Chapter Thirty-seven: Scrutiny

Summary: Thirty-seventh chapter. Twelve to go. That about sums it up.

The small group of Deatheaters apparated just outside the gates of the castle. Snape was very meticulous about where they put the body, insisting it had to be in clear view of the castle so it would be seen easily.

As the rest pulled back to the shadows, Snape separated from them and started back towards the castle. Voldemort had deemed his absence in the wake of such an event suspicious, and so he was given leave to remain behind at Hogwarts. But as he walked past the others who were gathering to disapparate, someone in the group grabbed his arm and pulled him close.

"You are being watched, Severus." A female voice whispered quickly. "Be careful what you do here."

Snape turned about as soon as the hand released him. But there were several robed figures close to him at the time and any one of them could have been the one issuing the warning. The voice had definitely been female. But there were also several female Deatheaters among the group. Snape stood watching as the group closed ranks and quickly disapparated, looking for perhaps some signal from the one who had spoken. But there was no discernable sign from among the robed figures as they disappeared, leaving Snape to ponder not only how to alert those in the castle to Black's predicament, and do it without arousing suspicion, but also to try and figure out who among Voldemort's loyalist supporters was likely a traitor...and his ally.

Hurrying back to the castle, Snape tried to think of a feasible plan. To Voldemort and his supports, Black was supposedly already dead, so how long the 'body' lay outside the castle gates should have been irrelevant to Snape. But a large part of Snape's dilemma was that Black wasn't dead, but his time was growing perilously shorter by the minute. Simply going into the castle and alerting those inside to conduct a hasty rescue would look suspicious. All that was really necessary, Snape reasoned, was to alert Dumbledore. Between them they could come up with some way to get Black into the castle that wouldn't look too suspicious to anyone watching the scene unfold. But even getting to Dumbledore presented its own problems of looking suspicious. The hour was late and such a visit to the Headmaster's office may look questionable to whoever he was warned was watching him. But an instant later the answer to Snape's dilemma literally bumped into him.

Harry looked up in surprise, which quickly changed to exasperation. As if things couldn't get any worse. Now he had to bump into Snape late at night in the halls.

"Well, well," Snape stated in his most pleased tone. "Potter. Wandering halls at night? That's against school rules. But oh..." Snape looked suddenly enlightened, "I forgot. School rules don't apply to you, do they?"

"Not before school starts, Professor." Harry answered firmly. He had been hoping for a little peace and quiet while pondering his own problems. A run-in with Snape was the last thing he needed right now.

"Rules apply for whenever a student is in this school, Potter," Snape grinned maliciously at Harry. "All that school not having officially started means is that I can't take points from Gryffindor for this breech. Although I will speak to your Head of House about this incident. And I'll be going straight to the Headmaster to see if he is aware his little guest is showing such poor respect to rules that are suppose to be for his protection. Now get back to your rooms, Potter."

Snape's robes billowed out behind him as he walked off down the hallway. Potter had provided him with the perfect excuse to see Dumbledore, and he wasted no time with it. Within minutes he was inside Dumbledore's office, explaining the situation and the warning he had received.

"Very well, Severus," Dumbledore stated. "You've done all you can. You return to your rooms and I'll take a group out for a patrol of the grounds. We've been doing that for some time. It wouldn't arouse any great suspicion against you. The patrol would come across Black by way of their route quite naturally."

"And they had best get on with it." Snape stated. "I'm only guessing at Black's condition and how long he can survive without help. But I'm willing to wager it isn't much longer."

Dumbledore saw to it that the group that patrolled the grounds at night was sent out immediately. Snape gave a brief description of where Black was, and the group was given instructions to make the patrol look as routine as possible, but to delay as little as possible in locating Black and returning him to the castle.

Many long moments later several men came rushing into the hospital wing carrying Black between them. Snape stood by as Madam Pomfrey set about examining him. Snape had given her as much information as he could as to Black's condition. But his specialty was potions, not medicine. So there was very little else he could do until Madam Pomfrey had checked Black for herself. But even a person with little knowledge of medicine could reason Black's condition was grave just by looking at him. Several Deatheaters had taken parting shots at the body as they left. Several kicks to the ribs, back, and arms had been added to his already battered body. Now more aware of the situation, Snape was guessing this had possibly been done more for his benefit than simple amusement for the Deatheaters. Perhaps someone was watching to see if any of the attacks would get a reaction out of him. Wisely, while not joining in, he had remained his ever stoic self.

Snape watched as Madam Pomfrey's expression grew increasingly anxious as she watched words skirt across a piece of parchment that hung over the head of Black's bed as though suspended on some invisible hanger.

As he continued to wait for her evaluation, a sudden bang caused him to jump, followed almost instantly by a loud cry as Arabella came bolting through the door to the infirmary.

"Sirius!"

Following close on her heels was Harry, his expression as equally distraught as his godmother's.

Madam Pomfrey had already set herself up to intercept the two before they made it to Sirius's bedside.

"Arabella, please." the nurse pleaded. "I need to finish examining him. You can see him when I'm done. Please."

Arabella nearly lost her balanced as she leaned to the side to try to look around the white curtain as Madam Pomfrey pulled it about the bed.

Snape suddenly became aware of the uncomfortable, questioning stare that now settled on him. Sure he was going to have to come up with some plausible explanation as to his presence in the infirmary, he was mercifully rescue by Dumbledore's entrance. Arabella seemed to immediately lose interest in Snape as she rushed to the Headmaster.

"Albus!" She cried. "What's happened to him? Where did they find him?"

As Dumbledore did his best to quiet Arabella down and answer her questions, Snape became aware that one pair of scrutinizing eyes had yet to leave him. Looking up he saw Harry staring at him from where he stood next to the white curtain.

"What is it, Potter?" He asked. Best offense is a good defense. Be the first to asked the questions.

"Why are you here?" Harry asked in as neutral a tone as he could manage.

"I had business with Madam Pomfrey when they brought Black in." Snape replied in an irritated manner. "Not that my affairs are any of yours."

Harry was about to say something else when the curtain was suddenly pulled back. Arabella quickly came up next to Harry as Madam Pomfrey briefly looked at the Headmaster, than turned a concerned expression to Arabella and Harry.

"I'm afraid it isn't good," she reported solemnly, putting a comforting hand on Arabella's shoulder. "There's a great deal of physical injury, Arabella. And his overall condition isn't good. Right now he's very weak. The worst of the injuries seems to be a deep burn in his upper left shoulder. From the looks of it, he just managed to avoid a killing curse that had been aimed at him. He's very lucky to be alive."

Arabella held as tightly onto her composure as Harry held onto her hand. "Is he going to be all right, Poppy?" She asked past a strained voice.

"I honestly can't say right now." The nurse answered. "We'll see how he is in the morning. I'll be able to better say how he's doing then."

Arabella nodded numbly as she stared at the white curtain still drawn halfway about the bed. "Can we see him?" She asked hoarsely. "Harry and I?"

Madam Pomfrey paused, then nodded and led them back behind the curtain.

The body lying in the bed was as pale as the sheets that covered it to the shoulders.

Harry could hardly believe that the face he was looking at was that of his beloved godfather. Once handsome and full of life, the deathly pale face was now distorted almost to the point of being unrecognizable past the bruises, cuts, and swelling. What sound there was of his breathing was shallow, and rattled slightly with each breath. Harry's hand slowly crept up to the side of the bed and wrapped itself about Sirius'. He fought back a soft, strangled sob as Arabella gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

"He isn't going to die." Harry whispered hoarsely, shaking his head slowly. "He can't." Harry turned quickly to his godmother. "Arabella?"

Arabella remembered Sirius' words to her not so long ago as she looked down at Harry's stricken expression.. 'He depends on your calm reassurance'.

How desperately he was looking for it now.

Arabella summoned up every last bit of her fading strength and managed a gentle smile for her godson. "He's stronger than anyone knows, Harry," she replied quietly, gently caressing the tears off his face, fighting back her own. "He'll get through this."

She felt him take a small step back as he pressed his body back against her's. Arabella slowly slid her hand over Harry's and gently wrapped it about his and over Sirius'.

Two chairs silently slid into the room under the direction of Madam Pomfrey's wand.

"I don't think it would hurt to allow family to stay for a little while." She offered kindly. "It might even do him some good. But be sure to let him rest."

Something others might have seen as a kind gesture froze Arabella's blood. As injured as Sirius was, Madam Pomfrey was allowing them to stay. She wanted to make sure that they were there. His 'family'. Making sure he wasn't alone.

Arabella silently slid into one of the chairs. She pulled the other one up to the side of the bed and directed Harry into it. It was going to be a very long night and they had best start conserving their strength now for what may come later.

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A soft warmth on her arm woke Arabella. Opening her eyes she found she had fallen asleep on the edge of Sirius' bed, a small ray of light from the sunrise shone across her arm. Harry lay next to her, his head also pillowed on the mattress as he slept. Arabella checked the clock on the wall. The short half hour that had past since the last time she had looked at it had been the only sleep she or Harry had gotten all night as they sat at their silent vigil. Pulling herself up slowly, careful not to wake Harry, Arabella cast a quick look at Sirius. She console herself that, while he didn't look any better, nor did he look any worse. She remembered Madam Pomfrey coming in several times during the night to check Sirius' condition. She always solicitously had asked if they needed anything, and had always left after reassuring them that Sirius was sleeping peacefully. But more than the Head Nurse's words, Arabella had found her greatest comfort in simply listening to Sirius' rattled breathing and in feeling even the barely perceptible warmth of his skin as she held protectively onto his hand through the night.

As careful as she tried to be, her movement woke Harry, who sat up with a start, turning quickly to Sirius.

Arabella quickly grabbed his hand as he reached for his godfather. "Harry," she warned gently, "it's very early. He's still sleeping."

Harry slowly slumped back in his chair. "Has there been any change?" He asked in a frightened whisper.

Arabella wrapped her arms protectively about him, feeling a small shiver run through him. "No. But Madam Pomfrey was checking on him all night, and he hasn't gotten any worse. I think that's a good sign." Arabella offered.

Harry nodded slightly and settled back against her.

As the sun rose higher, neither Harry nor Arabella left Sirius' side for more than a few minutes, occasionally taking short walks to stretch their legs.

In the early afternoon, while they sat dozing in their chairs, Sirius' body suddenly began to shake in the bed. Both Harry and Arabella snapped fully awake as he abruptly fell into a coughing fit. Arabella leapt from her chair, trying to hold him down while Harry bolted from behind the small white curtained room, yelling for Madam Pomfrey. Within seconds he returned, nearly dragging the head nurse behind him. But by then the attack had passed and Sirius' body was settling back against the mattress. Madam Pomfrey checked him over carefully to make sure the attack hadn't caused him to pull any stitches or bandaging lose. Finally satisfied everything was still in place, she turned a kindly, reassuring smile to Harry and Arabella.

"Unfortunately, such episodes are to be expected." She explained. "There's a great deal of...fluid...built up in the lungs. The body is just trying to dislodge it. It'll help him breath easier. But be sure to come and get me if it happens again."

Arabella nodded solemnly as she directed Harry back to their seats. Slowly she sat down next to him, her worried eyes never leaving Sirius' now relaxed form. She couldn't remember a time since she had known him that she had been as scared as she was right then. Closing her eyes, she leaned gently against Harry, trying desperately not to let the tears come. Slowly she became aware of a hand wrapping itself about her's and squeezing gently. Opening her eyes she stared down at her godson, who offered her a small, encouraging smile as he squeezed her hand again. Arabella returned his smile and lightly kissed his forehead. Finally she settled back in her chair and joined him once again in their silent vigil.