dumbledore stood and walked over to the nearest bookcase, pulling one volume down after another. "Severus is a man was a high opinion of duty and his place in the scheme of things."

Sirius barked a laugh. "In other words, he's a true Slytherin, too proud to slither off and die like the rest of us. Not his smartest move, of course. That would have been to stay put and wait for one of us to come and find him. He knew he was being watched over."

Albus smiled, turning back to the other. "Would your Gryffindor pride let you merely sit and wait, instead of doing for yourself?" At the other's expression, he raised a hand. "I somehow doubted you would, and I know Severus too well to expect him to. Speaking of him, how did you bring our potion's master here? You certainly didn't Apparate with him."

Black gave a sarcastic bow. "I haven't yet degraded in mind that far yet, despite everyone's prayers. I used a portling."

"Ah yes. A non-traceable means of going across long distances. Who did the Apparating?"

Portlings were simple, everyday objects that needed to be Apparated on a person (such as in a pocket), then programmed, then sent back to bring the second person to the first. It was used mainly for families with kids, but less legal methods could be done. Unfortunately, it did take longer, being on person at a time. A simple charm, localtus proxiami, was all that was needed, along with someone to do the Apparating.

"Remus did, though I'm surprised that he has a license, being a werewolf." Sirius took the pile the other had made and placed it on the table. Titles such as Magical Ailments, Overloaded Curses, and The Unforgivable Curses: A Theoretical Study leapt out at him. However, when the professor spoke, they were driven away.

"Oh, he doesn't." A pause, then, "I don't think he's even been trained. He learns a great deal from books. Very clever young man."

Sirius choked. "He – that little – I'll" he sputtered off.

Albus hook his head, chuckling. "Start looking through that pile, would you, when you're done stammering." The smile vanished. "We need to find the reversal of the condition."

****

(A. Note) Happy? It's a long chapter.