~ Chapter 4: The Road to Recovery ~

Two days after Healing Sirius Black

Fenix was reading The Scotsman for the second time in her study room. She was alone in the house save for the still comatose man and the two wolves. Giselle had gone out with the elves to replenish the kitchen supplies, though Aldren was very reluctant to leave Fenix alone in the house.

Earlier in the morning, Giselle had questioned her. : Is there something going on between you and Aldren? :

Fenix gave her a perplexed look. : No. Why do you ask? :

: Just that you two are acting very couple-like. :

: Don't be ridiculous. He's a very good friend. There isn't any intimacy going on between us. :

: If you say so. :

Snapping out of her thoughts, she focused again to the newspaper cutout dated a few years back. So the man upstairs is the one they called Sirius Black. A suspected well-known killer. Fenix leaned back against the chair and placed the cutting back in the file, then turned her attention to the cuttings she had just obtained from the current newspaper.

: So what are you going to do about it? : Silver's thought reached her. Fenix sighed. The wolves had intruded her thoughts so frequently since the day she healed Mr. Black unquestioningly.

: Silv, please don't eavesdrop, : Fenix answered with a slightly pained expression.

: If you don't want us to, you can always block us you know, : Wind suggested blandly.

: You know well that I can't do that now. Anyway, the guy seems harmless for the moment. The fact that he's a wizard puts shadows on the news. Witches and wizards--like him--really keep very low profiles in the normal world. :

: What do you think those creatures were doing? :

: I really don't know. So far, there are no bizarre happenings but I guess it's just a matter of time before something happens. :

: What did Aldren said those things were called? : Wind asked.

: He said that Mineif calls them Dementors. They're the guards of Azkaban--whatever that means. :

Silver hummed in her mind, as he nodded knowingly. : Ah, I get your meaning now. So this Mr. Black did attend Hogwarts. :

Fenix winced in pain as she stretched her arms a little too hard.

: Still feeling his discomfort, dear? : Wind asked sympathetically.

Fenix nodded and massaged her shoulder. : I wish I knew more of the current wizard world. The only contact I had was with Lily; remember the woman who helped me along that magical bookstore? But then suddenly, she went silent-- : And I am not sure if I should poke my nose to know what is happening to the wizard world. Fenix jerked her head abruptly; her senses began to sharpen and the Hunter in her became alive. She silently kept the newspaper cuttings in the file and after checking that every entrance to the house was blocked using her magery, she cast another shield over the house. The wolves were strangely mute and she went down the stairs quietly to the second floor as training took over.

***********

Sirius was awake. He looked about the strange room with wariness, looking for hidden dangers. He acted rather instinctively as he probed his left shoulder with his right hand. All right, I'm whole again. Where am I? St. Mungos? Sirius was rather shocked to find that he was quite undressed under the covers. He was even more surprised when he saw the bandages and poultice covering various parts of his body. Movement from the corridor captured his attention. He carefully planted his feet on the floor and shivered. The floor was very cold and goose-flesh had begun to spread down his arms and legs. My wand. His wand was laid on the mantelpiece and he reached out for it. A shiver went down his spine. He swerved quickly as he pointed the wand at the intruder.

"Stupe--" Sirius had begun but halted as the woman stared at him, her face beginning to redden.

"I wouldn't do any spells yet," Fenix spoke rather firmly, fixing her eyes somewhere above his forehead. Maybe I should have asked Aldren to get him a pair of underwear first.

Sirius began to scowl and had taken a step forward, not caring he was unclothed but the wolves stopped him from advancing for a moment. The great silver wolf bared his fangs at him threateningly. However, Sirius wasn't impressed and had took several steps forward. And why should I be? Remus looked much more threatening than this male wolf when he's in his element.

: Stay out of this, : she warned the two wolves.

Sirius had raised his wand again and to his profound amazement, his wand slipped out quickly from his hand, only to hang in mid-air next to the woman. She frowned for a moment and the wand began to move towards him.

"I do not care to think of what could happen if you had uttered a command and began to flick it around before I removed the protection spell. You might burn down the house or something," she said.

: FENIX!!! :

The woman suddenly covered her ears, her face scrunching up with pain. Sirius was suddenly filled with amusement as she suddenly uttered a series of curses. Fenix took some effort in controlling her tongue and said curtly to the naked man. "Please excuse me for a moment," then she suddenly stopped and turned back. "The robe on the bed will have to do for now."

Sirius looked at the wolves and at the black silk robe on the bed. The slimmer of the two wolves went out, leaving the silver wolf with him. Sirius strained his ears to hear the murmur of voices and the woman's voice rang out quite clearly for the whole house to hear.

"WHY IN GOD'S NAME DID YOU SHOUT?"

I didn't hear anyone shouting a few minutes ago. The silver wolf was looking at him, and Sirius could have sworn that the wolf was grinning at his perplexity. Maybe I'm slipping. Sirius carefully examined the robe and subdued the need to scratch the areas where the poultice and bandages were placed. And maybe I need a bath. My shoulder hurts like hell.

***********

Fenix was fuming. I really wish I could strangle him. Stupid elf.

: Fenix, I'm sorry, : Aldren pleaded.

: It really hurts you know, : Fenix gave up and slowly started to smile.

"The guy's awake. Have you three got anything for him yet?" Fenix said, as she peeked around the packages they had brought with them.

"Here; weather's turning a bit cold. Therefore, I've bought a couple of sweaters, two pairs of pants and shirts. All black." Giselle told her as she handed her a large brown paper bag. The sisters had taken the opportunity to measure the size of the man while he was still in a Healing-induced sleep.

"And these are his underwear," Derian added.

Fenix took the bags upstairs, leaving the three to sort out their shopping materials in the kitchen. She was not surprised to see him still unclothed. He was searching the wardrobe for something.

: Well? : She asked Silver, who was watching the man with amusement.

: I think he is searching for a towel. :

"It's in that black drawer over there," Fenix said, pointing her chin at the drawer beside the bed.

Sirius gazed at her. "What is your name?"

"Fenix Maxwell. And you're Mr. Black."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. Nonetheless he did open the drawer and took out a towel. He managed to hide his uneasiness but was shocked that she knew his name.

"These clothes are for you. I'm afraid the clothes you were wearing a few days back were nothing but tatters."

Fenix left the man in the bathroom on his own and went down to the kitchen.

Aldren hailed her as she stepped in and he hung a blue-gray scarf about a neck. She fingered it in appreciation. "Thank you," she said as she gave the elf a kiss on the cheek. She went about helping to store the canned foodstuffs in the cupboard. Quite suddenly, she gasped, her eyes stinging with sudden tears. She was clutching at her leg. Dear God, I can't believe he had just tried to remove the stitch himself. Stupid, idiotic wizard.

"Fenix?" Giselle asked, her face showing her concern.

"It's nothing. I'm going up to check on the guy."

Fenix quickly dashed out from the kitchen, bounded up the stairs, and went to her bedroom. She burst into the bathroom without so much as a knock. The wizard looked up at her dazedly, quite aware that the door had disappeared without a sound. His calf was dripping with blood and she quickly filled a pail of water and winced as his wound stung as she used the water to wash the blood away. She called up the image of a pair of scissors and deftly cut the stitches. Each time she took a piece of the string out, he gave a muffled gasp. She on the other hand gritted her teeth as she Felt the pain coming from the man.

Calming herself a little, she waited until her anger at the man subsided before she used her Healing Gift. I have to thank Him that this man had only plucked out only the stitches on his leg. It was a different story when she finished Healing the wizard. Her anger returned in the double and she stared at Sirius angrily, looking directly into his eyes. She felt a sudden jolt of recognition but ignored it as she let her anger simmer.

"The next time, wait for an expert will you? I spent a great deal of effort to save your life and I don't want you to die because of pure stupidity," she hissed, tears of anger and pain streamed down her face. She abruptly stood up and left her room then stormed out of the house through the kitchen door.

"Fenix!" Aldren called out after her, but she took no notice of him. Instead, she went into full Hunter mode. Wind loped beside her in silence as they patrolled the woods together. Fenix climbed a tree occasionally to view the surroundings while the wolf accompanying her carefully scouted on the ground.

Fenix extended probes in every direction and reports came back to her that all was in order, and no Dementors were making any appearances. Aldren was waiting for her beneath the Mnid as the Sun began to set, ready to take over the shift.

: Dinner's ready. : Aldren said. Fenix gave a tight nod and told Wind to go home first and she began to climb the Mnid, to sit on one of its broader branches carefully. Aldren made a tentative move to approach her but decided against it. He moved silently off.

: Safe Hunting. : Fenix Mindvoice whispered, and Aldren knew that everything was all right.

***********

Fenix returned home, her feelings all under control and she maintained a serene expression as she entered the kitchen. Giselle looked archly at her tight-fitting uniform. Spaghetti was on the menu that night and her stomach growled, reminding her that it had been a while since her last meal. She avoided the wizard's gaze and told her sister that she would take a bath first before eating her dinner.

"Suit yourself; but you better be quick before Derian finishes all of it."

Fenix gave a non-committal shrug and went up to her room. She replaced back her bathroom door and went in to shower. There was a definite chill in the air as it had begun to drizzle and a gentle zephyr entered her bedroom that she quickly went to her window to close it. Opening her wardrobe, she examined its contents for something that could keep her warm and got out a long skirt with a gray sweater. She quickly slipped on her underwear and her clothes.

She called up a group of Salamanders that took several moments to play with her damp hair, playfully styling it. Fenix knew by now that it was useless to tell them to stop styling her hair so she let them get the upper hand. They had neatly dried her hair and pulled her hair and began plaiting the upper half into a braid, attaching several hair ornaments that goes well with the sweater. I really look ridiculous. Who is going to look at my hair anyway?

"You are very beautiful, mistress. Why haven't you find yourself a mate yet?" one of the Salamanders asked her. Fenix sighed softly. The companionship of the two wolves to the Elemental Master had influenced the Elementals that were very close to her to a high degree.

"Could you heat up the house a little? It's getting a little cold," she requested, smiling a little at a very young Salamander that had playfully twirled itself with a lock of her hair. The group scattered to several places of the house, making themselves invisible as they coaxed the air to get warm.

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